Keston Hiura Bio
Keston Wee Hing Natsuo Hiura is an American professional baseball first baseman and second baseman who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, and Colorado Rockies. Born in Valencia, California, Hiura emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball after a standout college career at the University of California, Irvine. The Milwaukee Brewers selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft, and he made his major league debut in 2019. Hiura has built a reputation as a switch-hitter with power potential, though his career has seen significant statistical fluctuations at the major league level.
Early Life and Background
Hiura was born on August 2, 1996, in Valencia, California, and attended Valencia High School in the city. His multicultural background includes a Chinese-American mother and a Japanese-American father. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, he became an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers during his formative years. At Valencia High School, Hiura played for the Vikings baseball team and established himself as a dominant hitter, batting .500 with 14 home runs and 30 runs batted in during his senior year, helping the Vikings capture the Foothill League championship.
Despite his impressive high school performance, Hiura went undrafted out of high school and chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level. He enrolled at the University of California, Irvine, where he played for the Anteaters and quickly became one of the top players in college baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Hiura’s three seasons at UC Irvine solidified his status as a premier hitting prospect. As a freshman in 2015, he made an immediate impact, hitting .330 with seven home runs and 52 runs batted in across 56 games. His sophomore year saw continued improvement, as he posted a .358 batting average with a .436 on-base percentage and .559 slugging percentage, adding seven more home runs and 41 RBIs in 53 games.
During the summer of 2016, Hiura represented the United States collegiate national team, where he batted .289 with three home runs in 17 games. His junior season represented his most dominant campaign, as he hit an extraordinary .442 with a .567 on-base percentage and earned Big West Conference Player of the Year honors. His performance at UC Irvine was so exceptional that he was inducted into the UC Irvine Hall of Fame in 2026, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Keston Hiura Career
Minor League Development (2017–2018)
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Hiura in the first round, ninth overall, in the 2017 MLB draft. He signed quickly and received a $4 million signing bonus, then reported to the Arizona Brewers of the Rookie-level Arizona League. In his professional debut, Hiura demonstrated why he was a top prospect by batting .435 with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and a 1.339 OPS in just 15 games. He earned a promotion to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Single-A Midwest League, where he continued his hot hitting at .333 across 27 games.
MLB.com recognized Hiura as Milwaukee’s top prospect heading into the 2018 season. He began the year with the Carolina Mudcats of the High-A Carolina League and dominated, hitting .320 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .911 OPS in 50 games before earning a promotion to the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers on June 1. He finished the season with Biloxi, batting .272 with six home runs, 20 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 73 games. Following the season, Hiura capped his breakthrough year by winning the prestigious Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player Award.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Hiura began the 2019 season with the Triple-A San Antonio Missions and earned his first major league call-up on May 14. He made his MLB debut that same day against the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite being sent back to Triple-A briefly in early June to make room for Travis Shaw, Hiura returned later that month and began to establish himself as a force in the Brewers lineup. On July 28, he delivered his first career walk-off hit, homering in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Chicago Cubs. He was named National League Rookie of the Month for July, batting .355 with a 1.127 OPS.
Hiura finished his rookie campaign with a .303 batting average, 19 home runs, and 49 RBIs in 84 games, earning a spot on Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team. However, his defensive metrics raised concerns, as he led all major league second basemen with 16 errors. In the postseason, he went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in the NL Wild Card Game against the Washington Nationals.
The following seasons proved challenging for Hiura. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he led the National League with 85 strikeouts while batting just .212, though he did contribute 13 home runs and 32 RBIs. His struggles continued into 2021, as his batting average plummeted to .168 in 61 games. In 2022, he appeared in 80 games and posted a .226/.316/.449 slash line with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs. Following the season, Hiura and the Brewers agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract to avoid arbitration, but he did not make the Opening Day roster in 2023 due to being out of options. He spent the entire 2023 season at Triple-A Nashville, where he batted .308/.395/.565 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in 85 games, before electing free agency.
Los Angeles Angels (2024)
Hiura signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers in February 2024 but was released in June after hitting .232/.312/.401 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 49 games with Triple-A Toledo. He subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Angels and performed exceptionally well at Triple-A Salt Lake, batting .360/.429/.853 with 12 home runs and 21 RBIs in just 19 games. The Angels selected his contract on July 5, 2024, adding him to their major league roster. Hiura appeared in 10 games for Los Angeles, going 4-for-27 with one RBI, before being designated for assignment later that month. He cleared waivers and elected free agency in October.
Colorado Rockies (2025)
On January 15, 2025, Hiura signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization. He reported to Triple-A Albuquerque and batted .243/.360/.467 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 46 appearances. The Rockies selected his contract on May 31, bringing him back to the major leagues. Hiura appeared in eight games for Colorado, going 4-for-18 with one RBI, before being designated for assignment in mid-June. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Albuquerque, eventually electing free agency on September 30, 2025.
Transition and Future Outlook
Following his time with the Rockies, Hiura has continued his professional baseball career internationally. On February 12, 2026, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, though he was released shortly after. Hiura subsequently signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League in May 2026, marking a new chapter in his baseball journey outside of North American professional baseball.
Keston Hiura Career Wins
Throughout his professional career spanning from 2017 through 2025, Hiura has accumulated notable achievements at both the minor and major league levels. His career statistics through the 2025 season include a .235 batting average, 50 home runs, and 134 RBIs across his MLB appearances.
MLB Highlights
At the major league level, Hiura’s most productive season came in 2019 when he was named National League Rookie of the Month for July and earned a spot on Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team. He also led all major league second basemen in errors during his rookie season, recording 16. His 2020 season saw him lead the National League in strikeouts with 85, though he did contribute 13 home runs for the Brewers. His 2022 campaign with Milwaukee saw him hit 14 home runs in 80 games.
Minor League and Award Achievements
Hiura’s minor league career includes numerous standout performances. He won the Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 following his breakout season in the Brewers farm system. His 2023 season at Triple-A Nashville was particularly impressive, as he batted .308/.395/.565 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in 85 games. His brief stint with Salt Lake in the Angels organization saw him hit .360/.429/.853 with 12 home runs in just 19 games before his MLB call-up. Additionally, his collegiate career was capped by Big West Conference Player of the Year honors and eventual induction into the UC Irvine Hall of Fame.
Family
Family Background
Hiura comes from a diverse multicultural background, with a Chinese-American mother and a Japanese-American father. His heritage has been publicly noted throughout his professional career. Growing up in Valencia, California, he was surrounded by baseball culture in the Los Angeles area and developed his passion for the sport at a young age.
Personal Life
Hiura grew up as an avid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, cheering for the local MLB team during his childhood in Valencia. His multicultural background has been a part of his identity throughout his professional career, and he has embraced both his Chinese and Japanese heritage. Beyond baseball, Hiura has maintained connections to his alma mater, UC Irvine, where his legacy as one of the program’s most accomplished players was honored with his induction into the universitys Hall of Fame in 2026.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented another year of transition for Hiura as he sought to establish himself at the major league level. Signed to a minor league deal by the Colorado Rockies in January, he spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he posted solid numbers with nine home runs and 31 RBIs while batting .243 with a .360 on-base percentage. His performance in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League demonstrated his continued ability to produce offensively at the Triple-A level.
The Rockies selected Hiura’s contract on May 31, bringing him back to the major leagues for his first MLB action since 2024. However, his opportunity proved brief, as he went just 4-for-18 in eight games before being designated for assignment in mid-June. After clearing waivers, he returned to Albuquerque for the remainder of the season. Hiura’s inability to secure a sustained role with Colorado highlighted the ongoing challenge he has faced in recapturing his rookie-season form at the highest level.
Looking ahead, Hiura’s move to the KBO League with Kiwoom Heroes in 2026 represents a fresh start in a new baseball environment. At 29 years old, he still possesses the switch-hitting ability and power potential that made him a top prospect earlier in his career, and a successful stint in Korea could provide a pathway back to MLB or establish him as a quality player in international baseball.