Blue Jays Nation’s 2024 Mid-Season Prospect Countdown – No. 33: Sean Keys

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Ryley Delaney | Last updated Aug 21, 2024 4:00 PM ET

In this article, we’ll look at the first 2024 draftee on our Mid-Season Top 35 Prospects list!

This is Blue Jays Nation’s annual Mid-Season Countdown, where we’ll look at the 35 best prospects in the Blue Jays system. We’ll look at the player’s stats, my observations, and other publication’s scouting reports if available.

Let’s take a look at our 33rd-best prospect, Sean Keys.

Getting to know Sean Keys…

Position: Third base

Bats: Left

Born: May 26, 2003

Acquired: 4th-round, 2024 draft (Blue Jays)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

Sean Keys spent his entire collegiate career at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and slashed .359/.476/.711 with 27 home runs in 452 plate appearances, 62 walks and 63 strikeouts. In his final season at the school, the 21-year-old third baseman slashed .405/.535/.798 with 13 home runs in 213 plate appearances, along with more walks (35) than strikeouts (26).

He’s shown to have pop with the wooden bats as well, as he hit 15 home runs during the 2023 summer ball season, four of which came with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cope League. All this led to the Blue Jays selecting Keys with their fourth-round selection in July’s draft.

Keys was assigned to Single-A Dunedin, where he’s slashed .194/.268/.333 with one home run in 41 plate appearances, along with two doubles and 12 strikeouts to four walks. Not a great start, but transitioning to the professional game takes time.

The Key to victory

After his first professional home run put Dunedin ahead in the 8th, Sean Keys delivered the game-winning RBI single in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/j9DsIV7fLS

— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) August 16, 2024

In MLB Pipeline’s mid-season update, Keys ranked as the Blue Jays’ 25th-best prospect. The 21-year-old has a hit-over-power profile, with the publication noting that Keys often makes contact of the hard variety. Moreover, he has a good approach paired with a good eye, leading to Keys avoiding chasing pitches outside the zone. The pop is notable, but some scouts believe it won’t translate to the professional game.

That could be concerning, considering that the publication believes that he’ll eventually move to first base, as he’s not a great defender at third base. Still, the hit tool is graded 55, and perhaps the power can come through as well.

It’s tough to say how Keys will develop, but he’ll need to finish the 2024 season out strong before heading into his first full professional season in 2025.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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