Colt Keith talks about making Detroit Tigers history with contract, missing Biloxi
A Biloxi High School graduate made history this week when Colt Keith signed a six-year, $28.6 million contract with the Detroit Tigers that can max out at nine seasons and $82 million.
It’s the largest extension ever signed by a Tiger before his big-league debut and only the seventh such contract ever signed by an MLB player. Keith’s pre-debut extension puts him in rare company with Luis Robert Jr., Evan White, Eloy Jimenez, Scott Kingery, Jon Singleton and Jackson Chourio — who played 122 games for the Biloxi Shuckers.
“It really tells me they love my bat, they love my defense and they love my makeup,” Keith told the Sun Herald. “It shows they really trust me to take the wheel of the team and kind of drive our way to the playoffs and drive our way to some World Series wins in the future, hopefully.”
Keith graduated from BHS in 2020, and was taken in the fifth round of that year’s abbreviated MLB draft with a $500,000 signing bonus.
He arrived in Biloxi as a transfer from Arizona in time for his junior year and batted .527 with 48 hits, 49 RBIs and 46 runs scored in his lone full season as an Indian.
“You knew he was different, but when you saw how hard he worked and how passionate he was about the game, you knew his future was going to be bright,” Biloxi athletic director and Keith’s former coach Eddie Lofton said.
Keith’s presence in the batter’s box proved advanced for his age when he dominated Single A baseball in the Tigers organization before rocketing up prospect boards in 2023 with his play between the AA and AAA levels.
His bat and fielding ability — while battling a nagging shoulder injury — impressed Tigers coaches and front office enough to make Keith a part of the organization’s long-term plans.
“I made some good impressions with the coaches there, they obviously know I have what it takes to be a good Major Leaguer and I think that’s one of the big goals that I’ve checked off, to be able to say I can be a big-league player,” Keith said.
With Keith’s contract and placement on the Tigers’ 40-man roster, he’s likely to become the third graduate of BHS to reach the majors and the first since Barry Lyons, whose MLB career lasted from 1986 to 1995.
Keith says he still thinks often about the stomping grounds that served as the launching point for his career.
“In-season I’m always missing coming back here and just feeling the vibes of the town and how much people love baseball around here,” Keith said. “It’s awesome. My time in Biloxi was great. The support I had made me a better baseball player and made me a better person.”
The Tigers will open will open spring training in the Grapefruit League in Florida on Feb. 24. Keith will be battling for a spot on the Opening Day roster as Detroit’s starting second baseman.
