Former Central Catholic Raider Dominic Keegan Drafted By Rays

NASHVILLE, TN —Vanderbilt's Dominic Keegan, a Methuen native and Central Catholic High School grad, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays Monday in the fourth round (134th overall) of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Keegan, a first baseman and catcher, was an All-Southeastern Conference First-Team selection as a senior in 2022, leading the team with a .371 batting average, 14 home runs and 67 RBIs in 62 games. He also was a finalist for the Dick Howser Award, presented annually to the college baseball player of the year

The 6-foot, 210-pound Keegan, who has a .345 career batting average at Vanderbilt, was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2021 draft. But he chose to return for his senior season.

"Dominic has been a very steady and consistent presence in our program for the last four years. We are grateful that he chose to come back to Vanderbilt for his final year," Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin said after the season.

Corbin continued: "(Keegan) has been a part of two national championship experiences and understands team commitment. His maturity and connection with the entire group, are reasons why Dom is so respected within the program. He gives our team very good defensive versatility with his catching skills and his experience at first base. He has grown each year as an offensive player and can change the scoreboard with his power. Dom is a very grounded and humble young man."

Keegan was the third player in the draft selected from Vanderbilt, with pitcher Kumar Rocker taken No. 3 by the Texas Rangers and outfielder Spencer Jones picked at No. 25 by the New York Yankees.

In high school, Keegan was a four-time, All-Merrimack Valley Conference selection as he led the Raiders to four straight MVC large titles. As a senior, he had an area-best .463 batting average.

Ahead of the draft, Keegan was ranked No. 97 on the MLB Prospect Rankings on MLB.com.

"Keegan has been the Vandy Boys' most productive hitter the last two seasons," Sam Dykstra wrote on MLB.com. "His in-game power from an easy right-handed swing plays to all fields, and he should show enough pop and overall hitting ability to provide value at such a bat-first position, should he stay at first in pro ball."

Dykstra said there is a chance Keegan will be used as a catcher in pro ball.