Vanderbilt first baseman Dominic Keegan was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 134th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Keegan was the third Commodore selected in the draft after Kumar Rocker and Spencer Jones were chosen in the first round on Sunday.

This selection comes on the back of another stellar year of play for the senior both at the plate and on the diamond. The first baseman boasted team-highs in batting average (.371), games played and started (tied with Enrique Bradfield Jr. at 62), home runs (14), RBIs (67) and hits (tied with Spencer Jones at 85). Keegan was also reliable on defense, presenting a career .987 fielding average.

Keegan was drafted last July in the 19th round by the New York Yankees, ultimately forgoing this selection and staying another year on West End. The four-year Commodore could return to Vanderbilt for one more year if he opts out of the selection once again, as all rising seniors have an extra year of eligibility after the COVID-19 pandemic season. Only time will tell if the Methuen, Massachusetts, local will wish to remain in college. 

Keegan could provide versatility to any MLB roster, having played at both first base and catcher in his collegiate career, but the 6’0,” 210 lbs. slugger has truly turned heads with his offensive prowess. The righty has shown his ability to hit for contact and power, facing some of the toughest competition in the SEC. 

With an NCAA Championship in his back pocket, Keegan will now look to burst his way onto the major league scene and capture some more hardware for his trophy case.

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