Following the departure of Noel McGarry-Doyle to the Frontier League, the Barrie Baycats have bolstered their roster with the signing of Canadian outfielder Clayton Keyes.
Keyes, 26, hails from Calgary and was scouted as a five-tool player before being selected twice in the MLB Draft out of Bishop Carroll High School. In 2016, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 17th round, but elected to stay in Calgary for his fifth year of high school. Then, he was picked in the 15th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017.
That year, Keyes was a member of the Canadian national junior baseball team, alongside players who have since made the major leagues and the senior national team, like Denzel Clarke and Edouard Julien. He and Welland Jackfish pitcher Ben Abram were also teammates on that squad.
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After high school and development with the Okotoks Dawgs Academy, Keyes attended Central Arizona College before transferring to Southeastern (FL), where he was a member of the team that won the 2022 NAIA World Series.
This won't be Keyes' first stint in the IBL. In 2023, he was a member of the Hamilton Cardinals, with whom he impressed many in the regular season offensively.
“He’s tooled out, fun to watch, and has collected more high-pressure ABs and life experience than the average 23-year-old,” said Cardinals general manager George Halim when the team signed Keyes in 2023.
IBL STATS
| Season | Team | GP | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HAM | 27 | 29 | 32 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 4 | 17 | 43 | .302 | .444 | .528 | .972 |
In 2024, Keyes got his first professional baseball experience, playing 10 games with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. He got four hits and drove in four runs.
Baycats manager Josh Matlow confirmed Keyes will makes his season debut with with the team in Guelph Tuesday against the Royals.
The signing comes after former Baycats outfielder Noel McGarry-Doyle earned a professional opportunity with the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League.
He was seven-for-22 with a home run and three RBI in six IBL games this season. Through seven Frontier League games, he's four-for-22.
