For Utah Utes alumni watching the MLB postseason picture take shape, the most compelling name to track is DaShawn Keirsey Jr. — and Atlanta's brass apparently agrees.
The Braves center fielder is generating serious buzz as a potential postseason weapon heading into October, and the reason is simple: speed kills. Keirsey Jr., who put his athleticism on full display during his Utah days, has become a conversation piece inside the Atlanta organization about how his elite foot speed can be weaponized when the stakes are highest.
Keirsey Jr. spoke openly about his experience with the Braves and what the postseason could hold, signaling that he's not just aware of the buzz — he's ready for the moment. In his most recent outing Sunday, Sept. 27 against the Marlins, he went 3-for-5 with an RBI in a 3-5 Atlanta loss, a quietly productive line that underscores his ability to contribute at the plate even as his legs remain his calling card.
He's hitting .200 on the season — a number that will draw skeptics — but in October baseball, a hitter who can change a game with his baserunning, turn a single into a double, or track down a ball in the gap doesn't need to be a .300 hitter to be dangerous. Managers love postseason chess pieces, and Keirsey Jr. fits that profile.
No other Utah alumni were in the news cycle this week across the league's active rosters. C.J. Cron (Red Sox, 1B), Cam Day (Dodgers, P), Oliver Dunn (Rays, 3B), Andre Jackson (Pirates), Core Jackson (Yankees, SS), and Kai Roberts (Padres, CF) are all on active rosters, but the spotlight this week belongs squarely in Atlanta.
For Utes fans, Keirsey Jr.'s rise is the kind of story worth watching closely. If the Braves make a deep run, don't be surprised if a Utah alum is the guy who steals a base — or a game — when it matters most.
AI-generated summary
