Matt Keating Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Matthew Ronald Keating
Born 12/08/2000 in Omaha, NE
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Southern California
Drafted in the 9th round (280th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2022 (signed for $122,500).

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A power lifter in high school, Keating initially jumped on radars as a two-way player at Southeast (Neb.) JC in 2021. He hit .404 with a school-record 19 home runs and 27 stolen bases to earn region player of the year honors, but he also struck out 33 batters in 16 innings as a pitcher. He transferred to USC this spring and went 0-for-11 in a brief stint at the plate before moving full-time to the mound and becoming one of the Trojans' best relievers. Keating's fastball has modest velocity at 91-93 mph, but the pitch plays up with above-average life. His main weapon is a power curveball in the low-80s that flashes plus with 12-to-6 break and the depth of a slider. He locates his curveball in the strike zone and consistently gets swings and misses on it. Keating has average control and is a tough competitor who goes right after hitters. He is strictly a reliever and will be challenged to survive in pro ball with modest velocity, but his breaking ball makes him worth a look.

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School: Southern California Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
A powerlifter in high school. Keating was a two-way player at Southeast (Neb.) JC. He hit .404 with a school-record 19 home runs and 27 stolen bases to earn region player of the year honors. But he also struck out 33 batters in 16 innings, which is what intrigued Southern California. The Trojans did let Keating hit a little, but he went 0-for-11 in 2022. He was much better as a pitcher. He went 2-3, 3.60 with 44 strikeouts and 15 walks in 30 innings as a reliever. Keating has a power low-80s breaking ball that flashes plus. It has the 12-to-6 trajectory of a curveball, but its power and depth are more like a slider. Hitters missed 41% of the time when they swung at it in 2022 and he threw it for strikes 65% of the time. Keating also has an average fastball that has modest velocity (91-93 mph in short outings), but above-average life. He has average control. He’s a reliever with modest velocity, but his breaking ball makes him worth a look.