Keegan James

Terry Keegan James

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 214 lbs.
• School Mississippi State University
• High School DeSoto Central High School

• Born April 1, 1997 in Germantown, TN USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Keegan James played baseball and football at DeSoto Central High School. Originally his team's quarterback, he lost his starting job to his cousin and moved to long snapper. That cousin also played baseball and football, and is none other than All-Star third baseman Austin Riley, who was born one day after James. Instead of following his cousin into the amateur draft out of high school, James attended his father's alma matter, Mississippi State University; his father, Greg, played football at Mississippi State. His younger brother, Kamren James, would also attend Mississippi State prior to his being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 16th round of the 2022 amateur draft and beginning his pro baseball career.

After a three-year college career including two summers in summer collegiate leagues, the elder James brother was a 25th round selection of the Colorado Rockies organization in the 2019 amateur draft. His professional career got underway that summer with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League at the Rookie-Advanced level. He got into five games and threw 4 1/3 innings, posing a very high 10.38 ERA and 2.308 WHIP. He allowed 8 hits and 2 home runs.

His next season had to wait until 2021, as the minor leagues were not in operation in 2020. Now with the Fresno Grizzlies of the reconfigured Low-A West league, he appeared in 20 games, seven of which were starts, and posted much more reasonable ERA of 3.83. He walked 20, struck out 52 and allowed 5 home runs in 49 1/3 innings. He also spent some time on the injured list, and missed all of 2022.

He didn't return to action until late May of 2023. He was moved up once again, and found himself at the Advanced-A level with the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League, where he settled into a role as a multiple-inning reliever. Accumulating a 4-1 record with no saves and a 6.20 ERA in 25 games, he pitched 45 innings in which he allowed 50 hits, 22 walks, 37 strikeouts and a whopping 9 wild pitches. He was released by the Rockies organization on March 21, 2024.