The Philadelphia Phillies have been dealt a major blow to their bullpen, as veteran reliever is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.
The injury could have ramifications well beyond this year. Veteran star revealed that he plans to consult renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister for a second opinion before deciding whether surgery is necessary. If the veteran right-hander undergoes Tommy John surgery, he would likely be sidelined for most—or potentially all—of the 2027 season as well.
Philadelphia officially placed Keller on the 15-day injured list Thursday, just months after signing him to a two-year, $22 million contract during the offseason. The Phillies brought Keller in to serve as the primary setup reliever for All-Star closer Jhoan Durán, making him a vital piece of the club’s late-inning bullpen plans.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Keller said. “Everything felt good during my rehab from the forearm injury. I felt strong after my outing in Cincinnati, but when I woke up the next day, my elbow was really sore. From there, it just never got any better.”
The diagnosis comes after Keller had only recently completed a three-week stint on the injured list with right forearm tendinitis. He returned to action on July 8 against the Cincinnati Reds and looked sharp, tossing a scoreless inning while allowing no hits, walking one batter, and striking out another.
Despite the encouraging performance, something didn’t seem right afterward.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said the coaching staff initially expected Keller to be available again almost immediately because he showed no obvious signs of discomfort after returning.
“We had a feeling something wasn’t adding up,” Mattingly said. “He pitched really well when he came back, so naturally we thought he’d be ready the next day. He was working out and wasn’t complaining about pain, but the soreness just lingered. It kept getting worse instead of better, and once he played catch and realized something was wrong, that’s when we started the process of getting more tests.”
Keller admitted the diagnosis caught him completely by surprise.
An MRI taken after his original forearm injury in June revealed no ligament damage, and he doesn’t remember feeling any pain or hearing the characteristic “pop” often associated with a torn UCL during his appearance against Cincinnati.
“I can’t point to one specific pitch,” Keller explained. “I never felt anything pop, and nothing happened during the game that made me think something serious had occurred. I just woke up the next morning feeling stiff. After resting for a couple of days, I had another MRI, and that’s when they found the tear. It was shocking.”
Before the injury, Keller had become a dependable contributor in Philadelphia’s bullpen. The soon-to-be 31-year-old posted a 2-1 record with a 4.02 ERA and three saves across 32 appearances, striking out 32 batters while issuing 13 walks over 31⅓ innings.
To fill the vacant roster spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley after placing Keller on the injured list retroactive to July 13.
Keller’s absence comes at a difficult time for Philadelphia. Even before the injury, the Phillies were expected to be among the most aggressive teams searching for bullpen reinforcements ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. Losing one of their top late-inning relievers only intensifies that need, making relief pitching an even greater priority as the front office looks to strengthen a club with legitimate postseason aspirations.
With the playoff race entering its most important stretch, replacing Keller’s production will be no easy task, and the Phillies may now be forced to accelerate their pursuit of bullpen help before the trade deadline arrives.