Bob Keppel
Encyclopedia
Robert Griffin "Bob" Keppel (born June 11, 1982 in St. Louis
, Missouri
) is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher
for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He attended De Smet Jesuit High School
in Creve Coeur, Missouri
and attended the University of Notre Dame
for a few offseasons.
Originally drafted by the New York Mets
in , Keppel spent parts of six seasons in the team's farm system before signing a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
. Keppel made his major league debut on May 25, , eventually starting six games for the club. In , he played in the Colorado Rockies
' system. After starting the year 0–4, Keppel was sent to Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, upon clearing waivers. In , he played for the Florida Marlins
' Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes
and became a free agent
at the end of the season. In December 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Keppel was recalled by the Twins on June 22, 2009.
On October 6, 2009, Keppel was the winning pitcher in the American League Central Tie Breaker game, that sent the Minnesota Twins into the American League Divisional Series. On January 4, 2010, Keppel was released by Minnesota.
On January 6, 2010, Keppel agreed to a contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League
of Nippon Professional Baseball.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
) is a Nippon Professional Baseball pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He attended De Smet Jesuit High School
De Smet Jesuit High School
De Smet Jesuit High School is a Jesuit Catholic, college preparatory high school Creve Coeur, Missouri in western St. Louis County. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis.The school began classes in the fall of 1967...
in Creve Coeur, Missouri
Creve Coeur, Missouri
Creve Coeur, derived from French for "heartbreak" , is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city derives its name from Creve Coeur Lake, which is shaped like a broken heart. The population was 17,833 at the 2010 census...
and attended the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
for a few offseasons.
Originally drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in , Keppel spent parts of six seasons in the team's farm system before signing a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Keppel made his major league debut on May 25, , eventually starting six games for the club. In , he played in the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
' system. After starting the year 0–4, Keppel was sent to Colorado's Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, upon clearing waivers. In , he played for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the end of the season. In December 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. Keppel was recalled by the Twins on June 22, 2009.
On October 6, 2009, Keppel was the winning pitcher in the American League Central Tie Breaker game, that sent the Minnesota Twins into the American League Divisional Series. On January 4, 2010, Keppel was released by Minnesota.
On January 6, 2010, Keppel agreed to a contract with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
of Nippon Professional Baseball.