Detroit Tigers rookie Colt Keith takes ‘big step in right direction’ with 4-hit game

PHOENIX — Detroit Tigers rookie Colt Keith scored from second base on Javier Báez’s single to snap the 20-inning scoreless streak in Friday’s 13-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, but to do that, he first had to get on base in the second inning.

Keith smacked a two-strike changeup from right-hander Ryne Nelson into center field for a single.

It was his first of four hits.

“I felt like I finally loosened up,” said Keith, who hadn’t produced more than two hits in a single MLB game before his first four-hit game, in his 37th big-league game. “I let my muscles, my swing, my work just take over. I feel like I’ve been tense the whole season, and today was a big step in the right direction. I’m loosening up and getting my timing, and I feel like I had really good bat control. It was a really good day.”

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Keith finished 4-for-5 with four singles, playing a key role in Friday’s pummeling of the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. He drove in two runs, but he also led the Tigers by scoring three times.

His batting average in 2024 jumped from .171 to .197.

“These guys are putting in a lot of work,” manager A.J. Hinch said, “and they’re taking a lot of questions about their offense, about our offense. Guys want to see results, too. They will trust that the process is right, and they’re doing the work and their routines, and all the things are going to lead to better times, and then they want to see it in the game.

“Especially for Colt. These are all new. He’s never been at this ballpark. He’s never played at this level. He’s arguably never struggled. I think him seeing some hits fall should do a lot for his confidence going into tomorrow.”

The 22-year-old, who signed a six-year contract extension before his MLB debut, has 24 hits, 21 strikeouts and 10 walks in his 133 plate appearances. He has a long way to go until he gets those numbers where he wants them to be, and he remains in search of his first home run (after hitting 27 in the minors in 2023), but his 16.4% strikeout rate indicates quality plate appearances, with a steady approach despite the lack of results.

He makes contact at a high rate when he swings at pitches inside the strike zone.

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The difference between his .192 batting average against fastballs and .317 expected batting average against fastballs — as well as his .212 slugging percentage on fastballs compared his .563 expected sluggging percentage — describes him as an unlucky hitter, suggesting better times are coming soon.

Eventually, Keith will hit for contact and power.

He hit .306 last season in 126 games with Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo.

“I’ve been getting more and more comfortable every day,” Keith said. “The last couple games, I feel like the nerves are starting to calm down, and I’m not getting these in big situations anymore. Today, I came out and I felt like normal. I wasn’t stressing about things I can’t control. I just went out there and made sure my timing was on time. I felt good, felt loose and got some hits.”

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The hits didn’t stop after the second-inning single.

Keith, a left-handed hitter, connected with an inside cutter from Nelson for an RBI single in the third inning. He was trying to for a flyball, but instead, he shot the ball down the first-base line, past the diving first baseman and into right field.

“I was actually trying to hit it in the air,” Keith said. “I was a little late, but luckily, I was trying to hit it in the air. If I had the timing had before, I would’ve gotten jammed, probably a broken bat. But I was able to get out in front. I ended up hitting it on the ground, not doing what I’m supposed to do, but I got a base hit.”

It’s about time Keith had a little luck on his side.

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He continued to pile on, hitting another outside changeup from Nelson — just like the hit in the second inning — for an RBI single in the fifth inning and hitting an outside sinker from right-handed reliever Matt Bowman in the sixth.

Keith didn’t carry the Tigers, as there were six players with multiple hits, but the first four-hit performance of his career was part of a crucial team breakthrough on offense following back-to-back shutouts by the Miami Marlins at Comerica Park.

“It’s definitely great,” Keith said. “I feel like today was a good start to get in a groove and keep playing.”

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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