What sets Rays’ fourth round pick, Dominic Keegan, apart from a lot of other prospects is that Keegan is a graduate of Vanderbilt, rather than a high school senior or college freshman.
Speaking of high school, Keegan is from Central Catholic, located in Methuen, Massachusetts. There, Keegan was ranked by Perfect Game as Massachusetts’ top catcher and the #18 ranked Catcher in the country.
Arriving in Tennessee for the Vanderbilt team, Keegan got on the scene immediately, making seven catcher appearances and five at designated hitter. In this season, he went 4-10 advancing baserunners, and logged a base hit against Duke in the Super Regionals.
As a Junior, Trevor Martin was selected in the 19th round of the MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, but decided to stay with Vanderbilt and enter the draft after college. But before this draft selection, Keegan’s game took off junior season after a COVID cancellation the year prior. In his 3rd season, the catcher launched 15 home runs, and took the honors of Perfect Game All-America Second Team. He also led the team with 57 RBI’s, and batted a team high .345 AVG.
Keegan continued with a great season this past year as a Senior. He was a member of the All-SEC Team, while putting up similar statistics to his junior season. He homered 14 times, put up 47 hits, and 67 RBI’s.
While most got a chance to train privately during the COVID lockdowns, Keegan did not. He had to get offseason surgery to remove a rib and his complicated recovery left him with full strength during the COVID cancellations. Scouts call Keegan Vandy’s most productive and consistent hitter over the past two seasons.
Even though Keegan is a college graduate, he’s the same age as rising sophomore and Rays third round pick Trevor Martin, at 21 years of age.
Finally, scouts claim Keegan has the work ethic to be successful through the Rays’ farm system.