With their 4th-round pick (No. 125 overall), the @BlueJays select @Bucknell_BB third baseman Sean Keys, No. 211 on the Top 250 Draft Prospects list. Watch LIVE: atmlb.com/3zJ3gua
Blue Jays selected Sean Keys with the 125th overall pick in the 2024 draft
Photo credit: © Ron Schloerb/Cape Cope Times - USA Today
Jul 15, 2024, 15:10 EDTUpdated: Jul 22, 2024, 23:21 EDT
The Toronto Blue Jays have finally selected a bat.
With their first three picks in the 2024 draft, the Blue Jays selected three pitchers, two college and one prep. Well, with the 125th pick, the Jays selected Sean Keys, a third baseman.
Keys, 21, played three seasons at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. He didn’t play much in his freshman season, but had a great season as a sophomore, slashing .339/.44/.679 with 13 homers in 205 plate appearances.
Keys had an even better 2024 season as a Junior, slashing .405/.535/.798 with 13 homers in 213 plate appearances, along with more walks (35) than strikeouts (26).
Sean Keys - 3B, @Bucknell_BB '24 Eligible Very nice day at the plate for the Jr. prospect. 3-4 in the doubleheader (3 walks and one HBP) including this double to RF. Also had another double later in the day. Patient hitter that's explosive at the point of contact.
The third baseman ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 211th best prospect. His best tool is his hit tool (55 grade), while his power lags behind at 45. His worst tool is his run tool, graded at 35, while his arm ranks at average (50) and his fielding ranks at 45.
Considered an “analytical darling”, the 21-year-old showed improvement in his approach, while making hard contact and limiting the chases. He also hits fastballs well, a priority for prospects. There are scouts who are concerned his power won’t translate to the professional game, but he had success in summer leagues with wood bats.
It’s believed that Keys will move to first base as he’s not very athletic enough to play third.
The slot value for this pick is $572,200, and the Blue Jays have a signing bonus pool of $8.987 million. With how low he ranked relative to where the Jays selected, this tells me that this may be an under slot pick. That money may be given to Trey Yesavage, their first-round pick or Johnny King IV, a prep pitcher they picked with their third-round pick.
Either way, it’ll be interesting to watch Keys’ career progress. The hit tool is interesting, but if his power can translate and he can stay at first, there could be something here.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.
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