Born June 22, 1988 in Los Angeles, Keegan Acker was drawn to baseball from the start. As a young boy, Acker’s interest in baseball was groomed by going to Angels games in Los Angeles with his dad. Now, he’s an infielder for the Bellevue College Bulldog’s baseball team.
While also considering Edmonds, Everett, and Columbia Basin College, a summer league teammate and former BC standout Jesse Wight. While seriously considering the others, Acker eventually went with Bellevue “because it was the best choice.”
Last spring, he emerged as a starter at second base for the Bulldogs, and then proved his reliability by making no errors in the last twenty-three games of the season. He wasn’t too bad on offense, either. He hit .303, scored 20 runs, and struck out only 10 times in over 100 at-bats.
So far this season, in 92 at bats, Acker is hitting .207 with 15 walks, only 8 strikeouts (fewest amongst starters), and 9 runs batted in. He is also second on the team, trailing only Ian Parmley, in stolen bases, having stolen 20 so far.
His highest point so far in his baseball career is a no brainer, according to him. “The highest point (was) making it to state playoffs for baseball for Redmond High School, winning the first game in (the playoffs), and being one of the top eight teams in state” says Acker. In that first game, Redmond beat North Kitsap by a score of 16 – 2, and then went on to lose to the eventual state champion Snohomish 6 – 2 at Everett Memorial Stadium.
The lowest point? That’s easy too. “(It) was losing to Snohomish. Winner of the game got to play at Safeco” says Acker.
Outside of baseball, he has definite goals too. “(I want) to be happy no matter what I do. Try and be successful.”
As far as a profession, his goal is to use his baseball experience to his advantage. “I want to do something in the sports field. Coaching or training, majoring in health and physical sciences.”
Most of his interests revolve around athletics. “I enjoy playing basketball, working out, (and) hanging out with the baseball guys” said Acker. Basketball isn’t a new development, either. In baseball, while lettering two years for baseball, he also lettered one year in basketball, during which Redmond made it to the state 4A championships held in the Tacoma Dome.
As far as next year goes, he’s already signed on to be a Centenary College of Louisana Gent next year. After that, he’s got high hopes. “My first goal was to sign division one and everyone’s ultimate goal is so be drafted, so that would be my goal.”