Jon Keller might be the next one.

That’s as in the next baseball player from Cedar Rapids Xavier to play professionally. It’s a ways off, and a lot could happen, but you don’t have to squint to see the junior pitcher has “it.”

“That’s the goal,” Keller said after he threw a two-hit shutout at Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 7-0, in the first game of a doubleheader last night at Kennedy. “We’ll see. I’m working hard toward that.”

A 6-foot-5 right-hander, Keller’s fastball was clocked as high as 91 miles per hour by a radar gun in the Kennedy press box. You take his stuff, his size and his potential into consideration, and you can understand why Perfect Game USA named him one of Iowa’s best pro prospects for next season.

Keller said last night he plans on playing at the University of Nebraska in a couple of years, unless that pro thing works out early. Oakland Athletics outfielder Ryan Sweeney is one of five former Saints who has played or is playing affiliated pro ball.

“Jon has potential. He really does,” said Xavier Coach Dave Schemmel. “He actually throws harder than he did tonight … He can consistently throw in the high-80s and low-90s and not just hit that one pitch here and there.”

Keller has been working hard on his mechanics, trying to keep the ball down in the strike zone. He walked five and struck out seven against Kennedy (13-12), which won the nightcap, 4-2. Xavier is 13-14.

“I didn’t think I was throwing that well tonight,” said Keller, who had four hits in the twin-bill. “My arm has felt real good lately. I’m just trying to throw strikes and do the best I can.”

“We show him pictures of how Nolan Ryan landed on his front foot and where his body was,” Schemmel said. “Boy, if he makes those corrections, he’s got even more power (in his arm) down the road.”