‘The most stressful day of my life.’ Biloxi star fulfills dream in chaotic MLB Draft.
As the night wore on and a shortened MLB Draft drew closer to its finish, Colt Keith and the rest of his family grew concerned that the opportunity to go pro out of high school had passed him by.
“It was probably most stressful day of my life. Actually, it was the most stressful day,” the Biloxi High star told the Sun Herald in a phone interview with the Sun Herald.
Keith, an Arizona State signee, was projected to go as early as the second round, but he was still not off the board when the fourth round passed.
“I fell far past where we thought I’d be,” the infielder/right-handed pitcher said. “The boards were getting messed up and teams were picking guys right in front of me. I just missed the cut. I was fully expecting to go to Arizona State, but then I got the offer I wanted from Detroit.”
The Detroit Tigers, who had long had an eye on Keith, made him the first selection of the fifth round — the 132nd overall pick.
It was well below where the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Keith had hoped to land, but he was just happy to have a triumphant end to what had been a rough night.
“I think everybody was up and down emotionally,” he said. “It was down, real down. I shed a few tears from getting worried and stressed. The whole mood switched. Everybody is hyped up and happy.”
Keith received calls from other teams early in the draft, but none of them met the contractual demands that he, his family and advisers were hoping for.
All his problems were solved when he received a call from Detroit general manager Al Avila about three picks before his name was called.
“As soon as they gave us the number we wanted, I didn’t care who the team was or the circumstances,” Keith said. “It’s always been my goal and a dream to make it to the big leagues. The way I see it, I’m not going to the big leagues by going to college for three years. I got the number I wanted so I feel like I won in all aspects.”
This year’s MLB Draft was made far more complicated after the decision was made this spring to cut the draft from 40 to five rounds due to the impact of COVID-19.
Keith, who played shortstop and pitched in relief for Biloxi during his senior year, said the Tigers want to give him a look at shortstop, third base and pitcher.
After landing with Detroit, Keith feels like he is walking into an ideal situation.
“What they’re thinking about is getting a few high school guys and developing them long term,” he said. “The college guys, they’ll send them up quick.”
With the minor league season almost certain to be canceled due to the pandemic, Keith will be in a holding pattern along with every other player who is on contract with an MLB squad.
Eventually, he may be sent to the Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland, Florida, to train with other young prospects.
“I have zero info on all that,” Keith said. “I talked to a few guys around here in pro ball and their teams haven’t told them anything. The Tigers are just waiting to see what happens with the coronavirus.”
Keith was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi following a stellar junior season, hitting .527 with eight homers, 12 doubles and 49 RBIs. He also put in an outstanding performance as a relief pitcher, going 6-0 with a 1.47 ERA in 16 appearances with a fastball that stayed in the low 90’s
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Keith had his senior season shortened by the pandemic, hitting .269 with eight RBIs. He had a 2.55 ERA in five appearances on the mound.
Keith, who has lived in Ohio, Utah and Arizona, is fine with landing with an organization in the upper Midwest.
“I’ve got a lot of family up there,” he said. “I’ll have family members up there supporting me, giving me a place to stay. I’ve moved all around the country. It’s not a big deal to move up there. I’ll go into it with the biggest positive attitude.”
