Detroit Tigers: 2 prospects that need a promotion and 1 that needs a demotion

3B Colt Keith, High-A to Double-A

Keith was a fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft. The Detroit Tigers gave him a large signing bonus to keep him away from his commitment to Arizona State. So far, it’s safe to say both parties are happy in this situation.

Keith was a two-way player in high school, and was actually getting some buzz from teams looking to draft him as a pitcher. The whole hitting thing has worked out for him so far, as he is by far the best hitting prospect the Detroit Tigers have at the moment.

Here’s MLB Pipeline’s scouting report on Keith:

"“Keith is athletic for his big frame…His size hasn’t yet translated into power, but he has a nice line-drive approach and advanced plate discipline for his age thanks in part to a quick, efficient left-handed swing that enables him to wait to commit. His .320 average at Lakeland included a .437 on-base percentage; followed by eight walks in 18 games at West Michigan. He doesn’t chase breaking balls out of the zone often, though he can be challenged by high velocity in the strike zone. He has quick reactions and a strong arm, but will need to continue working to stick at third.”"

Keith’s advanced plate discipline has served him well. The Tigers have been awfully aggressive with him so far and that has also panned out. He’s played all of 2022 at High-A West Michigan, slashing .299/.372/.533 with a .905 OPS and eight home runs. At just 20 years old, he’s raked at every level of the minors so far. According to Fangraphs, Keith ranks seventh among High-A players 21 or younger in wRC+ at 152, and 10th in ISO at .234.

The Tigers have been aggressive with Keith in the past, and they should continue that aggression. Some thought he was getting promoted a couple weeks ago when Flores and Hill got the bump. He would be one of the youngest players at Double-A, but Keith has done nothing to show that he couldn’t handle that challenge.