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Colt Keith

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Colt Keith
Keith with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2022
Detroit Tigers – No. 33
Third baseman / Second baseman
Born: (2001-08-14) August 14, 2001 (age 23)
Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 28, 2024, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.260
Home runs13
Runs batted in61
Teams

Colten Thomas Keith (born August 14, 2001) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.

Amateur career

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Keith grew up in Ohio before moving to Utah at the age of eight.[1] When he was twelve years old, he and his family then moved again to Buckeye, Arizona, where he attended Verrado High School. In order to follow his mother's job in the oil and gas industry, he transferred to Biloxi High School in Biloxi, Mississippi as a junior in 2019.[2] He was named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for the state of Mississippi as a junior after batting .527 with nine home runs and 49 RBIs.[3] As a senior in 2020, he batted .269 with eight RBIs before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[4][5] He signed with the Tigers rather than play college baseball at Arizona State University.[6]

Professional career

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Keith made his professional debut in 2021 with the Florida Complex League Tigers before being promoted to the Lakeland Flying Tigers and West Michigan Whitecaps. Over 65 games between the three teams, he slashed .286/.396/.789 with two home runs, 32 RBIs, eight doubles, and five triples. He opened the 2022 season with West Michigan, playing 48 games with a slash of .301/.370/.544 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs.[7] He also played with the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, where he broke out hitting .344/.463/.541 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 19 games.[8]

Before entering the 2023 season, Keith was ranked the No. 1 Tigers prospect and No. 93 overall.[9][10] Keith began the 2023 season with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves. In a May 16, 2023, game against the Harrisburg Senators, Keith went 6-for-6 with 2 home runs while hitting for the cycle.[11] In 59 games with Erie, he hit .325/.391/.585 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI. On June 26, Keith was promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.[12] On the same day, he was selected to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.[13] In 67 games with Erie, he batted .287/.369/.521 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs. Baseball America named him the 2023 Tigers Minor League Player of the Year.[14]

On January 28, 2024, Keith and the Tigers signed a six-year contract worth $28,642,500 that includes club options for the 2030, 2031, and 2032 seasons.[15] On March 21, he was named to the Tigers' Opening Day roster.[16] Keith made his MLB debut on Opening Day, recording an infield single for his first career hit.[17] In his rookie season, Keith hit .260 with 13 home runs and 61 RBI.

References

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  1. ^ "Young "Colt" Selected by Tigers in MLB Draft". Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Magee, Patrick (January 28, 2019). "One of the nation's top young baseball stars landed in Biloxi and he is 'off the charts'". Sun Herald. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  3. ^ "Colten Keith 2018 – 2019 MISSISSIPPI BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Magee, Patrick (June 11, 2020). "'The most stressful day of my life.' Biloxi star fulfills dream in chaotic MLB Draft". Sun Herald. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "'Toolshed' Colt Keith brings talent and big potential to the Tigers". Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ McCosky, Chris. "Tigers' youngest draft pick, Colt Keith, not lacking in talent or confidence". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "Colt Keith found his groove on a plate for Whitecaps". May 27, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Norris, Josh (September 29, 2023). "Breakout MLB Prospects That Lived Up To The Hype In 2023". Baseball America. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Day, Brandon (August 11, 2023). "MLB Pipeline ranks Max Clark as the Tigers new top prospect". Bless You Boys. SB Nation. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Tomhave, Daren (June 7, 2023). "Tigers prospect Colt Keith rockets up Baseball America rankings". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  11. ^ "Mega-cycle: Colt Keith hits milestone and then some". mlb.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "Detroit Tigers promote top prospect Colt Keith from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo". freep.com. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Ford, Ryan (June 26, 2023). "Colt Keith, Justyn-Henry Malloy picked for 2023 All-Star Futures Game in Seattle". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Waldon, Emily (September 19, 2023). "Colt Keith: Tigers 2023 Minor League Player Of The Year". Baseball America. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Beck, Jason (January 28, 2024). "Tigers sign No. 2 prospect Keith to 6-year extension". mlb.com. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Petzold, Evan (March 21, 2024). "Detroit Tigers set 13 position players for Opening Day with three cuts in spring training". freep.com. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Harding, Zane (March 28, 2024). "Tigers 1, White Sox 0: Crochet weaves, but Skubal shoves". blessyouboys.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
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