Detroit Tigers top prospect Colt Keith (39) Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tigers sign top prospect Colt Keith to long-term extension

By David Hill | Last updated 1/28/24

Colt Keith is one of the best prospects in all of baseball and is expected to be a key part of the Tigers' future. Detroit is making sure that the future starts now.

The Tigers announced on Sunday that they signed Keith to a six-year extension worth just over $26.8 million. The deal includes three club options that keep him under team control through 2032.

Sign of things to come. ✍️

We have signed INF Colt Keith to a six-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, followed by club options for the 2030, 2031, and 2032 seasons. pic.twitter.com/RzuJTadkvd
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) January 28, 2024

Keith is ranked as the 22nd-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com and the Tigers' second-ranked prospect. He has a short, quick swing, resulting in plenty of hard contact and impressive exit velocities. Keith is considered to have a plus-hit tool and power as he could be an impact bat in the middle of the order.

He had a breakout performance in 2023. Keith posted a .306/.380/.552 slash line in 577 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 27 homers and 38 doubles. He ranked third in extra-base hits, fifth in total bases, and tied for eighth in RBI among all minor league players.

This extension also solves a hole in the Tigers' roster. Andy Ibanez and Zach McKinstry are the only players currently listed on their depth chart at second base. Both of those players are better utilized as a super-utility type, slotting around the diamond as needed.

The 22-year-old infielder may now be considered for Detroit's Opening Day job at second base, which would add yet another young player to their lineup. This extension ensures that he will be the answer for years to come.

More must-reads: