Keaton Anthony was born on June 24, 2001 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and made his way to the University of Iowa where he became one of the top hitters in college baseball. At Iowa he was primarily an outfielder and also pitched in relief at times, showing a varied skill set. As a redshirt freshman in 2022 he exploded offensively, leading the team in hits, doubles, home runs, batting average and slugging percentage. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-Big Ten honors. In 2023 he followed that up with another big season at the plate, slashing near .390 with a high on-base percentage and again leading the team in key offensive categories. That success, along with his run production and power numbers, put him on draft radars heading into the summer of 2023. However his draft stock was derailed by an off-field issue connected to a betting investigation during his Iowa career. That connection, even though it didn’t lead to a league or school punishment and ultimately, Anthony was not involved in, apparently scared teams off and he went undrafted in 2023 despite his strong resume. That’s when the Philadelphia Phillies signed him as a non-drafted free agent for $125,000.

He opened 2025 back at Double-A and turned in arguably his best stretch of professional hitting, earning Phillies Minor League Hitter of the Month in May after batting well over .380 with strong power numbers for that period. That performance put him on the map and in June he was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs where he continued to hit at a quality clip, showing that his contact skills translate at higher levels. Across his minor league career through 2025 he’s hit .324 with a solid on-base percentage of .402 and an OPS of .869, an impressive line for a first baseman who wasn’t drafted. The Phillies were impressed enough with his performance that they included him on their list of non-roster invitees to Spring Training for 2026.

Hitting Tools and Sabermetric Signals
Anthony’s profile as a hitter is built around contact ability, approach, and plate discipline. He makes a lot of contact and limits chase swings, which helps keep strikeouts down and on-base numbers high. In 2025 he hit well over .300 for both Reading and Lehigh Valley, and his timing- based metrics suggest a hitter who stays within the strike zone and puts the bat on the ball often. He does have some limitations though, especially in pure power. His power grade has been considered below average for a corner infielder, meaning he doesn’t hit a ton of home runs – 16 home runs in 738 minor league at-bats – relative to his role and won’t carry a lineup on slugging alone. That’s not unusual for a player whose strength is hitting for average and finding gaps. Analytics from scouting reports note that while he’s capable of elevating the ball more than earlier in his career, he’ll always lean more toward a contact profile than a pure power slugger.

Defense and Fielding Metrics
Defense has been one of Anthony’s calling cards in pro ball. After converting to full-time first base in the Phillies system, he put up excellent fielding percentages with very few errors across his minor league stops. In 2024 he committed just two errors over nearly 600 chances for a .997 fielding percentage, and that consistency earned him a Minor League Gold Glove Award at first base. He has shown strong fundamental skills, good instincts around the bag, and reliable hands. He doesn’t have elite range or athleticism like a middle infielder, but at first base he’s shown the ability to handle routine and many difficult plays with regularity.

Significant Injuries or Setbacks
There isn’t much publicly noted about serious injuries derailing Anthony’s trajectory. The main setback in his career was missing more exposure in the 2023 draft due to the off-field betting situation from college. That wasn’t a physical injury, but it certainly impacted his development path by forcing him to begin pro ball as an undrafted player rather than a drafted prospect with early organizational investment. On the field, he went down with an injury in early August of last season that ended his season early, but nothing that has been described as long-term or materially limiting his timing or progression.

Outlook and Summary
All told, Keaton Anthony is a compelling example of a player rising through hard work and consistency rather than draft pedigree. He hit at every level of the minors with a strong average, disciplined approach, and consistent defense at first base. His lack of standout power means he profiles more as a contact-oriented bat who can get on base and help sustain rallies rather than drive a lineup with home runs. His defense has been a real strength, earning rare Gold Glove recognition and giving him a clear value beyond just hitting. If he can continue to push his offensive skills as he sees Triple-A pitching more often, he could carve out a role as a depth bat or even a regular contributor who helps the Phillies — or another club — with his bat-to-ball skills and glove work in the not too distant future.

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