DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Bio
DaShawn Robert Keirsey Jr. (born May 13, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder. A product of the University of Utah, he spent several seasons climbing through the Minnesota Twins farm system before reaching the major leagues in 2024. After two seasons of MLB service time with the Twins, Keirsey became a free agent at the end of the 2025 season and is currently unsigned.
A speedy outfielder known for his work on the base paths, Keirsey is a left-handed bat and a reliable defender in the corner and center-field grass. His professional journey has taken him from rookie ball in Appalachia to Triple-A in St. Paul and ultimately to the bright lights of the American League, where he has delivered key moments in pressure situations.
Early Life and Background
DaShawn Robert Keirsey Jr. was born on May 13, 1997, in the United States. He grew up in the San Diego area and attended Helix High School in La Mesa, California, where he played baseball and developed into a college-level prospect. Helix High School has a strong athletic tradition, and Keirsey’s time there helped establish the foundation for his future in the sport.
After high school, Keirsey continued his baseball career at the University of Utah, playing for the Utes in the Pac-12 Conference. As a junior in 2018, he put together a strong offensive season, batting .386 with four home runs, 22 runs batted in (RBI), and 23 doubles over 50 games. His performance that spring positioned him as a legitimate draft prospect and ultimately caught the attention of scouts across Major League Baseball.
Path to Baseball
Following his junior season at Utah, Keirsey entered the 2018 Major League Baseball draft and was selected in the fourth round with the 124th overall pick by the Minnesota Twins. The selection made him one of the higher-drafted position players to come out of the Utes program in recent years and signaled the organization’s confidence in his long-term upside as an outfielder.
Keirsey began his professional career in the summer of 2018 in the rookie-level Appalachian League, joining the Elizabethton Twins to start his development. From that point forward, he advanced through the Twins’ minor league system, working his way up from short-season ball to the upper levels of the organization. His steady progression through the minors eventually placed him on the organization’s 40-man roster and set the stage for his first taste of major league action.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Keirsey opened his professional career with the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins in 2018. The following year, he split the 2019 campaign between Elizabethton and the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels. Across 43 games and 173 plate appearances between the two affiliates, he slashed .150/.266/.170 with no home runs, 14 RBI, and three stolen bases. The numbers were modest, but the experience was valuable for a young outfielder adjusting to the everyday demands of professional baseball.
The 2020 season brought an unexpected interruption when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the entire minor league season. As a result, Keirsey did not appear in a single game that year, and his development was placed on temporary hold. The lost season was a challenge faced by players across the sport, and Keirsey used the time to stay ready for his eventual return.
MiLB Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Keirsey returned to action in 2021 with Cedar Rapids and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Twins. In 177 plate appearances over 48 games, he batted .211/.305/.428 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. The improvement in power output and on-base percentage marked a noticeable step forward after a difficult 2019 campaign.
In 2022, Keirsey spent the full year with the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. He hit .271/.329/.395 with seven home runs, 48 RBI, and an impressive 42 stolen bases across 121 games, showing that he was ready for upper-level competition. He followed that with a strong 2023 split between Wichita and the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. In 130 total games, Keirsey slashed .294/.366/.455, setting new career highs in home runs (15) and RBI (61) while adding 39 more stolen bases. His combination of on-base skills, power, and speed pushed him to the doorstep of the major leagues.
Major League Debut and Twins Era (2024–2025)
Keirsey opened the 2024 season back at Triple-A St. Paul, where he batted .292/.363/.477 with 14 home runs, 75 RBI, and 36 stolen bases in 103 games. On September 5, 2024, the Twins selected his contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. In his limited big-league exposure that September, he went 2-for-14. He also became the 21st University of Utah product to debut in the major leagues.
Keirsey returned to the Twins’ major league roster in 2025 and delivered one of the early signature moments of his big-league career on May 11, 2025, when he hit a walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants. Across 74 appearances for Minnesota in 2025, he batted .107/.138/.179 with two home runs, six RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Following the 2025 season, the Twins designated him for assignment when they acquired Alex Jackson on November 21, and he was non-tendered the same day, making him a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Keirsey’s young major league career came on May 11, 2025, when his walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants gave the Twins a dramatic victory. He also became the 21st Ute to reach the major leagues, joining a growing list of University of Utah alumni to make it to the highest level of professional baseball.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Career Wins
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. has notched steady offensive production across the Twins’ minor league affiliates since 2018, building his reputation as a versatile outfielder with a knack for getting on base and creating havoc on the bases. While he has yet to record a major league win as a pitcher, his offensive milestones at every minor league level have been well documented.
Minor League Highlights
Keirsey’s offensive résumé includes standout seasons at every level of the Twins’ farm system. In 2023, he set new career highs with 15 home runs and 61 RBI while stealing 39 bases across Double-A and Triple-A. He followed that with a 14-home-run, 36-stolen-base campaign at St. Paul in 2024. In 2022, he stole 42 bases for the Wichita Wind Surge, underlining the speed that has defined his professional profile.
Other Wins & Performances
Keirsey played college baseball at the University of Utah and was a 2018 fourth-round draft pick by the Minnesota Twins. His most celebrated big-league moment remains the walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants on May 11, 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Keirsey spent the entire 2025 major league season on the Twins’ active roster after making his debut the previous September. In 74 appearances, he batted .107/.138/.179 with two home runs, six RBI, and 10 stolen bases. Despite the modest batting average, he made his mark with timely hitting, including his walk-off single against the San Francisco Giants on May 11, 2025.
Following the 2025 season, the Twins made a series of offseason moves that included acquiring catcher Alex Jackson. On November 21, 2025, the organization designated Keirsey for assignment and then non-tendered him the same day, making him a free agent. As of the end of the 2025 calendar year, he remains unsigned and is evaluating his next opportunity.
Looking ahead, Keirsey is expected to seek a new organization where he can continue to develop as an outfielder. His combination of left-handed power, base-stealing speed, and outfield versatility figures to draw interest from clubs looking for depth in the corners or in center field. His walk-off moment in 2025 also offered a reminder of his ability to deliver in high-leverage situations.