Colt Keith’s defense at 2B has been an early asset
When you’re a position player and you sign a big-time extension before you’ve ever made your major-league debut, naturally the focus, at least from the fans, is going to be on your offense.
And Colt Keith was thrilled to get the first extra-base hit of his major-league career Thursday, leading the Tigers past the New York Mets, 6-3, in the first game of a doubleheader. There was certainly a sign of relief as he stood on second base, a big old smile on his face.
“Hopefully,” said Keith, “there’s a lot more of that coming.”
The Tigers hope so, and expect so, hence the $29 million extension they gave Keith, a fifth-round pick in 2020, back in January. The deal could be worth as much as $82 million, if he hits all the benchmarks.
The bigger question coming into the 2024 season, though, was Keith’s defense at second base. The majority of his reps in the minor leagues had been at third base, but he was the Tigers’ Opening Day second baseman.
On that front, Keith’s defense is ahead of his offense. He made multiple impressive plays in the Mets series, including a diving catch on a liner by Francisco Lindor that saved a couple runs, another grounder that took a wild hop to head range that he adjusted and snagged, and another where he showed off his improved range and footwork to turn a mildly difficult play into a routine one.
“He’s been really good. I hope he takes it personally how many people ask about that, because he’s put in a lot of work on making the routine plays and then expanding his range,” manager AJ Hinch said Friday morning, before the Tigers’ home opener against the Oakland A’s at Comerica Park. “He’s fielded the ball cleanly, he’s made proper throws, his work around the bases has gotten better.
“I get the luxury of seeing him the first day of spring training and then seeing him on the big stage, handle the ball under pressure. … One of the best things to say about Colt Keith’s defense is that I haven’t noticed it, and I say that as a compliment, because there haven’t been mishandled balls and there haven’t been issues.”
Keith, 22, played 132 games at third base in the minors, to 71 at second base. Making the full-time switch of positions at the minor-league level is less daunting, out of the spotlight.
Doing so as you’re breaking into the big leagues isn’t so easy, though Keith has made it look so smooth.
He hasn’t made an error through five games, over 27 chances. He has 15 assists, and two double plays.
Keith acknowledged the “pride” he plays with on defense, and credits coach Joey Cora for all the daily work the two have put in together since the early days of February in Lakeland, Florida.
“I think if you just watch the game, you know that so far I haven’t been holding the team back defensively. I’ve been making plays and been an asset out there,” said Keith, who wasn’t in the starting lineup Friday, with the A’s pitching a left-hander in JP Sears. “I’m just trying to keep doing that.
“I’ve gotten a lot better since the spring started.”
Offensively, Keith had four hits through his first 20 major-league at-bats, in the first six games. Three of those have been in the last two games. He acknowledged that slow starts to seasons at new levels have been an issue for him throughout his professional career.