2025 Draft Prospect #89 - LHP - Nelson Keljo - Oregon State

 

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -

#89     Nelson Keljo

LHP, Oregon State

21/years old           6' 4"               226 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

Keljo went to the same Jesuit High School program that produced first-rounders Mick Abel and Noble Meyer, but the left-hander wasn’t ready for the pro game when he graduated in 2022 and went on to in-state power Oregon State. He’s pitched almost exclusively out of the bullpen for the Beavers over the past two years, missing a ton of bats (12.8 K/9 combined) but struggling with command as a freshman before cutting his walk rate considerably as a sophomore in 2024. His summer included some work out of the Team USA bullpen and a solid fall, with the potential to start, has scouts excited.

At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, Keljo looks every bit like a strong and durable left-handed pitching prospect, with some raw stuff to build from. While his fastball typically sits in the low 90s, he routinely touches 95-96 mph and it’s easy to envision consistent velocity as he advances. His low-80s slider is his primary secondary pitch and it has the chance to be a solid out pitch. He hasn’t thrown his changeup as much in relief roles, but there is some feel for it as a fading offering for right-handed hitters.

While Oregon State has a deep staff, Keljo’s potential three-pitch mix with clean arm action and premium arm strength have evaluators thinking he should get a chance to start in the spring. If he continues to throw strikes like he did a year ago, he could move up boards as a potential long-term starter. Even if the Beavers keep him in the 'pen, there’s a chance a team taking him in the top three rounds would at least try sending him out as a starter.

1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

60. Nelson Keljo – LHP

HT/WT: 6’4/228 | Bat/Throw: L/L | School: Oregon State | Age: 21.8

Keljo is a lean, projectable southpaw who was stellar out of the Oregon State bullpen in 2024, but he’s projected to see starting time in 2025.

There’s not a ton of effort to his delivery and there’s solid arm speed with a near over-the-top arm slot, driving down the mound with power. Keljo’s heater is his primary offering and for good reason.

He generates a ton of backspin and carry from a 6.4 foot release height and has comfortably sat in the 92-95 MPH range this summer, reaching back for 96-97 MPH when needed. He misses bats at a good clip and the pitch is excellent at generating chases, especially when he adds tail away from righties.

His primary secondary is a two-plane slider in the upper-70s/low-80s that lacks power and bite, but it’s flashed average potential. The change-up is rarely seen by opposing hitters, but it has decent tumble. If worst comes to worst, Keljo will be a reliable bullpen stalwart who can close games for the Beavers.

 

https://osubeavers.com/sports/baseball/roster/nelson-keljo/10716 -

2024

• Made 20 appearances, starting three games. Posted a 3-0 record and 3.98 ERA in 43 innings. Struck out 60 and held opponents to a .259 batting average.

• Struck out four in 2 2/3 innings against Tulane, allowing just one hit (5/31).

• Worked a career-long four innings, limiting Arizona State to just one walk with four strikeouts, for the win (5/23).

• Got the win after tying a season and career high with six strikeouts in three innings at Washington State (5/5).

• Tied a career-high with six strikeouts in a career-long 3 1/3 innings of relief in the series finale versus Oregon (4/28).

• Won his first game of the season after 1 2/3 innings of relief vs. Arizona State, striking out one (4/5).

• Struck out three and limited USC to a hit and a walk in 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief (3/28).

• Held Washington to a hit and a run with three strikeouts in two innings (3/22).

• Struck out a career-high six in 2 2/3 innings versus North Dakota State (3/1).

• Struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of relief against Minnesota (2/17).

 

2023

• Pitched in 23 games, making one start, and went 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA. Struck out 32 in 21 2/3 innings.

• Pitched in eight Pac-12 games - all in relief - and finished 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, Struck out 10 in eight innings.

• Picked up his second win of the season after throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief at UCLA, striking out two (5/14).

• Worked a season-long 2 1/3 innings against Utah, equaling a season-high with three strikeouts (5/5).

• Struck out one in a scoreless inning of work against Gonzaga (4/11).

• Struck out the side in his only inning of work at Seattle, picking up his first career win (3/29).

• Worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against Nevada, striking out three (3/15).

• Struck out the side in a scoreless eighth inning against Coppin State (2/25).

 

Jesuit High School

• Letterwinner for head coach Colin Griffin.

• Played for the Royals at the 2021 Area Code Games.

• Played outfield and designated hitter in addition to pitching at Jesuit High School.

• Guided Jesuit to a 20-4 record as a senior.

• Named First-Team All-Metro at both pitcher and designated hitter as a junior. Also named his team’s most valuable player.

• Posted five wins with a 0.64 earned run average as a junior. Threw two no-hitters and struck out 60.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/oregon-state-fall-baseball-a-notable-injury-new-faces-nelson-keljo-s-quest-to-start-chemistry/ar-AA1rgeTI -

Nelson Keljo, who started to fulfill his immense potential late last season, is expected to be one of the most important arms on the pitching staff next season. And after spending his first two years in the bullpen, the 6-4 left-hander from Portland is ready to join the weekend rotation.

Keljo will spend the fall building his arm strength to prepare for a starting role, which involves everything from strength and conditioning to bullpen sessions. He spent a chunk of the offseason working with OSU strength trainers to prepare his arm for the physical demands, he’s running longer distances during training sessions and he’s already topped out at 35 pitches in bullpen throwing sessions, which he had never done before this early in the college season.

“It all starts now,” he said of transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation. “It’s definitely a big step, but (I’m) going the right direction.”

After spending a season-and-a-half relying almost exclusively on a fastball that touches mid-to-high 90s, Keljo finally expanded his arsenal to include a slider late last season. It helped him flourish in four postseason appearances, during which he allowed just two hits — and no earned runs — while striking out 15 over 11 innings. Then, after the season, he performed well at USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team training camp over the summer.

The next step, he said, is growing comfortable with a third pitch — a changeup — that he’s been tinkering with for years.