Keaton Anthony

Keaton Michael Anthony

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 211 lb.
• School University of Iowa
• High School Mill Creek High School

• Born June 24, 2001 in Fort Wayne, IN USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

A star at the collegiate level with a potential two-way future in the pros, Keaton Anthony saw his hopes delayed by a legal battle before he was able to dominate opposing pitching again.

Raised in Hoschton, GA, Anthony played high school ball at local Mill Creek High School where he both pitched and played the field. He followed through on a commitment to play for the University of Iowa, but only appeared in one game as a freshman after suffering a hamstring injury prior to the start of Iowa's 2021 slate. Following the season, Anthony played for the Macon Bacon of the Coastal Plain League.

The switch was flipped for Anthony as a redshirt freshman in 2022. Working almost exclusively as a rightfielder for the Iowa, he quickly became the team's best hitter, leading them in hits (73), doubles (22), home runs (14), RBI (55), batting average (.361), and slugging percentage (.678). Anthony racked up the accolades as well, taking Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, as well as being honored as Second-team All-Big Ten. He was once again the team's best hitter for most of 2023, slashing a torrid .389/.505/.701, while once again leading the team in AVG and SLG, as well as doubles with another 22. He also mixed in 9 appearances in the mound totaling 20 innings of work, in which his ERA was 4.95.

It was business as usual for the sophomore - at least through 44 games. It was at this point where Anthony's career took an unexpected turn - he was implicated in an investigation into betting by athletes at Iowa, as well as Iowa State University. While most of the athletes accepted plea deals, the case would take another turn when counter-allegations of unlawful search practices by law enforcement would have most of these athletes seek recompense for reputation damage. For Anthony - draft eligible that year - the damage was done. He missed roughly the final quarter of the season and saw himself go undrafted, in spite of his strong work with Iowa.

Luckily for Anthony, this wasn't the end of his baseball journey. He would get his professional shot as an undrafted free agent when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies on July 18, 2023. Assigned first to the FCL Phillies of the Florida Complex League, Anthony went 11-for-29 in nine contests to earn a quick promotion to the A-level Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League, where he would get only two hits in fourteen at-bats. Reaturning to Clearwater to start the 2024 season, he turned in a much better showing, slashing a torrid .322/.446/.470 in 44 contests, earning him a late-June promotion to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League. There, Anthony was similarly impressive, slashing .356/.418/.483 over 53 contests, earning him yet another promotion, this time in September to the AA Reading Fightin Phils of the Eastern League.

Further Reading

• Jeff Johnson: "Keaton Anthony gets his shot at affiliated professional baseball", The Gazette, May 17, 2024. [1]
• Dan Roche: "Phillies prospect defies odds with promotion", NBC Sports Philadelphia, June 25, 2024. [2]

Related Sites

• University of Iowa bio