Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 35 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania has had just one player get drafted and reach the big leagues -- right-hander Eric Junge, a 1999 draftee -- and has had just two players get taken in the top 10 rounds in school history. Keys put himself on the map with a solid sophomore season for the Bison in 2023, followed by posting a 1.254 OPS in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and slashing .385/.422/.769 in 10 Cape Cod League games last summer. He followed it up with a huge junior year, finishing with a .405/.535/.798 line to go along with 13 homers en route to winning Patriot League Player of the Year honors.

Big and barrel-chested, Keys is a left-handed hitter who likely will be an analytics darling. He’s improved his approach, walking more than he struck out in 2024, and makes consistent hard contact. He rarely swings-and-misses or chases and showed the ability to handle all kinds of stuff, particularly punishing fastballs. He’s hit 26 homers the last two years combined at Bucknell, and while some scouts aren’t sure the power will play at the next level, his pop with a wood bat in the summer leagues does provide a little more confidence.

There’s less surety about where Keys will play defensively at the next level. He’s been a third baseman throughout his college career, but he’s not athletic or agile enough to stick at the hot corner, and he made 11 errors there in 2024. A move to first is the most likely outcome, and there will undoubtedly be teams on Day 2 willing to roll the dice that his left-handed bat will play professionally.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 35 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40

Bucknell University in Pennsylvania has had just one player get drafted and reach the big leagues -- right-hander Eric Junge, a 1999 draftee -- and has had just three players get taken in the top 10 rounds in school history, now including Keys. He put himself on the map with a solid sophomore season for the Bison in 2023, followed by posting a 1.254 OPS in the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League and slashing .385/.422/.769 in 10 Cape Cod League games last summer. He followed it up with a huge junior year, finishing with a .405/.535/.798 line to go along with 13 homers en route to winning Patriot League Player of the Year honors. The Blue Jays selected him in the fourth round and signed him for right around slot at $569,700.

Big and barrel-chested, Keys is a left-handed hitter who likely will be an analytics darling. He’s improved his approach, walking more than he struck out in 2024, and makes consistent hard contact. He rarely swings-and-misses or chases, and he showed the ability to handle all kinds of stuff, particularly punishing fastballs. He hit 26 homers the last two years combined at Bucknell, and while some scouts aren’t sure the power will play at the next level, his pop with a wood bat in the summer leagues does provide a little more confidence.

There’s less surety about where Keys will play defensively at the next level. He’s been a third baseman throughout his college career, but he’s not athletic or agile enough to stick at the hot corner, and he made 11 errors there in 2024. A move to first is the most likely outcome, but the Blue Jays were betting on the bat with their selection anyways.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/06/2024	3B Sean Keys assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays.
	07/22/2024	Toronto Blue Jays signed 3B Sean Keys.
	06/27/2024	3B Sean Keys assigned to Cotuit Kettleers.
	06/20/2024	Cotuit Kettleers released 3B Sean Keys.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 3B Sean Keys.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 3B Sean Keys.
	04/03/2024	3B Sean Keys assigned to Cotuit Kettleers.
	08/23/2023	3B Sean Keys assigned to College Workout.
	06/09/2023	Cotuit Kettleers activated 3B Sean Keys.