It’s not often that a minor league player earns two promotions in their first full season of play but that’s exactly what current Reading Fightins twenty three year old first baseman Keaton Anthony has done this season.
He began the year with the Low A level Clearwater Threshers and was a key contributor to the team’s Florida State League first half championship run, he posted a .322/.446/.470 slash line in 44 games and a .916 OPS in 186 plate appearances with 10 doubles, 4 home runs and 21 RBIs drawing an equal amount of walks and strikeouts (28). On June 25th he was promoted to High A level Jersey Shore where he continued to rake - in 53 games (232 plate appearances) he had a .356/.418/.483 slash line with a .901 OPS - 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 45 RBIs with 21 walks and 34 strikeouts. He was promoted to AA level Reading on 9/6/24 to finish the 2024 season.
Keaton was signed as an un-drafted free agent by the Phillies on 7/18/23 after putting up stellar numbers in three seasons of play at the University of Iowa, a .372/.476/.686 slash line and 1.162 OPS in 97 games (443 plate appearances) with 44 doubles, 23 home runs and 93 RBIs. He was held out of the 2023 NCAA tournament by the University due to an NCAA investigation into gambling involving 26 IU athletes across five sports. Keaton was never ultimately charged with any violations however it certainly hurt his draft standing. He told the Iowa Gazette in a 5/17/24 article that “I had guys call me during the draft and tell me ‘We’d love to take you, but this is kind of a quote ‘Pete Rose situation. It’s hard to get this past our front office, I one thousand percent think it did prevent me from getting drafted.” The article also stated that “Anthony is among a group of Iowa and Iowa State athletes whose lawyers filed a lawsuit in April against the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for allegedly violating their rights by illegally using geofencing software in its probe. The group is seeking an unspecified amount of money for smearing their reputations.”
Baseball America described his baseball abilities this way in their 2023 pre-draft analysis “The 6-foot-4 right-handed slugger has an advanced approach at the plate with strong swing decisions and he gets started with a minimal load and quick, explosive hands that help him spray the ball all over the field. He has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to either gap and has above-average raw power that translates well in games. Anthony managed a 91.5 mph average exit velocity this spring, and he did so while making contact at an 83% clip. Anthony will expand the strike zone at times, though he’s always walked at a solid rate with minimal strikeouts in the Big Ten. His future professionally is either at first base or a corner outfield spot, where he will have at least average arm strength.”
I first saw Keaton hit in BP at the Carpenter Complex in July of 2023 shortly after he signed, I was impressed by his ability to drive multiple lower zone pitches over the fences given his length with a seemingly minimal amount of effort needed to do so. Akin to the BA report I saw quick explosive hands - reminded me (am showing my age) of power hitting displayed by Dave Kingman from back in the day 🤓. I told Keaton that afterwards - the young man wasn’t aware of who Mr. Kingman was - he asked if it was a compliment and I said yes, he then promised to google him. 😂. I’ve since come to a better comparison, (Jersey Shore broadcaster Tony Graham brought it up in a game call this summer), given Keaton’s ability to hit the ball more on a line to all fields, don’t discount the power as it’s there too, but I now think that his offensive game aligns more to current Phillie Nick Castellanos.
Greg Giombarrese - Vice President - Communications for the BlueClaws told me that “Keaton Anthony is a professional hitter. From the moment he got here in June, you could see that. Perhaps the most amazing part of his season with the BlueClaws is that he only twice had a stretch of back to back games without a hit, and he never had a stretch of back to back games failing to reach base. It was simply consistent, excellent production from his first game with the BlueClaws to his last. He hits the ball to all fields, and he is comfortable hitting in any count. In fact, this year, he is 20-64 with three home runs in a 1-2 count. Four of his eight home runs between Clearwater and Jersey Shore were in 0-2 or 1-2 counts. Obviously, the water gets deeper as he moves into Double-A for the last week of this season and into 2025. I’m sure the Phillies will try to unlock a little more power, but anyone who hits the ball on a line as much as he does is definitely a player to watch.”
I asked Keaton a few questions this weekend - here’s our correspondence.
The elephant in the room at the time of the draft were the gambling allegations levied against you while in college - do you use that as motivation in any way to prove clubs wrong for not drafting or signing you?
“Yes I do use it as motivation. It is something that was a tough time for me, but I use it as motivation everyday when I take the field.”
What was your reaction when the Phillies offered you a free agent contract?
‘I was very excited and blessed for the opportunity. I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen in the draft and feel very fortunate that the Phillies gave me the chance to play at the professional level.”
I remember watching you the first time in BP at the complex and being impressed with your power. If you recall I asked you if you knew who Dave Kingman was as I told you then your frame and power reminded me of him. You weren’t aware of him then - have you since seen footage of him from back in the day? 🤓
“Yes, I have seen footage of Dave Kingman now - haha.”
In your first full season you’ve produced a great batting average and on-base percentage - what is your approach at the plate and what type of adjustments have you made throughout the season?
“My approach at the plate is to just have a good at bat and hit the ball hard. I try to swing at pitches that I can hit and not chase, but I also like to have a plan. I haven’t made many adjustments this year other than being a little more aggressive in hitter’s counts. Other than that, I just trust my plan and my training to pay off in the game.”
Playing at three levels is rare during a minor league season but you’ve accomplished that in your first full year of pro ball - what differences have you noted in the different levels of play?
“A few differences I have noticed between the levels is just the pace of the game. As I have moved up it is more competitive and faster. Better pitches and command by pitchers, less walks, more breaking balls in hitters counts.”
You’ve moved to first base as a pro but played corner outfield and also pitched in college - do you see the outfield as a possible defensive position for you as well? How have you adjusted to first base - any coach in particular who has stood out guiding you?
“Yes I do think outfield is still a position I could play in the future. I think it is something that I could do to help me be more versatile. I have adjusted very well this year at first base and feel very comfortable over there. Adam Everett and Sean Rodriguez have helped me a lot.”
The Phillies player development group has a “Protect the Standard” mantra - what does the charter mean to you and what have been your impressions of the organization thus far including the facilities at Clearwater, Lakewood and Reading?
“Protecting the Standard to me means doing everything in a professional manner. On the field, I am not only representing myself, but I am representing the Phillies. I have really enjoyed the facilities at all the levels. They have all been great.”
Lastly two more former Iowa Hawkeyes were added to the organization in July with RHP Marcus Morgan being drafted and infielder Raider Tello signing as an un-drafted free agent - have you talked with either of them and if so what advice have you given them about the pro life and being a Phillie?
“I have talked with both Marcus and Raider a lot since the end of the draft. I like to keep up with them and see how they are doing. Some advice I have given them is to make sure you are taking care of your body throughout the year to stay healthy, that there are going to be struggles throughout the year, it’s a long season so it’s something you will have to quickly put behind you. I am very confident in both of their abilities and I am very excited that they have joined the Phillies family.”
Thanks to Keaton for taking the time to answer our questions and to Greg Giombarrese for his input. Keaton has shown exceptional hitting skills, next season a return to Reading to begin the year is likely with a “Hawks eye” (see what I did there 🤓) on moving up the ladder even further. We wish him continuing success.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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