Twins Select Luke Keaschall at #49 in the 2023 MLB Draft

[Jamie Cameron]

With the 49th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Luke Keaschall, a shortstop out of Arizona State University. Keaschall is ranked 61st overall on the Twins Daily Consensus Board.

Image courtesy of Brock Beauchamp

Luke Keaschall is a shortstop out of Arizona State University. He is ranked at 61st overall on the Twins Daily Consensus Board. Across nine boards we track, he had a high ranking of 44th and a low ranking of 90th (MLB Pipeline).

Keaschall had outstanding seasons as a freshman and sophomore at San Francisco before transferring to Arizona State for his junior season. In 55 games he put together a .353/.443/.725 line with 18 home runs and 18 stolen bases.

Keaschall has a hit over power approach at the plate, even with a power breakout in 2023. At the plate, he has strong contact rates, despite expanding the strike zone sometimes in his at bats. Most of his power came to the pull side in 2023. Keaschall's batted ball data is not outstanding, and despite hitting 18 home runs in 2023, he will likely have fringy power as a professional. Still, there's an excellent line drive swing with an approach that leads to few strikeouts (13 K% in 2023), and few walks (10 BB% in 2023). 

Defensively, Keaschall should be able to stay on the dirt, but it's more of a second base over shortstop profile as a professional. He has a fringy/average arm and average defense, with solid defensive actions. He can run a bit and should be a threat on the base paths with an aggressive approach when he gets on.

Keaschall is a little in the mold of Tanner Schobel in that he's a prospect coming off the back of a breakout in 2023, with strong wooden bat production on the Cape to back up his college performance at ASU. A pick of this archetype was likely after Walker Jenkins and Charlee Soto kicked off the night for the Twins.

What do you think of the Luke Keaschall pick at 49 for the Twins? Join the discussion in the comments below.

 

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[Dman]

It’s a solid pick just not something the system needs IMO. good approach, good speed, is figuring out how to go for power.  Just not the pick I was hoping for. Would have rather seen them go pitcher. Depth in the minors there is not good. It looks like another balanced draft but they need more arms.

[Mike Sixel]

No surprise it's a college guy. Seems more than reasonable at this spot

[DocBauer]

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously.

Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money??

This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously.

Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money??

This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel. 

Lots of speed. I'd move him to center.... Except others will likely be there

[Crackedfungo]

4 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously.

Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money??

This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel. 

Yep. Overshot for savings.  Boras client and the two high schoolers may have necessitated it. I think Johnson was clearly an option forestalled by co$t to keep him from LSU - but I REALLY wanted him too. 

[DocBauer]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Lots of speed. I'd move him to center.... Except others will likely be there

Yes. And yes.

I just don't see the fit. Again, not a bad ballplayer. But I don't see a single, special tool or more to warrant a selection this high.

Especially when there were arms available similarly ranked.

[Fatbat]

Its a nice pick, speed and hit tools. I was thinking more about Carrigg or a college pitcher. 

[dougd]

His average pre-draft ranking from The Athletic, ESPN, and Baseball America was 49. It may help to think of him as a CF.

[mrtwinsfan]

42 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No surprise it's a college guy. Seems more than reasonable at this spot

 

27 minutes ago, dougd said:

His average pre-draft ranking from The Athletic, ESPN, and Baseball America was 49. It may help to think of him as a CF.

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Luke Keaschall

2BArizona State--206' 1" / 190 lbsRR

[Linus]

 Loved the first two picks but not this one. No upside here with a pick that high that probably ends up being a utility infielder. Take a shot at a high school pitcher. They are both likely to never see the bigs but get a guy that has a chance at some upside. 

[gunnarthor]

Liked the pick. Seems like we're starting to focus a bit more on hit tools again - Lee, Martin, Miller, etc - Twins aren't grabbing the 1B/DH slugger as much. Good to see. Obviously, the draft is hard to predict but this is a nice, solid pick. Made a lot of sense.

[Jocko87]

4 hours ago, Dman said:

It’s a solid pick just not something the system needs IMO. good approach, good speed, is figuring out how to go for power.  Just not the pick I was hoping for. Would have rather seen them go pitcher. Depth in the minors there is not good. It looks like another balanced draft but they need more arms.

But it is something the system needs…a solid bat with am iffy glove that they can polish and flip for an actual current need. (Assessments of current needs may vary).  I’d expect several more of these middle infielder types tomorrow. 

These aren’t the old draft and develop eryone Twins anymore.  We are drafting assets now.  

[wabene]

4 hours ago, Dman said:

It’s a solid pick just not something the system needs IMO. good approach, good speed, is figuring out how to go for power.  Just not the pick I was hoping for. Would have rather seen them go pitcher. Depth in the minors there is not good. It looks like another balanced draft but they need more arms.

Don't worry in the rest of the draft I think they'll be grabbing many sleeper college arms they can develope. 

[Seth Stohs]

5 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'm a little confused on this one. Thought for sure they'd grab LHP Whitman from Kent State or HS LHP Cam Johnson or OF Hack Hurley from VA Tech who they've been tied to previously.

Nothing against Keaschall at all. But it's my understanding he's already moved to 2B and supposedly doesn't have the power for 3B. So not sure I'm seeing a 2B in the 2nd round at this point. Is he an over slot to save some money??

This reminds me a lot of last year's pick of Schobel. 

And, Cam Johnson and Jack Hurley are still available. Johnson must be pretty set with his commitment to LSU. That has to be why he hasn't been taking. He even had Big Frank Thomas advocating for him tonight. 

I like the Tanner Schobel comp. Sean Johnson said that the scouts absolutely love him. I wonder if he might be a little under slot?

[Doctor Gast]

The 1st 2 pick were OK worthy of their order picked, but no steals. But our # 49 pick they blew it. Keaschall, is a good hitter, has above avg. speed but not great and at 2B , he doesn't man a premium position or fill a need. IMO Cole Carrigg is a better hitter, faster runner, has a great arm, a very athletic catcher (IMO the 2nd best college catcher) a premium position, where he was drafted by CO and is a position of great need for the Twins.

The Twins could have stole Carrigg because the evaluators put him as a INF/OF where he was above average instead of catcher where he could excel plus he switch hits, So I'm very disappointed with the Twins #49th pick. If they felt the need to under slot, this was not the place to do it.

[2wins87]

The more I read the more I like the pick. The Schobel comp seems pretty apt, but it seems like Keaschall has shown a bit more of a knack for contact and might be a bit more physical overall so hopefully the upside is higher.

It's easy to see how a model could rate him highly. While the knock is a lack of power, he got to plenty of power last year. I think I saw strong hands mentioned in more than one scouting report. And even if he stays as more of a pull power rather than all fields power that could play at target field.

I like a pick who has been on the rise over the last year.

It felt like almost a given that it would be a college bat after their first two picks. There were a couple guys left that I was a bit more familiar with, but it doesn't necessarily seem like Keaschall is obviously a lesser bat or lesser prospect.

[Dman]

4 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

But it is something the system needs…a solid bat with am iffy glove that they can polish and flip for an actual current need. (Assessments of current needs may vary).  I’d expect several more of these middle infielder types tomorrow. 

These aren’t the old draft and develop eryone Twins anymore.  We are drafting assets now.  

Yeah they seem to like trading for pitchers better than developing them.  I didn't like the Schobel pick last year and all he has done is lead his league in HR's and battle for 2nd or third in OPS against Rosario.  He is doing better than some of the 1st round picks so yeah Keaschall likely has similar traits and was unlikely to make it to their third round pick so I get why they grabbed him there.

Still I feel somewhat justified in wanting Clemmy as that is who Cleveland took with their pick and they like to develop pitching.  Pitching is also a system need and to find hard throwers you usually have to draft them early.  I just think pitching would have been a better use of their draft capital there.

They have a lot more info than me and they disagreed.

 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

If what happens with our 3rd pick happens and I have a sneaky suspicion we get Hurley,  and this was just a swapping of picks because they really liked Keaschall, I think everyone will be very happy with this draft.  We will have 4 very high rated prospects.  Even if it is not Hurley the draft will be a success, it will just be filling in with prospects the Twins hope they can develop a few diamonds in the rough.   

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

The 1st 2 pick were OK worthy of their order picked, but no steals. But our # 49 pick they blew it. Keaschall, is a good hitter, has above avg. speed but not great and at 2B , he doesn't man a premium position or fill a need. IMO Cole Carrigg is a better hitter, faster runner, has a great arm, a very athletic catcher (IMO the 2nd best college catcher) a premium position, where he was drafted by CO and is a position of great need for the Twins.

The Twins could have stole Carrigg because the evaluators put him as a INF/OF where he was above average instead of catcher where he could excel plus he switch hits, So I'm very disappointed with the Twins #49th pick. If they felt the need to under slot, this was not the place to do it.

Blew it? Feels a little harsh. And if Carrigg doesn't stick at catcher (and notably, his primary position this spring was CF) then what is he? KLaw had him all the way down at 70 on his big board because he doesn't make hard contact and expands the zone too much (and as a result doesn't get on base enough). If he's the 2nd best college catcher, why didn't he play there for SDSU this spring?

Keaschall has the speed for CF, so if he doesn't stick on the dirt he's got another position when he can add value on defense. I just don't think you can try and draft for need and be successful in the MLB draft, unless the players are pretty close in terms of overall evaluation; then it makes sense as a tie-breaker, but right now it doesn't look like Carrigg is seen by many evaluators as a serious catching prospect and there's some real questions about his hit tool in comparison to other guys who were drafted ahead of him.

[Doctor Gast]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Blew it? Feels a little harsh. And if Carrigg doesn't stick at catcher (and notably, his primary position this spring was CF) then what is he? KLaw had him all the way down at 70 on his big board because he doesn't make hard contact and expands the zone too much (and as a result doesn't get on base enough). If he's the 2nd best college catcher, why didn't he play there for SDSU this spring?

Keaschall has the speed for CF, so if he doesn't stick on the dirt he's got another position when he can add value on defense. I just don't think you can try and draft for need and be successful in the MLB draft, unless the players are pretty close in terms of overall evaluation; then it makes sense as a tie-breaker, but right now it doesn't look like Carrigg is seen by many evaluators as a serious catching prospect and there's some real questions about his hit tool in comparison to other guys who were drafted ahead of him.

I imagine Carrigg fit in the same category as Wyatt Langsford (was drafted by Florida as a top catcher prospect) where he was more needed in the OF because of his speed. Evaluators don't evaluate Carrigg as a catcher because he's listed as a CF. Pre season evaluation gave him high notes on his athleticism & his flexibility on defense where he could play anywhere including pitcher but noted his best position as catcher. 

He has all the tools (athleticism, quickness, leadership, strong arm & quick to learn) to not only stick at catcher but excel there. Because many evaluators only looked at him as a new OFer and not as a top notch catcher that decreased greatly Carrigg's stock, which made him a steal. That the Twins missed on. CO drafted him not as an OF/INF/utility but as a catcher. They got it right.

Thought I throw in a clip 

At the end he was asked where his arm played out the best he replied catcher