Keyvius Nathaniel Sampson (born January 6, 1991) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Toros de Tijuana The Toros de Tijuana (English: Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican baseball team based in Tijuana, Mexico, that competes in the Mexican Baseball League. The team plays its home games at Estadio Chevron. Team history Original Attempt The franchise w ...

of the

Mexican Baseball League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...

. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

, in the

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

for the

Hanwha Eagles The Hanwha Eagles () are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Daejeon that competes in the KBO League. The Eagles' home ballpark is Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. They have won the Korean Series once, in 1999, and the league penn ...

, and in the

Chinese Professional Baseball League The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL; ) is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989 and played the first season in 1990. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 20 ...

(CPBL) for the

Uni-President Lions The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, stylized as Uni-President 7-ᴇʟᴇᴠᴇn Lions, also known as Uni-Lions (), are a professional baseball team playing in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). The Lions are based in Tainan City, Ta ...

and

Fubon Guardians The Fubon Guardians () are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in Taiwan. The team is owned by Fubon Financial Holding Co. and play their home games at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City. ...

Career

San Diego Padres

Sampson was drafted by the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

in the fourth round of the

2009 Major League Baseball Draft The 2009 Major League Baseball draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. The drafting order is as follows: First-round selections Key Supplemental first-round selections From Baseball Americ ...

. In 2010, he went 12–3 with a 2.90

earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...

and 143

strikeouts In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...

in 118

innings pitched In baseball, the statistic innings pitched (IP) is the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of Batter (baseball), batters and baserunners that have been put out while the pitcher is on the Baseball field#Pitcher's mou ...

. He started the 2013 with the Triple-A

Tucson Padres The Tucson Padres were a Minor League Baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, that competed in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). They were the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team moved to Tucson from Portland, Oregon, for the 2011 ...

but was demoted to Double-A

San Antonio Missions The San Antonio Missions are a Minor League Baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Missions compete in the Texas League as the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team plays its home games at Nelson W. W ...

after posting an 8.03 ERA. He was promoted back to Triple-A on August 7, 2013, after going 10–4 with a 2.26 ERA in Double-A. He was added to the Padres 40-man roster on November 20, 2013. Sampson was designated for assignment on December 29, 2014.

Cincinnati Reds

On January 8, 2015, Sampson was claimed off waivers by the

. The Reds promoted Sampson to the major leagues for the first time on July 30. In 13 games (12 starts) during his rookie campaign, Sampson struggled to a 2-6 record and 6.54 ERA with 42 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sampson was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

on April 20, 2016, when the Reds promoted Drew Hayes. Sampson's contract was purchased by the Reds when Homer Bailey was placed on the 60-day disabled list on May 18. In 18 appearances for Cincinnati mainly in relief, he logged a 4.35 ERA with 42 strikeouts across innings pitched. On November 28, Sampson was designated for assignment by the Reds. He was non-tendered by Cincinnati on December 2, and became a free agent.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 17, 2016, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

that included an invitation to spring training. In 12 games (9 starts) for the Triple–A

Reno Aces The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, w ...

, he logged a 6.75 ERA with 46 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sampson was released by the Diamondbacks organization on June 15, 2017.

Miami Marlins

On June 16, 2017, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization, but was released the next day. On June 26, 2017, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

organization. In 14 games (6 starts) for the Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes, he logged a 4.95 ERA with 38 strikeouts in innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.

Hanwha Eagles

On November 13, 2017, Sampson signed with the

of the

. In 30 appearances (29 starts) for the Eagles, he compiled a 13-8 record and 4.68 ERA with 195 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sampson became a free agent following the 2018 season.

San Francisco Giants

On January 5, 2019, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

organization. In 6 games (5 starts) split between the rookie–level Arizona League Giants and Double–A

Richmond Flying Squirrels The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a Minor League Baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. The team, which is a part of the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club, and plays at The Diamond. Th ...

, he posted a 1–3 record and 5.09 ERA with 18 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sampson elected free agency following the season on November 4.

Chicago White Sox

On April 2, 2021, Sampson signed a minor league contract with the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

organization. Sampson posted a 6.43 ERA in 8 appearances between the Low-A Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and the Triple-A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field ...

before he was released on July 20.

Kansas City Monarchs

On July 28, 2021, Sampson signed with the

Kansas City Monarchs The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running franchise in the history of baseball's Negro leagues. Operating in Kansas City, Missouri, and owned by J. L. Wilkinson, they were charter members of the Negro National League from 1920 to 193 ...

of the

American Association of Professional Baseball The American Association of Professional Baseball is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2005. It operates in the central United States and Canada, mostly in cities not served by Major League Baseball teams or their minor ...

Lexington Legends

On April 21, 2022, Sampson was traded to the

Lexington Legends The Lexington Legends are an American professional baseball team based in Lexington, Kentucky. They are a member of the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball. The Legends have ...

of the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, and the headquarters are l ...

Uni-President Lions

On July 7, 2022, Sampson signed with the

of the

. In 11 games (10 starts) for the Lions, he recorded a 3.54 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 61 innings of work. In 2023, Sampson made 21 appearances (19 starts) for the team and posted an 8–5 record and 3.11 ERA with 115 strikeouts across 110 innings pitched.

Fubon Guardians

On February 8, 2024, Sampson signed with the

of the

. In 5 starts for Fubon, he struggled to an 0–3 record and 6.17 ERA with 29 strikeouts across innings pitched. On May 13, Sampson was removed from the active roster; under CPBL rules, a player is ineligible to return to the active roster once removed, but can remain active in the minor leagues.

Charleston Dirty Birds

On July 24, 2024, Sampson signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds of the

. In 8 starts for Charleston, he posted a 4–0 record and 3.86 ERA with 35 strikeouts across innings pitched. Sampson became a free agent following the season. On March 3, 2025, Sampson re-signed with the Dirty Birds for the 2025 season.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sampson, Keyvius 1991 births Living people African-American baseball players Águilas de Mexicali players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico American expatriate baseball players in South Korea American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Arizona League Giants players Arizona League Padres players Baseball players from Florida Cardenales de Lara players Charleston Dirty Birds players Charlotte Knights players Cincinnati Reds players El Paso Chihuahuas players Eugene Emeralds players Fort Wayne TinCaps players Fubon Guardians players Hanwha Eagles players Kansas City Monarchs (American Association) players Kannapolis Cannon Ballers players KBO League pitchers Lexington Legends players Louisville Bats players Major League Baseball pitchers New Orleans Baby Cakes players Pensacola Blue Wahoos players Peoria Javelinas players People from Ocala, Florida Reno Aces players Richmond Flying Squirrels players San Antonio Missions players Tucson Padres players Uni-President Lions players 21st-century African-American sportsmen American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Toros de Tijuana players