Keegan Akin Bio
Keegan Lee Akin (born April 1, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020 and has spent his entire big-league career with the Baltimore organization. A left-handed pitcher, Akin has developed into a versatile arm out of the Baltimore bullpen.
A native of Midland, Michigan, Akin rose through the Orioles system after being selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. He has experienced both the highs of a strong bounce-back season and the setbacks of injuries, building a career marked by perseverance on the mound.
Early Life and Background
Keegan Lee Akin was born on April 1, 1995, in Midland, Michigan. He grew up in the Midland area and attended Bullock Creek High School, where he began developing as a pitcher. His time at Bullock Creek laid the foundation for a future in professional baseball, as he drew attention for his work on the mound during his high school years.
After graduating from Bullock Creek High School, Akin continued his baseball career at Western Michigan University. He played college baseball for the Western Michigan Broncos, gaining experience against strong collegiate competition. During the summers, he sharpened his skills in wooden-bat leagues, playing for the Chillicothe Paints of the Prospect League in 2014 and the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2015.
Path to Baseball
Akin’s college career with the Western Michigan Broncos helped establish him as a promising pitching prospect. His summer experiences in the Prospect League and the Cape Cod Baseball League exposed him to high-level competition and allowed him to refine his command and repertoire. Those performances drew the attention of Major League scouts by the end of his junior season.
In 2016, the Baltimore Orioles selected Akin in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Orioles and received a $1.17 million signing bonus, marking a strong endorsement of his potential. That selection set the stage for his professional development within the Baltimore organization.
Keegan Akin Career
Minor League Career (2016–2019)
Akin made his professional debut with the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2016 and spent the entire season there, posting a 1.04 ERA across 26 innings. The strong debut signaled the promise the Orioles had seen when they drafted him in the second round. In 2017, he advanced to the Frederick Keys, where he went 7–8 with a 4.14 ERA in 21 starts, continuing his development as a starting pitcher.
In 2018, Akin joined the Bowie Baysox and turned in his most productive minor league season, going 14–7 with a 3.27 ERA across 25 starts. He followed that up in 2019 with the Norfolk Tides, compiling a 6–7 record, a 4.73 ERA, and 131 strikeouts over 112 1/3 innings. Following the 2019 season, the Orioles added Akin to their 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft and setting the stage for his eventual promotion to the majors.
Major League Debut and First Seasons (2020–2021)
Akin was promoted to the major leagues on August 8, 2020, and made his MLB debut on August 14 against the Washington Nationals. He finished his first MLB season with a 1–2 record and a 4.56 ERA, recording 35 strikeouts over 8 games and 25 2/3 innings pitched. The shortened debut campaign gave Baltimore a glimpse of his potential as a major league arm.
The 2021 season proved more difficult for Akin, as he pitched to a 2–10 record and a 6.63 ERA across 24 appearances. His season ended on September 24, when the Orioles shut him down after he suffered a left adductor strain and required abdominal surgery. The year tested his resilience but also provided lessons that would fuel his eventual bounce-back.
Baltimore Orioles Tenure (2022–2023)
Akin returned in 2022 with a strong bounce-back campaign, making 45 appearances and posting a 3.20 ERA with 77 strikeouts and 2 saves over 81 2/3 innings. The season re-established him as a reliable contributor out of the Baltimore bullpen and demonstrated the improvements in his command and pitch design. It marked a turning point in his major league career.
In 2023, however, Akin struggled to a 6.85 ERA in 24 appearances before being placed on the injured list with lower back discomfort on June 30. He was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on August 23, cutting his season short. Despite the setbacks, Akin remained under contract with the Orioles and continued to be viewed as a depth option for the pitching staff.
Driving Style and Strengths
Akin is a left-handed pitcher who has been used in a variety of roles, including long relief and late-inning situations. His ability to generate swings and misses, combined with a durable frame, has allowed him to log meaningful innings when healthy. He has continued to develop his secondary offerings to keep hitters off balance.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Akin’s career are his MLB debut on August 14, 2020, against the Washington Nationals, and his strong 2022 bounce-back season that featured a 3.20 ERA across 45 appearances. He has also recorded multiple saves during his time with Baltimore, demonstrating the trust the Orioles have placed in him in high-leverage moments.
Keegan Akin Career Highlights
Keegan Lee Akin’s professional career has included stints at every level of the Baltimore Orioles organization, from Short-Season ball with the Aberdeen IronBirds to the Major Leagues. His minor league tenure featured a 14-win season at Bowie in 2018 and 131 strikeouts with Norfolk in 2019. In the majors, his most productive year came in 2022, when he posted a 3.20 ERA in 45 appearances.
Minor League Highlights
During his time in the minors, Akin logged impressive numbers, including a 1.04 ERA in his debut with Aberdeen in 2016 and a 14–7 record with a 3.27 ERA at Bowie in 2018. His 2019 campaign with the Norfolk Tides produced 131 strikeouts across 112 1/3 innings, underscoring his strikeout ability at the Triple-A level.
Keegan Akin Family
Personal Life
Keegan Lee Akin was raised in Midland, Michigan, where he attended Bullock Creek High School before continuing his education at Western Michigan University. Public information about his immediate family has not been widely reported, and he has generally kept his personal life private.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Keegan Lee Akin remains with the Baltimore Orioles as a member of their pitching staff. After a difficult 2023 season cut short by a lower back injury, he will look to return to the form he showed in 2022, when he posted a 3.20 ERA across 45 appearances. His role with Baltimore is expected to continue to center on providing depth and reliability out of the bullpen.
Health will be a key storyline for Akin in 2025, following the abdominal and back injuries that limited his availability in 2021 and 2023. A return to full strength would allow him to take on a more consistent workload and contribute to an Orioles staff with playoff aspirations. His experience in multiple relief roles makes him a flexible asset for the Baltimore pitching plan.