Keon Darell Broxton (born May 7, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

Keon Broxton
Broxton with the Baltimore Orioles in 2019
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1990-05-07) May 7, 1990 (age 33)
Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 21, 2015, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs39
Runs batted in95
Stolen bases60
Teams

Career edit

Broxton attended Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida.[1] The Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the 29th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.[2] He did not sign and attended Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida to play college baseball. With Santa Fe, he appeared in the JUCO World Series.[3]

 
Broxton with the Reno Aces in 2012

Arizona Diamondbacks edit

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Broxton in the third round of the 2009 MLB draft.[4] Through 2012, he played for the Missoula Osprey of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, South Bend Silver Hawks of the Single-A Midwest League, and Visalia Rawhide of the High-A California League. The Diamondbacks assigned him to the Reno Aces of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League for the Triple-A National Championship Game, in which he hit a home run, helping the Aces win.[3] He was added to the team's 40-man roster on November 19, 2012.[5] Broxton played for the Mobile BayBears of the Double-A Southern League in 2013.[3]

Pittsburgh Pirates edit

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Broxton from the Diamondbacks on March 27, 2014 in exchange for a player to be named later.[6] He played for the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League in 2014.[7] He began the 2014 season with Altoona and was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A International League during the season.[8]

The Pirates promoted Broxton to the major leagues on September 20, 2015.[8] Broxton was used mainly as a pinch runner, going 0-for-2 at the plate, as well as one stolen base and three runs scored.[9]

Milwaukee Brewers edit

 
Broxton with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018

On December 17, 2015, the Pirates traded Broxton and Trey Supak to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Jason Rogers.[10] Broxton was one of nine players competing to be the Brewers center fielder for the 2016 season.[11] He won the competition and started on Opening Day.[12] He had his first career multi-home run game on August 21, 2016 against the Seattle Mariners. Broxton opened the 2017 season as the Brewers starting center fielder. On July 22, he was sent down to Triple-A. In 326 plate appearances, Broxton had been hitting .218 with 14 home runs and 17 stolen bases but was leading the majors in strikeouts with 124. Broxton was recalled from the minors on August 1, and went on to put together a 20-20 season (home runs and stolen bases) and finished with a slash line of .220/.299/.420.[13]

Broxton remained in the Brewers' minor league system with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL to open the 2018 season, as the Brewers made significant moves in free agency in the offseason and brought in All-Star centerfielder Lorenzo Cain. Cain suffered an injury on June 26, opening a roster spot for Broxton as Cain went on the disabled list. Broxton provided strong defense, including two home run robbing catches of Minnesota Twins players in one series, and had his third multi-home run game of his MLB career against the Cincinnati Reds.[14]

New York Mets edit

 
Broxton with the Mets during spring training in 2019

On January 5, 2019, the Brewers traded Broxton to the New York Mets in exchange for Bobby Wahl, Adam Hill, and Felix Valerio.[15] He struggled during his brief stint with the team, hitting just .143 with 2 runs batted in. He was designated for assignment on May 17, 2019.

Baltimore Orioles edit

Broxton was traded by the Mets to the Baltimore Orioles for international signing bonus slots on May 22, 2019.[16] He hit a two-run homer to left on the first pitch of his first Orioles plate appearance off Jeff Hoffman in an 8–6 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field two days later on May 24.[17] Broxton's time with the Orioles lasted only two months as he was designated for assignment on July 21 due to striking out in 49 of 112 plate appearances (43.75%) and the emergence of Anthony Santander.[18]

Seattle Mariners edit

He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on July 27, 2019.[19] On August 27, he was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing his batting glove at an umpire for arguing balls-and-strikes in the previous game.[20]

Milwaukee Brewers (second stint) edit

On December 8, 2019, Broxton signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[21] Broxton did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

Minnesota Twins edit

On February 8, 2021, Broxton signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.[23] In 73 games with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, Broxton struggled, hitting .186 with 9 home runs and 26 RBI's. On August 19, the Twins released Broxton.[24]

Milwaukee Brewers (third stint) edit

On August 31, 2021, Broxton signed a minor league deal to return to the Milwaukee Brewers.[25] He was assigned to the Rookie Arizona Complex League Brewers Gold.[26] Later elevated to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Broxton played in 15 games, but struggled to a .111/.238/.111 batting line with no home runs and one RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.[27]

Acereros de Monclova edit

On January 17, 2022, Broxton signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League for the 2022 season.[28] He played in 73 games for Monclova, hitting .356/.486/.664 with 20 home runs, 48 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.

Kansas City Monarchs edit

On May 8, 2023, Broxton signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[29] In 35 games, he slashed .254/.382/.469 with 6 home runs, 18 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.

Acereros de Monclova (second stint) edit

On June 24, 2023, Broxton's contract was purchased by the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[30] He was released on July 12, 2023.[31]

Personal life edit

On November 4, 2016 in Tampa, Broxton was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing. Broxton, who was reportedly intoxicated, refused to leave the scene of a fight despite the warnings from responding police officers.[32]

References edit

  1. ^ Scanlon, Dick (August 5, 2017). "Lakeland grad Keon Broxton excited to play back home in Florida - Sports - The Ledger - Lakeland, FL". The Ledger. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "MLB Draft History". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Keon Broxton putting injury behind him for surging Mobile BayBears". AL.com. June 7, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  4. ^ Durham, Craig (January 15, 2014). "D-backs' Broxton hard at work in Australia". MLB.com. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  5. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Charlie Wilmoth (March 27, 2014). "Pirates trade for Keon Broxton". Bucs Dugout. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "Remembering EC: Keon Broxton Honors Former LHS Teammate Evan Chambers".
  8. ^ a b Etkin, Jack (May 24, 2018). "Keon Broxton joins Pirates for basestealing | Pittsburgh Pirates". Mlb.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  9. ^ "Keon Broxton Stats - New York Mets - ESPN". Espn.go.com. May 7, 1990. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  10. ^ John Dreker. "Pirates Trade Keon Broxton and Trey Supak For Jason Rogers".
  11. ^ McCalvy, Adam (May 24, 2018). "Nine Brewers competing for center-field job | Milwaukee Brewers". M.brewers.mlb.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  12. ^ Sorgi, Jay (April 4, 2016). "Brewers newcomer Keon Broxton: Opening Day is something he 'dreamed about'". WTMJ.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Keon Broxton Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Kalaf, Samer (July 5, 2018). "Brewers Outfielder Keon Broxton Was Pumped After His Fantastic Home-Run Robbery". Deadspin.com. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  15. ^ "Brewers trade Keon Broxton to Mets for relief pitcher and two prospects | Major League Baseball". madison.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles acquire Broxton and DFA Ramirez," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019
  17. ^ Randhawa, Manny. "Broxton homers on 1st pitch he sees as Oriole," MLB.com, Saturday, May 25, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019
  18. ^ Trezza, Joe. "Orioles designate Broxton, recall Kline," MLB.com, Sunday, July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019
  19. ^ "Mariners Claim OF Keon Broxton Off Waivers from Baltimore," Seattle Mariners, Saturday, July 27, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2019
  20. ^ "Mariners' Keon Broxton Suspended 2 Games for Throwing Batting Glove at Umpire", Bleacher Report, Wednesday, August 27, 2019.
  21. ^ Dylan A. Chase (December 8, 2019). "Brewers, Keon Broxton Agree To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  22. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "Twins Sign Keon Broxton to Minor League Deal".
  24. ^ "Keon Broxton Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  25. ^ "Brewers Sign Keon Broxton".
  26. ^ "Keon Broxton Stats, Fantasy & News". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  28. ^ @AcererosOficial (January 18, 2022). "#AtenciónFURIA!!! Tenemos nuevo jardinero, ha jugado para Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Mets, Baltimore y Seattle. ¡Es el big leaguer KEON BROXTON y aquí te traemos un poco del flow que se verá en Monclova! ¡Bienvenido a Acereros Keon Broxton! #LasEstrellasBrillanEnMonclova" (Tweet). Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ https://aabaseball.com/transactions/
  30. ^ "ACEREROS REFUERZA BATEO Y PITCHEO DE CARA A RECTA FINAL DE TEMPORADA: ¡BIENVENIDOS KEON BROXTON Y CARLOS 'TSUNAMI' MARTÍNEZ!". acereros.com.mx (in Spanish). June 24, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  31. ^ Keon Broxton Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball
  32. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (November 4, 2016). "Brewers' Keon Broxton arrested in Tampa". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 10, 2017.

External links edit