Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 

A backup catcher on Vanderbilt's 2019 College World Series championship team, Keegan was set to take over behind the plate for the Commodores in 2020 before offseason surgery to remove a rib and a complicated recovery left him at less than full strength during the pandemic-shortened season. He didn't become a full-time player for Vanderbilt until 2021 but has been the team's most productive hitter each of the past two years. He spent last season at first base, turned down the Yankees as a 19th-round pick after sliding in the Draft because of signability and finally saw significant action at catcher this spring. 

Keegan is exceedingly strong and the ball jumps off his bat to all fields despite what looks like an effortless right-handed swing. His ease of operation allows him to provide consistent hard contact and he has made adjustments to do much more damage against breaking balls this year than he has in the past. Though he's a fourth-year college player, he won't turn 22 until August and his track record in the Southeastern Conference is hard to ignore. 

Keegan has helped his cause by improving his defense and showing he can be an adequate catcher. He has the work ethic to continue to get better and has quickened his transfer and release to get more out of his throws, though his solid arm strength plays more as average. He's an average defender at first base and moves well enough to perhaps play left field. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Keegan essentially didn’t become a full-time starting catcher until he entered the professional ranks. He was part of Vanderbilt’s 2019 College World Series championship roster as a backup catcher, became a regular first baseman in ’21 and split time between the two positions in ’22, when he elected to return to Vandy after the Yankees selected him in the 19th round of the 2021 Draft. It turned out to be a smart decision, as Keegan parlayed his performance as the Commodores’ top hitter into a fourth-round selection (and $397,500 bonus) from the Rays.

There aren’t many questions about Keegan’s offensive ability. He can hit -- and not just by the lower standards of the catching position. He has an easy right-handed swing, which produces decent power to all fields. He performed well in the Arizona Fall League after playing at both Class-A levels in 2023, hitting three homers in 15 games and recording nearly as many walks (10) as strikeouts (14). He’s not going to wow anyone with his speed, but he’s less of a plodder on the basepaths than many catchers.

There are naturally going to be concerns about his defense given his limited track record behind the plate, but the Rays are optimistic about the strides he’s taken on that front. Smart and cerebral, Keegan calls a good game and works well with pitchers. His throwing can still improve, but he’s boosted his arm strength over the past year for it to now be considered above-average. Overall, he’s developed well enough for the Rays to believe he’ll be able to hold his own as more than just an offensive-minded catcher in the Majors.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

After winning the 2019 College World Series championship as the team’s backup catcher, Keegan didn’t become a full-time player at Vanderbilt until 2021. He was the Commodores’ most productive hitter in ’21, albeit as a first baseman, but didn’t sign with the Yankees after they picked him in the 19th round of the Draft. He returned as a fourth-year junior last spring, splitting his time between first and catcher, and remained Vandy’s top hitter. All that could turn him into a fourth-round steal for the Rays, who nabbed him 134th overall and signed him for $397,500.

Given his background as a position player who lined up at offensive-oriented spots like first base and left field, it might be no surprise that Keegan offers a good amount of athleticism and hitting ability for a catcher. He’s got an effortless right-handed swing, but the ball jumps off his bat with power to all fields. He’s not a base-clogger, either, with solid speed for a backstop. He backed up his track record of success as a hitter in the SEC with a dozen games of quality performance in his pro debut, all of them coming at catcher.

Keegan has quickened his transfer and release to get more out of his throws, as his solid arm strength has played as more average. The Rays have been enthused by how that work has carried into the season at Single-A and High-A, and they've grown even more confident that Keegan can be at least a 50-grade defender behind the plate. Given the relative lack of catching across the industry, someone who can hold his own back there while hitting is worth keeping an eye on.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 

A backup catcher on Vanderbilt's 2019 College World Series championship team, Keegan was set to take over behind the plate for the Commodores in 2020 before offseason surgery to remove a rib and a complicated recovery left him at less than full strength during the pandemic-shortened season. He didn't become a full-time player for Vanderbilt until 2021, but has been the team's most productive hitter the past two years. He spent last season at first base, turned down the Yankees as a 19th-round pick after sliding in the Draft because of signability and finally saw significant action at catcher this spring. He has the makings of a potential fourth-round steal by the Rays, who signed the 22-year-old to a $397,500 bonus

Keegan is exceedingly strong, and the ball jumps off his bat to all fields despite what looks like an effortless right-handed swing. His ease of operation allows him to provide consistent hard contact, and he has made adjustments to do much more damage against breaking balls this year than he has in the past. Though he's a fourth-year college player, he didn’t turn 22 until August and his track record in the Southeastern Conference is hard to ignore. 

Keegan has helped his cause by improving his defense and showing he can be an adequate catcher. He has the work ethic to continue to get better and has quickened his transfer and release to get more out of his throws, though his solid arm strength plays more as average. He's an average defender at first base and moves well enough to perhaps play left field.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

A reserve catcher on Vanderbilt's 2019 College World Series championship as a freshman, Keegan might have taken over behind the plate for the Commodores last year if offseason surgery to remove a rib and a complicated recovery hadn't left him at less than full strength to begin 2020. After getting just 55 at-bats in his first two years, he led the Futures Collegiate League with 19 extra-base hits in 32 games last summer and opened 2021 by batting .500 with four homers in his first 10 contests. Though he wasn't as dominant after missing two weeks in March when he contracted the coronavirus, he still was the most dangerous hitter on Vandy's CWS runner-up team and finished with a .345/.427/.638 line. 

Keegan's prodigious strength allows the ball to jump off his bat despite what appears to be an effortless right-handed stroke. He has plus raw power but will need to get more consistent at the plate to make the most of it. His swing can get long at times, and while he can catch up to good velocity, he struggles with offspeed pitches. 

Keegan would offer more value if he were a viable catcher, but that remains to be seen because he caught just one game in the first three months of this season. He has solid arm strength but a slow release that enabled North Alabama to steal five bases against him, and his receiving is a work in progress. A below-average runner, he projects as an average defender at first base and might merit a look at an outfield corner or third base. 

Awards

SOU Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

SOU Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/02/2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2023

CAR Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/16/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/02/2024	C Dominic Keegan assigned to Montgomery Biscuits from Bowling Green Hot Rods.
	03/07/2024	Tampa Bay Rays Prospects activated C Dominic Keegan.
	01/30/2024	Tampa Bay Rays invited non-roster C Dominic Keegan to spring training.
	11/03/2023	American League Fall Stars activated C Dominic Keegan.
	11/03/2023	C Dominic Keegan assigned to American League Fall Stars.
	09/22/2023	Peoria Javelinas activated C Dominic Keegan.
	06/28/2023	C Dominic Keegan assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods from Charleston RiverDogs.
	03/27/2023	C Dominic Keegan roster status changed by Tampa Bay Rays.
	03/27/2023	C Dominic Keegan assigned to Tampa Bay Rays.
	08/30/2022	C Dominic Keegan assigned to Charleston RiverDogs from FCL Rays.
	08/30/2022	Charleston RiverDogs activated C Dominic Keegan.
	08/30/2022	Charleston RiverDogs activated C Dominic Keegan.
	08/09/2022	C Dominic Keegan assigned to FCL Rays.
	08/08/2022	Tampa Bay Rays signed C Dominic Keegan.
	06/17/2022	C Dominic Keegan assigned to College Workout.
	06/17/2022	College Workout activated C Dominic Keegan.
	06/17/2022	C Dominic Keegan assigned to College Workout.
	02/13/2019	C Dominic Keegan assigned to Vanderbilt Commodores.