Three months ago, Ke'Bryan Hayes was drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the 32nd overall pick in the amateur draft. Last night, he was fielding a grounder with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and rocketing a throw over to first base for the final out of the New York-Penn League season. Hayes capped off an impressive rookie season with a celebration on the field, proving that he could handle playing in a league that was filled with college players, who were 3-4 years older than him in most cases.
The Gulf Coast League was where Hayes started this year, and that's the appropriate level for someone his age.