Colt Keith was taken in the 5th Round of the 2020 amateur draft
22nd rated prospect in MLB
Batted .325/14/50 in Double-A
Batted .287/13/51 in Triple-A
By Bear Acuda
The Detroit Tigers have taken quite the gamble, committing to a six-year agreement with their prospect Colt Keith, a 22-year-old infielder who has yet to play an inning in the MLB. This deal, announced on Sunday, assures Keith of receiving $28,642,500.
This contract includes options for an additional three years, potentially elevating its total value to $64 million over nine years. Moreover, the Tigers have included performance-based escalators, which could increase the total value to $82 million across the same duration. This may seem like alot, but should the gamble pan out for Detroit, they will be paying a hefty ransom on the backend (just look at Ohtani’s recent near-billion dollar contract).
Who is Tigers prospect Colt Keith?
MLB.com has ranked Keith as the 22nd top prospect in the MLB. A native of Zanesville, Ohio, Keith, who bats left-handed, can play both third and second base. He was chosen in the fifth round of the 2020 amateur draft out of Biloxi High School in Mississippi.
Last year, while playing for Double-A Erie, the farm-system prospect hit a .325 batting average, 14 ding-dong Donkey Kongs, (homeruns, in layman’s terms) and drove in 50 runs in 59 games. Following his promotion to Triple-A Toledo on June 26, he maintained impressive form, recording a .287 average with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs over 67 games.
Keith’s financial terms include a $2 million signing bonus and escalating annual salaries starting from $2.5 million in 2024 and reaching $5 million in both 2028 and 2029. The Tigers hold options for 2030 at $10 million with a $2,642,500 buyout, for 2031 at $13 million with a $1 million buyout, and for 2032 at $15 million with a $2 million buyout.
Comparatively, last month, the Milwaukee Brewers finalized an eight-year contract worth $82 million with their star prospect, 19-year-old outfielder Jackson Chourio. In the process, the Brewers set a record for the highest contract awarded to a prospect without major league experience.
The Tigers, who have not enjoyed a winning season in the past seven years, are eager to reverse their fortunes. They last claimed a World Series title in 1984 and an American League pennant in 2012.
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