Bucknell’s Keys drafted in fourth round by Toronto

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Bucknell’s Sean Keys was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB Draft — 125th overall — by the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s the 13th player from Bucknell to ever be drafted.

LEWISBURG — Sean Keys has been ranked among the nation’s top collegiate third baseman all season, and on Monday the rising senior was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth round (125th overall) of the MLB Draft.

Keys is the 13th Bucknell player to be taken in the MLB Draft and the highest draft pick by round in team history. Andy Nezelek was a fifth-round selection but was taken 112th overall by the Atlanta Braves in 1986, when there were fewer teams in the league and before the onset of compensation-round picks. Keys becomes the second-highest selection by overall pick in Bucknell history, and he is the program’s first draftee since Connor Van Hoose went to the New York Yankees in the eighth round in 2018.

“On behalf of everyone in the Bucknell baseball program, we are so happy for Sean on achieving the tremendous honor of being selected in the MLB Draft,” said head coach Scott Heather. “To be taken in the fourth round as one of the top 125 draft-eligible players in the country is an incredible accomplishment and a credit to Sean’s work ethic and his commitment to becoming the best player he could possibly be. This is a great day for Bison Baseball, and I know the best is yet to come for Sean.”

Keys had a brilliant 2024 season, culminating in Patriot League Player of the Year, first-team All-Patriot League, and ABCA/Rawlings All-East Region second-team honors.

The lefty slugger hit .405 this spring, becoming the first Bison in 18 years to hit over .400. He led the league in every percentage category, slashing .405/.535/.798 for a 1.333 OPS that was eighth-best in the nation. Keys also led the league in hits (66) and doubles (19) and ranked second in RBIs (57), third in home runs (13), and fourth in walks (35). His on-base and slugging percentages both ranked second on Bucknell’s all-time single-season charts, and his .711 career slugging percentage would be a team record.

Keys was listed as the No. 5 third-baseman in D1Baseball.com’s May 8 positional rankings. He was the only third-sacker in the top 10 from a conference other than the ACC or SEC. MLB.com had Keys listed No. 211 in its pre-draft rankings of all eligible players, including high schoolers.