As his teammates were busy preparing to face the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on Wednesday, Mitch Keller sat in the Pirates dugout, chatting with someone who has become a close friend: 9-year-old Jordon Kessler of Verona.
Joined by his younger brother Jonah and their mom and dad, Aubrey and Jordon Sr., the Kesslers have become Keller superfans, the result of Mitch and his wife, Clancy, visiting Jordon at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in July 2024.
That was about a month after Jordon was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a high-risk form of cancer.
Back then, Jordon “was not doing well,” his mom said. Knowing how much he loves all Pittsburgh sports, but especially baseball, she reached out to the Pirates to try and find some way to raise her son’s spirits. It just so happened that Mitch and Clancy volunteered to visit.
Fast-forward two years. Jordon’s scans have continuously come back clean, and the families have grown close thanks to the friendship shared between Jordon and Mitch.
“He’s so light-hearted, so happy and in such good spirits, even when he was at his worst,” Keller said. “Two years ago when we met in the hospital, he was struggling. He was hurting. You could tell he was in pain. But he still had a good attitude.
“He just loves watching the Pirates. That was very inspiring. He’s watching us on a nightly basis. We were the ones keeping his spirits up, keeping his mind off his treatment.”
In what the pitcher hopes becomes a yearly tradition, the Pirates and Kellers invited the Kesslers to PNC Park to watch the game and hang out in the dugout beforehand.
Mitch played catch with Jordon and Jonah. They hoisted the cone and chatted about Mario Party, other Nintendo games and bugs — typical stuff for Keller, a big kid trapped in a 30-year-old’s body.
“We’ve become his biggest fans ever,” Aubrey said. “It’s so cute. Mitch just has that sweet kid spirit. Even Jonah, he’s gone through a lot with his brother. Mitch makes him light up. It’s really nice.”
Jordon Kessler was diagnosed with cancer at age 7. He underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants and 15 days of radiation. He also had a full adrenalectomy, removing both adrenal glands atop his kidneys.
You’ve never know it by Jordon’s boundless energy and constant smile, especially when he’s learning about the Pirates' bat rack or raiding the dugout for whatever goodies might be available.
“This is kind of amazing,” Jordon said. “Mitch is a really good pitcher. And a pretty great guy.”
The relationship had Aubrey choked up, and everything Jordon has gone through brought her husband to full-blown tears recently.
Jordon and Jonah were fighting like brothers around the dinner table one recent evening. Jordon Sr. was overcome with emotion.
“I was like, ‘Man, I’m so lucky that I’m able to have this moment with my kids fighting,’ ” Jordon Sr. said, laughing. “Every day I get to have with my son is a blessing.”
Especially when it involves baseball. Jordon Sr. grew up a Pirates fan in the early 1990s. He’s obsessed with 93.7 The Fan, and the Kesslers spent a lot of long nights in the hospital distracted by Pirates baseball.
Still, the Kesslers were blown away when Keller once again wanted to have them out to a game — they’ve been here before and stay in touch regularly — to catch up and learn about Jordon’s recovery.
With no physical evidence of cancer left, Jordon has one affirmative scan left in September to officially say he’s in remission.
“He’s come quite far,” Aubrey said.
All while Keller has treated this like much more than a one-off visit. It has become a genuine friendship and an example of Keller’s humility and compassionate nature.
“We’re huge Pittsburgh sports fans,” Jordon Sr. said. “I remember crying when Sid Bream got thrown out at home plate. Going to Three Rivers … man, it’s just crazy to have it come full circle.
“Of course, I didn’t have any Major League Baseball players who were my friends when I was that age. The fact that [Keller] visited Jordon and continues to care about him and reach out, it’s amazing. He’ll always be our favorite Pirate.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.