Keston Hiura Bio
Keston Wee Hing Natsuo Hiura is an American professional baseball player who serves as a first baseman and second baseman. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Angels, and Colorado Rockies. Hiura is currently signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League in South Korea.
Born and raised in Southern California, Hiura attended Valencia High School before starring 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 two years later.
Early Life and Background
Keston Wee Hing Natsuo Hiura was born on August 2, 1996, in Valencia, California, located in the Santa Clarita Valley. He grew up in a multiracial household, raised by a Chinese-American mother and a Japanese-American father. Hiura has cited his heritage as an important part of his identity and grew up cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He attended Valencia High School, where he played for the school’s baseball team, the Vikings. In his senior season, Hiura batted .500 with 14 home runs and 30 runs batted in (RBIs), helping lead Valencia to the Foothill League championship. Despite his strong performance, he went undrafted out of high school and instead committed to play college baseball at the University of California, Irvine.
Path to Baseball
Hiura joined the UC Irvine Anteaters and immediately contributed as a freshman in 2015, batting .330 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs across 56 games. He continued to improve as a sophomore, hitting .358 with a .436 on-base percentage and seven home runs. After his sophomore season, Hiura played for the United States collegiate national team during the offseason, batting .289 with a team-leading three home runs in 17 games.
In his junior year, Hiura elevated his game, batting .442 with a .567 on-base percentage. He was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year for his dominant performance. That spring, the Milwaukee Brewers selected him with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft, convincing Hiura to forgo his senior season. He signed with a $4 million bonus and was assigned to the Arizona Brewers of the Rookie-level Arizona League.
Keston Hiura Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Hiura’s professional career began with a bang in 2017. In just 15 games with the Arizona Brewers, he batted .435 with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and a 1.339 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). That production earned him a quick promotion to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Single-A Midwest League, where he hit .333 with 15 RBIs in 27 games.
Entering 2018, MLB.com ranked Hiura as Milwaukee’s top prospect. He started the year with the Carolina Mudcats of the High-A Carolina League and batted .320 with seven home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .911 OPS in 50 games, earning a June promotion to the Biloxi Shuckers of the Double-A Southern League. After the regular season, Hiura won the Arizona Fall League Most Valuable Player Award.
Milwaukee Brewers Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Hiura began 2019 with the Triple-A San Antonio Missions before his contract was selected on May 14, leading to his major league debut that same day against the Philadelphia Phillies. He made an immediate impact, earning National League (NL) Rookie of the Month honors for July after batting .355 with a 1.127 OPS. On July 28, he delivered a walk-off home run in the 10th inning against the Chicago Cubs. Hiura finished his rookie year batting .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs in 84 games and was named to Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team.
The 2020 pandemic-shortened season brought struggles. Hiura batted .212 with 13 home runs and 32 RBIs while leading the NL with 85 strikeouts. His difficulties continued in 2021, when he hit just .168 across 61 games while splitting time between first base and second base. In 2022, Hiura played 80 games and hit .226 with 14 home runs and 32 RBIs.
Free Agency and Journeyman Years (2023–2025)
Hiura agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Brewers in January 2023 but did not make the Opening Day roster. He spent the entire year at Triple-A Nashville, batting .308 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs in 85 games before electing free agency in October. In February 2024, he signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers, playing for Triple-A Toledo before being released in June.
Hiura signed with the Los Angeles Angels organization in June 2024 and was selected to the major league roster on July 5. In 10 games with Los Angeles, he went 4-for-27 with one RBI before being designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and elected free agency at season’s end. In January 2025, Hiura signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies and was added to the active roster on May 31, appearing in eight games before being designated for assignment in mid-June. He spent the remainder of the year in the minors and elected free agency again in September.
Kiwoom Heroes Era (2026–Present)
In early 2026, Hiura signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers but was released on April 3. On May 18, 2026, he signed a one-year, $400,000 contract with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League in South Korea. The move marked his first venture into professional baseball outside the United States.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hiura is recognized for his left-handed power at the plate and his versatility across the infield. He has shown the ability to hit for both average and extra-base power when his swing is in sync. Defensively, he has logged significant innings at both first base and second base, giving managers lineup flexibility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hiura’s first major league walk-off hit, a 10th-inning home run against the Chicago Cubs on July 28, 2019, remains one of the signature moments of his career. He was also named the 2019 NL Rookie of the Month for July and earned a spot on Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team. In 2026, Hiura was inducted into the UC Irvine Hall of Fame.
Keston Hiura Career Wins
Across his professional career, Keston Hiura has compiled a resume highlighted by offensive production at multiple minor league levels and a productive rookie major league season. While he has not won a major league batting title or home run crown, his minor league achievements include an Arizona Fall League MVP award and several strong statistical seasons in the Brewers, Tigers, Angels, and Rockies farm systems.
Minor League and International Highlights
Hiura’s most decorated season came in 2019, when he batted .303 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs in 84 major league games. In Triple-A, he batted .308 with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs during 2023. With the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees in 2024, he hit .360 with 12 home runs and 21 RBIs in just 19 games.
Other Performances
Hiura was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year during his junior season at UC Irvine in 2017. He was also recognized as Milwaukee’s top prospect by MLB.com entering the 2018 season. In 2026, his collegiate legacy was honored with induction into the UC Irvine Hall of Fame.
Keston Hiura Family
Family Background and Heritage
Keston Wee Hing Natsuo Hiura was raised in a multicultural household. His mother is of Chinese-American descent, while his father is Japanese-American. Hiura grew up in Valencia, California, and has spoken about how his bicultural upbringing shaped his perspective.
Personal Life
Hiura grew up as a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and has maintained ties to his Southern California roots. He is known to keep his personal and family life largely private, and details about his marital status and children have not been publicly disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
Keston Hiura’s 2025 campaign began quietly after he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies in January. He opened the year at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he batted .243 with a .360 on-base percentage, nine home runs, and 31 RBIs across 46 games. His performance in the minors earned him a promotion to the major league roster on May 31.
In his brief major league stint with Colorado, Hiura went 4-for-18 with one RBI in eight games. He was designated for assignment on June 16 after the team opted for other roster options. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A, where he finished the year.
Hiura elected free agency on September 30, 2025, setting the stage for his eventual move to the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League in May 2026. His 2025 season was a transitional one, as he continued to showcase power in the minors while seeking a stable major league role. Heading into 2026, the KBO contract represents a fresh start for the 29-year-old infielder, who will look to revive his career in South Korea.
