20-20 Star Broxton Signs With Monarchs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City Monarchs’ already-loaded roster just got another major-league boost.

Keon Broxton, who spent parts of five seasons in the big leagues, has signed with the American Association club for the 2023 season, the Monarchs announced Tuesday.

Broxton has suited up for the Pirates, Brewers, Mets, Orioles and Mariners over parts of five major league seasons. Fans in Milwaukee remember his exciting 2017 season, where he joined the 20-20 club and made plenty of electrifying defensive plays.

“Keon is obviously an impact player, and someone we’ve been interested in for a while,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He can play all three outfield positions, which is big. On top of that, he supplies both power and speed. We’re excited to welcome him to Kansas City.”

The signing is a major addition to a loaded Monarchs outfield. All five outfielders currently under contract with Kansas City have played at the MLB or Triple-A level in the last two seasons.

The Monarchs’ season starts Friday night on the road in Sioux City. Their home opener is set for Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m.

Broxton, 33, has played for seven MLB organizations and in three countries over his 13-year pro career. A third-round draft pick by the Diamondbacks in 2009, he was traded to the Pirates ahead of the 2014 season.

The Lakeland, Florida native made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh the following year, scoring as a pinch-runner in his first game on September 21, 2015.

Broxton was traded to the Brewers in December of 2015. He spent 75 games with the big club in 2016, stealing 23 bases and getting caught just four times while posting a .242 batting average and .784 OPS.

In 2017, Broxton was the Brewers’ regular center fielder, stealing 21 bases and hitting 20 home runs, including a 489-foot blast.

Broxton remained with the Brewers organization in 2018, helping the club to an NLCS appearance. The Brewers traded him to the Mets the following offseason.

All of Broxton’s 2019 action was at the MLB level, with the Mets, Orioles and Mariners. He owns 39 home runs, 60 steals, and a .209/.297/.388 slash line over his MLB career.

Broxton was in Triple-A in 2021, in both the Twins and Brewers organizations. In 2022, he headed to the Mexican League, and quickly became one of that circuit’s top hitters.

Broxton ranked fourth in the league with a 1.150 OPS last summer, racking up 20 home runs and 12 steals over 73 games. He also continued to impress defensively in center field.

Fans can view the Monarchs’ full roster at MonarchsBaseball.com/Roster.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. This year, they are celebrating their 20th year of baseball in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965. The Monarchs won ten Negro American League championships and two Negro League World Series championships in their history. The team featured numerous notable players over the years, including Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, and Buck O’Neil.

About the American Association

The American Association of Professional Baseball played its first season in 2006. It is a professional partner league that is affiliated with Major League Baseball but not specifically with any one team. The league consists of 12 teams located primarily in the Midwest and the South of the United States. Its season runs from May to September and features players who are looking to showcase their talents for a chance to be signed by a major league team.