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Is Colt Keith a fantasy baseball waiver wire stash? Joshua discusses the fantasy baseball outlook for re-draft leagues for the rest of the 2023 season.
The Detroit Tigers are in the bottom third of nearly every offensive category, and there are few things for the fans to look forward to. Colt Keith is the exception. The top prospect in the Tigers system has been on a tear this year and might find his way onto the big league team this season.
The 21-year-old started the year in Double-A and proved more than capable of competing. In 59 games in Double-A, Keith slashed .325/.391/.585 with 14 home runs, 18 doubles, and 50 RBI.
Keith's mastery of Double-A practically forced the Tigers to move him up to Triple-A. If he continues producing at the level he did in Double-A, Keith may earn another promotion before the year ends. His combination of contact and power is exactly what the Detroit Tigers lineup needs.
How High Is Colt Keith's Fantasy Potential?
Keith played in his first Triple-A game on Wednesday night and wasted no time getting to work. In his first at-bat, he blasted a 425-foot home run over the tall wall in Columbus. The 21-year-old followed up his home run with two singles and two walks. It seemed like Keith could do no wrong in his Triple-A debut. The only time Keith did not get on base, he hit a screaming liner to left center that was caught on the run at the track.
Throughout his minor league career, the young slugger has demonstrated a great balance of aggressiveness and plate discipline. Keith only once displayed a strikeout rate over 23%, and it was an 18-game stretch in High-A at the end of 2021. Every other season, the infielder showed a strikeout rate of around 20% and a walk rate of about 10%. The Tigers' lineup needs his ability to hit for contact and power while drawing walks and limiting strikeouts.
When Might Colt Keith Get A Major-League Opportunity?
Keith was just promoted to Triple-A yesterday, and although his debut was noteworthy, it will likely take at least a few weeks to gauge how well he has adjusted to the new level of competition. Stats take some time to stabilize, but if the young slugger's production does not fall off a cliff, a promotion to the Detroit Tigers could be in the cards.
The Tigers lineup has been horrible, scoring the third-fewest runs in the league, only ahead of the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics. Due to his lack of speed, Keith would likely play third base, and there is no one on the Tigers roster with a stronghold on that position. The other third-base eligible players on the roster are Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibanez, and Jonathan Schoop. Those players also play different positions, so fitting Keith in at the hot corner would not be difficult.
It's certainly too soon to speculate when Keith may be promoted to the Tigers, but his skills are apparent, and the job is there for the taking. The 21-year-old could easily fit in as an everyday starter at third base and DH for the Tigers with his plus bat. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should keep a close eye on Keith in the coming weeks because he could be a real difference-maker in fantasy if he gets the call. I would stash him if I had an empty bench slot because the upside is there for Keith.
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