Keegan Drafted By Atlanta Braves In 14th Round

Bowling Green State University standout Trey Keegan has been drafted in the 14th round of the 2015 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Atlanta Braves. Keegan, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, was the 420th overall pick of the draft. He becomes the first Falcon selected in the MLB First Year Player Draft since 2011 and the Falcons' highest pick since Nolan Reimold was taken in the second round back in 2005.

"BGSU Baseball is extremely proud of Trey and this accomplishment of being drafted by the Atlanta Braves," head coach Danny Schmitz said. "Trey has worked extremely hard during his time at Bowling Green and is certainly deserving of this opportunity."

Named first team All-Mid-American Conference in 2015 at catcher, Keegan impressed throughout the season with his bat. But, what stood out most to scouts throughout the season was his defensive ability and arm strength, as he was named to the All-MAC defensive team at catcher, as well.

"This is the best feeling that anyone can imagine," Keegan began. "I got chills when I heard my name announced and none of it would be possible without the hard work of all the people around me. The coaching staff truly is amazing and my teammates at Bowling Green are just as amazing. Bowling Green baseball is something that I am never going to forget. I can't wait to be an Atlanta Brave!"

Offensively, Keegan hit .295 in 2015 with a .405 on-base percentage. He had a team-high 13 doubles and five home runs, along with a triple, finishing with a slugging percentage of .453. Batting in the three-hole much of the season for the Falcons, Keegan drove in a team-best 39 runs while scoring 46. After playing in just 40 games through the first two seasons of his career, the catcher played in, and started, all 54 games for the Orange and Brown in 2015.

Keegan started his Falcon baseball career a season late, as he originally enrolled at Ohio Dominican University out of high school. But, the Sandusky native ended up transferring from ODU, ending up at BGSU Firelands for his spring semester. He then was signed by the Falcons in the summer of 2012, starting as a redshirt freshman in 2013 before suffering a season-ending injury which required Tommy John Surgery. Keegan rehabbed from the surgery, and was able to make 19 starts in 2014.

2015 was Keegan's time to shine for the Falcons, as he was stepping in to replace 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-MAC performer T.J. Losby. He was up to the challenge, as he began the season by hitting in seven straight games and 11 of the first 12. Keegan had four games during the season with three-or-more RBI and scored three-or-more runs in six different games. His plate discipline has also been a key factor to his success this season, as he drew 29 walks and nine HBP compared to just 16 strikeouts on the season.

Defensively Keegan was maybe even more impressive, allowing just 19 stolen bases in 40 attempts. Keegan started behind the dish 40 times in 2015, committing just four errors in 237 chances. He had 199 putouts and 38 assists, picking off four runners. Even more impressive was Keegan in MAC play, gunning down 12-of-24 would-be base stealers in 27 games. His .475 caught stealing percentage was amongst the top five catchers in the nation during the season.

Keegan had several standout performances during the season, as he was named MAC East Player of the Week on March 2 after the Falcons took 2-of-3 from Eastern Kentucky. In that series, Keegan was on base 13 times in 16 plate appearances. He then started the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla. by going 2-for-3 with four runs scored and three RBI in a win on March 10 vs. Butler. Keegan had three hits with two RBI and two runs scored in a March 28 win at Northern Illinois. His strong season continued with a four-RBI performance on the road at Ohio (April 12). Keegan had two doubles in a game at Central Michigan (April 26) and four RBI in the regular season finale vs. Buffalo (May 16).

Danny Schmitz continues a long history of successful player development, as Keegan becomes Bowling Green's 23rd draft pick since Schmitz took over the program in 1991. 35 players have signed professional contracts in Schmitz's 25 seasons.

Players drafted this week have until July 15 to either sign a contract or opt to return to school. If Keegan would return to Bowling Green for the 2016 season, he would have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He would join Cody Callaway as MLB Draft picks, as Callaway was drafted in the 34th round of the 2014 Draft by the Cleveland Indians.

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