RADFORD, Va. – Our next featured player for the Senior Spotlight series is shortstop Hunter Keen. Keen originates from small town Palatka, Florida, where he grew up perfecting his craft surrounded by his mother Nichole, father JR, and siblings Tre and Kaleigh.
Santa Fe Success
Keen's career after high school begins with quite the underdog story. Growing up in rural north Florida, Keen learned quickly about the reality of being overlooked with the region and state being such a hotspot for athletic talent.
Keen accepted a preferred walk-on spot for the Santa Fe Saints, a junior college located in Gainesville, Fla., nearby where Keen was raised. Keen describes his freshman year at Santa Fe as a time that tested his mental fortitude and truly forced him to "put the extra work in for a shot to play." Hunter's freshman season mostly consisted of being a defensive substitute at shortstop, up until the end of the season when Keen earned the opportunity to start a handful of games.
The following season Keen rightfully earned the starting job at second base for Santa Fe, but he says that didn't come without failure.
Keen dives deeper into the obstacle of failure saying, "The trials of failing for the first time in my career have stuck with me to this day…I learned how to fail in this game, I want to fail my way…Learning how to mentally accept that this game is one of failure has helped me grow as a player."
Keen also credits the Sante Fe coaching staff, specifically hitting coach Alex Jones. Keen says, "He not only helped me with my swing, but he helped me expand my mindset as a hitter." The mantra "fail how you want to fail" has stayed with Keen since his time with Santa Fe.
Keen's second year at Sante Fe also came with extreme success, as the team started the season 25-0 and ended up finishing the year 40-10. Keen says he sees similarities with that Sante Fe team and this year's Highlanders team, especially with "how much they pull for each other."
In 2023, Keen ranked second on the team in runs (54) and hits (73), while ranking third for the Saints in batting average at .363. He was named to the Mid-Florida Conference All-Defensive Team and the All Mid-Florida Conference First Team.
Choosing the New River Valley
After Keen spent two seasons with Santa Fe, it was time to move on and make a decision on where he'd play ball next.
When discussing the process of eventually landing on Radford as his next destination, he talks about "the family atmosphere head coach Alex Guerra and the staff provided." Keen committed to Radford without visiting the school's campus, exemplifying his shared vision and overall connection with the staff and area.
Since his arrival to the NRV, Keen says he's been embraced by the community in a variety of ways, comparing Radford to his hometown in Palatka. Keen says the relationships he's made on and off the diamond at Radford will carry over throughout his life.
Keen started 49 games last season at SS for Radford, finishing the year with a .270 batting average, including 6 home runs and 32 RBIs.
Family Life
Normally when you ask a player what their favorite memory on the field is, you hear responses about walk-offs, perfect games, etc.. Hunter Keen gave a slightly different answer.
Keen describes his favorite baseball memory being when he shared the middle infield with his older brother, Tre.
It may seem minuscule, but Keen's answer perfectly epitomizes his personality as a leader in the clubhouse. Keen enters his senior season as one of the clear leaders according to HC Alex Guerra, continuously being an example since his arrival. A testament to his upbringing and hardened journey to the NRV.
Up Next
This upcoming season, Keen will be viewed by many as a core player for the Highlanders and as a hitter that sets the tempo in a primary leadoff role. With the team losing speed due to graduation and the transfer portal, Radford will need to find stolen bases through different avenues in 2025 and Keen should help.
The team will continue to instill the blue collar culture that has resonated with so many student athletes throughout the years. Keen is no exception stating, "Being blue collar in the team setting is not just caring about what you have to do, but getting it done because the guys in your dugout need you to do it."
The Highlanders are in good hands with Keen leading the infield, ahead of a competitive 2025 season in the Big South.
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