Pirates Should Stop Wasting Fans' Time and Money and Call up Mitch Keller

The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing in a lost season. They're 13.5 games back in the division and have the second-worst record in the National League. They have some standout players, including Josh Bell and Felipe Vazquez, who are enjoyable to watch, but that's about all they have going for them.

Outside of those select few players, there's really no reason for Pirates fans to watch this team.

Every game that goes by is a waste of their time and money. The least Neal Huntington and the Pirates' front office can do is call up top pitching prospect Mitch Keller to give the fans something to get excited for.

Keller entered the season as a top-20 prospect in all of baseball, and he's had a strong year in the minors. In 19 starts at the Triple-A level, he's 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA and 123 strikeouts.

After an unsuccessful MLB stint earlier in the year, he's proven he deserves another shot. He and the fans both deserve another chance to see what he can do against major league batters.

It would at least help reestablish some good will between Huntington and the fans, who have become disgruntled with the moves he's made as general manager over the past few years.

It wouldn't kill the Pirates to inject some life into this team. They're on pace to finish with their third losing season in four years. Nothing's at stake here. Getting one of their top prospects some MLB experience is the perfect way to give the fans something to look forward to.

Holding back one of the organization's few bright spots is a disservice to the fans. It's time for the Pirates to give those who still make it out to the park something to get excited about.