Max Kepler Appreciation Thread

[John Kelsey]

With Sano having an absolute monster season, I feel like Maximillian Kepler is flying under the radar a bit. 

 

This kid is having a hell of a season so far. He has an .830 OPS and is playing above average corner outfield and passable center. His only weakness at the moment is hitting lefties but watching his at-bats the last few weeks he's actually looked pretty comfortable up there against southpaws; he just hasn't gotten the results yet. 

 

He doesn't strike out a whole lot, draws walks, and can steal a base every now and then. 

 

It's early but he's also 7th(!!!!) among hitters in the entire American League in WAR, trailing only Trout, Judge, Dickerson, Sano, Gardner and A. Garcia. 

 

Show some love for the German!

 

[Twinsbar107]

Sign me up, he is my favorite Twin and the prospect I had always had the most interest in. I think he can hit lefties, if they ever give him the opportunity to do so. But, it has been fun to watch Sano, Kepler, Polanco, and even Buxton carry this team so far this season.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I have to admit I really wasn't tracking him much until he was MVP of the Southern League that one year.

Gotta believe we are all pretty impressed with this young man.

[USAFChief]

Looks like a big league ballplayer to me.  

[Sssuperdave]

 

Sign me up, he is my favorite Twin and the prospect I had always had the most interest in. I think he can hit lefties, if they ever give him the opportunity to do so. But, it has been fun to watch Sano, Kepler, Polanco, and even Buxton carry this team so far this season.

 

Totally agree, and now that Berrios has had a couple of strong starts it feels like we're finally bearing the fruits of the youth movement we've been waiting so long for.  I've been salivating over the idea of a team led by Berrios/Sano/Buxton/Kepler/Polanco/Rosario for about four years now.  Of course, I was hoping Kohl Stewart and Oswaldo Arcia would be in the mix too, but you can't win them all.

[drivlikejehu]

He's 37th in AL WAR per Fangraphs due to defensive metric differences, but I definitely like what I see. I've been a big fan of Kepler since he was signed.

[gheggs42]

 

It's early but he's also 7th(!!!!) among hitters in the entire American League in WAR, trailing only Trout, Judge, Dickerson, Sano, Gardner and A. Garcia. 

 

I noticed this was on baseball-reference. On fangraphs Kepler's WAR is only 0.9, or half of what baseball-reference has him at. My questions are: 1. why such a big difference between sites? and 2. which site is best to use? 

[DocBauer]

Big fan and believer in Max. Not disregarding Sano or any other player on the roster, but I think he may end up being the Twins most complete player when you factor in every category. I know that's saying a lot, but it appears he will hit, make contact, get OB, hit for power, steal some bases, play great defense, etc. And I too believe he will figure out lefties in time.

[mickeymental]

 

I noticed this was on baseball-reference. On fangraphs Kepler's WAR is only 0.9, or half of what baseball-reference has him at. My questions are: 1. why such a big difference between sites? and 2. which site is best to use? 

whichever one doesn't include war.

[DaveW]

I noticed this was on baseball-reference. On fangraphs Kepler's WAR is only 0.9, or half of what baseball-reference has him at. My questions are: 1. why such a big difference between sites? and 2. which site is best to use?

/gets popcorn

[snepp]

 

I noticed this was on baseball-reference. On fangraphs Kepler's WAR is only 0.9, or half of what baseball-reference has him at. My questions are: 1. why such a big difference between sites? and 2. which site is best to use? 

 

1. Different defensive data sources.

 

2. Both. Sample size of defensive data takes so long to accumulate due to limited opportunities that there often ends up being big discrepancies.