For Boston Kellner, winning a state championship with his Hamilton High School teammates is the ultimate goal — a dream he’s focused on before making his mark at the next level. (Photo by Dani Trujillo/Cronkite News)
CHANDLER – From a Minnesota kid to the Grand Canyon State, one Hamilton High School senior has MLB draft pick potential written all over him.
Boston Kellner, a utility infielder, has a dazzling glove and a swing that allows him to hit with average and with power. The 18-year-old started playing T-ball baseball when he was 4 in Minnesota, where he lived for 14 years, and he now ranks as a top 90 MLB draft prospect.
Though an outlier, he fell in love with the sport like many others from his large family background of baseball.
“I grew up in a very baseball-centered family and we are all about baseball in my family,” Kellner said. “My grandpa, uncle, and brother all played baseball and my sister played softball.”
Due to his father’s new job, the Keller family moved from Minnesota to Colorado, where he continued his baseball pursuits at Pine Creek High School.
Keller tore it up his freshman and sophomore year at the varsity level, with a .524 batting average, 76 hits, 22 doubles, 12 home runs, 61 RBI and a 1.628 OPS in 145 at-bats. He also pitched and had a 13-3 record behind a 3.13 ERA, 129 Ks and in 94 IP.
After two years, the family relocated to Phoenix, after his father had more job opportunities and picking his next high school came easy.
“I knew of Hamilton High School and the Chandler area because my sister and her boyfriend are here,” Kellner said. “So I had a good idea of Hamilton and knew it was great academically and athletically.”
Last year at Hamilton, Keller made an instant impact, batting .462, 48 hits, 14 doubles, 12 home runs, 29 RBI, 1.519 OPS in 104 at-bats. While toeing the rubber, he went 6-4, 2.87 ERA, 47 K, in 53.2 IP.
Though Kellner can pitch, he’s focused on playing the left side of the infield at the next level.
“He brings a lot of energy and is very fun to be around and I love him,” senior outfielder Jaylen Payne said. “When we are down in the dugout, he comes and picks us up and that’s the type of person he is.”
Boston Kellner’s path to MLB draft pick potential started with T-ball in Minnesota and now shines at Hamilton High School in Chandler. (Photo by Dani Trujillo/Cronkite News)
It’s no doubt Kellner has found a new home at Hamilton and his teammates and coaches love him.
“He truthfully brings everything whether his hitting, pitching, playing shortstop, he runs well, and is our leader,” Manager Mike Woods said. “He is the whole package and is a special player and proved it last year.”
Kellner is glad he picked Hamilton High School and doesn’t take it for granted each day he gets to spend it with his team.
Hamilton has won two state championships over the past three years, but fell short last season.
“My favorite part about playing here is how competitive it is and my coaches and teammates because of how tight we are here and I can call them my brothers ever since they took me under their wing when I transferred here,” Kellner said. “Super good culture here and it’s a plus when the program is historically good as well.”
He is committed to playing baseball at Texas A&M after he graduates in the spring and feels it’s the perfect fit for him.
Texas A&M, ranked No. 1 nationally in the 2025 preseason polls, is one of the top baseball programs in the country.
“We had a super fun fall this season and took six different visits as a family,” Kellner said. “We kept circling back to Texas A&M because the coach there and I had a close relationship going throughout the process and got to experience the atmosphere and the 12th man speaks for itself so I love it there.”
Kellner knows he has one season to prove to everybody that he belongs at the next level and beyond.
He is not a big numbers guy and would rather put the team first rather than focusing on his own stats as he eyes helping Hamilton bring its state championship total to double digits.
He still is focused on his success and has worked hard every day on his craft. His biggest season in his baseball career waits in the balance of a potential MLB draft pick or playing baseball at arguably the best college baseball program in the country this year.
“This process in the offseason has helped me trust in my full ability and one goal I have is winning a state championship here,” Kellner said. “I personally have never won a state championship and I know we have nine here at Hamilton and to get that double-digit number with my awesome teammates and coaches would be pretty sweet.”
