Detroit Tigers Explain Plan For Top Prospect Who Just Signed Contract Extension
The Detroit Tigers, who just signed infielder Colt Keith to a six-year contract extension, plan to use him at second base this season.
Per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press:
Scott Harris said the #Tigers won't close the door on Colt Keith playing third base in the future, but he will play second base in 2024.
Harris: "The primary focus for us this year, given the makeup of our team, is going to be at second base."
Those comments, paired with the contract extension, seem to mean that Keith will be on the team's Opening Day roster in 2024.
Detroit is looking to improve upon a second place finish in the American League Central in 2023. Keith can help that, as can the additions of Mark Canha, Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty this offseason. Keith joins Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson as home grown position players the team is leaning on.
Keith is the No. 2 prospect in the organization and the No. 22 prospect in all of baseball.
The following comes from his MLB.com prospect profile:
Using a quick and short left-handed swing, the Mississippi native does a nice job of marrying quality contact rates with noticeable impact at the dish. He elevates well and rarely expands the zone, leading to the high slugging percentages and extra-base-hit rates. With Triple-A Toledo, he maxed out with an exit velocity of 110.1 mph and slugged a 473-foot homer (per Statcast) that ranked as the fifth-longest in the International League last season. Higher EVs and more tape-measure shots should be in his future as he grows more comfortable getting through long seasons.
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