Keaschall Looking to do Damage for Kernels

[Seth Stohs]

Luke Keaschall isn’t your normal middle infielder in a lot of ways, but just what type of player can he become? Which player does he seem to emulate at the plate? Last week, I caught up with the Cedar Rapids Kernels leadoff man, Luke Keaschall. 

Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily

Luke Keaschall was born and raised in central California. He was born in Watsonville, California, a city approaching 55,000 people. He grew up just a few miles down the road and went to Aptos High School. It is an unincorporated town of about 25,000 people made up of people from six smaller villages. It is just miles south and east of Santa Cruz and borders Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

Baseball is strong in the area. In 2002, the team from Apton Little League team went to the Little League World Series and was the subject of a documentary, Small Ball: A Little League Story. That summer is when Luke Keaschall was born. Former big leaguer Mark Eichhorn was the team’s pitching coach. In addition, former big leaguer Randy Kramer is from there. So is Hall of Famer Harry Hooper. So is MLB umpire Bill Miller. Super Bowl champion quarterback Trent Dilfer went to Aptos High School. Some of you may recognize Marisa Miller, another Aptos native. 

Keaschall was a star on the baseball diamond but also a great wrestler. He was one match away from making the state tournament as a senior. Last fall, he told The Gazette from Cedar Rapids beat writer Jeff Johnson, “I loved it, had a lot of fun. Can’t say enough about wrestling.” 

His best sport was baseball. He was a three-time letter winner and two-time all-League. His older brother Jake stayed home and was an all-conference player at Cabrillo College, a two-year school in Aptos. He then transferred to Division I Pacific. 

As a sophomore in 2018, Luke Keaschall hit .348 and got on base 40% of the time. In his junior season, he hit .395 with a .495 on-base percentage. He had 12 extra base hits and stole 25 bases. Unfortunately, his senior season was lost due to Covid. 

However, he earned an opportunity at the University of San Francisco, a Division I school about 80 miles from his home. He started right away in 2021 as a freshman. In 53 games, he hit .320/.406/.475 (.881) with 11 doubles, four triples and four home runs. He split that summer playing in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League and the Cape Cod League, hitting over .320 at both spots.

As a sophomore, he played in 57 games and hit .305/.445/.502 (.947) with 18 doubles and eight homers. He also stole 30 bases and walked more than he struck out. 

He made the decision to transfer before his junior season. He moved from the West Coast Conference to the Pac-12, heading south to play at Arizona State. In 55 games, he hit .353/.443/.725 (1.168) with 25 doubles and 18 home runs. Plus, he was 18-for-20 in steal attempts. 

When the season ended, he had to wait until July for the draft. He put up mammoth numbers in the Pac 12. He went to the Combine. He did all he could. 

Last week in Cedar Rapids, Keaschall said he really had no idea what the draft would hold for him. I woke up on draft day with no idea what was going to happen. I was just happy to go when I went and happy to be a Twin.” 

After picking outfielder Walker Jenkins fifth overall, and right-hander Charlee Soto in the Competitive Balance Round, the Twins selected Keaschall with their second round draft pick, #49 overall.  

After Day 1 of the 2023 MLB Draft, Twins VP of Amateur Scouting Sean Johnson met with local media about his three draft picks that day. 

What did he and the area scouts like about Keaschall’s baseball acumen? Johnson said Keaschall is a “guy who did well at the U of San Francisco. We got to see him a lot more this spring at Arizona State. We were drawn to him. He’s just a dynamic athlete. I think he’s got a chance to play a lot of different positions. Offensively, he controls the strike zone. I think he had 18 home runs this spring. Just takes really good at-bats and he’s got a chance to play all over the diamond. We’ll figure out where he fits in eventually.”

They really liked Keaschall the Ballplayer. They really love Keaschall the Person. 

Johnson continued, “Terrific kid. One of our favorite players that we connected with at the Combine. We think the makeup is special, a separator, which is rare. Most are just in the middle somewhere. We just fell in love with Luke.”

Keaschall signed quickly and reported to Fort Myers. He played three games for the FCL Twins before moving up to the Mighty Mussels. In 20 games, he hit .292/.426/.472 (.898) with eight doubles, a triple, and a home run. He was pushed up to HIgh-A Cedar Rapids where he ended the regular season by hitting .313/.353/.563 (.915) with two doubles and two homers in eight games. 

Then in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs, he went 4-for-10 (.400) with two walks against Peoria. In the championship series against Great Lakes, he went 2-for-8 (.250) with two walks. In the championship game, he stole two bases as well. 

Even for great college players, the adjustment to the professional game can take a little time. “There are a lot of adjustments. You’re swinging wood instead of metal. You’re also playing every day now. You’ve got one day off per week as opposed to four games a week (in college). Now we’ve got six. Those extra two games really make you realize how important it is to take care of your body and be ready to go each day rather than just wake up, throw the cleats on and go play. You’ve got to take care of yourself.”

Keaschall’s 2024 season began in Cedar Rapids. Over the offseason, he put in a lot of work, specifically, he noted, “A little offensively and defensively. Offensively, just trying to stay a little more centered and hit balls hard to the center of the field, and getting off my back side a little bit, and hitting into my front side a little bit more. Defensively just working on some arm path stuff and a little bit crisper arm action.”

Keaschall began the season as the Kernels’ leadoff hitter and Designated Hitter. He was dealing with some arm issues and putting in a lot of work to get back to second base. His first game at second base came in the team’s sixth game

Kernels manager Brian Dinkelman, the 2023 Baseball America Manager of the Year, spoke highly of his leadoff man. “Good approach at the plate, good understanding of the strike zone, has some thump in his bat when he gets into a ball. He can run. He does a good job running the bases.”  

It’s always interesting to hear what a player thinks of himself. Asked what type of hitter he is when things are going well, Keaschall said, “Looking to do damage on every pitch. A guy that’s hitting extra base hits, swinging at good pitches, taking the balls, taking his walks, and doing the little things right. When you’re on, you’re doing all the little things right and good things happen.”

Luke Keaschall’s baseball career is off to a strong start, and he certainly has a chance to move up the ladder. 

Back to last year’s draft, Sean Johnson noted, “I think he’s got a chance to put on more strength and add to it. He’s a young college player. There’s still some room to grow there. We fully trust our strength and conditioning and PD people on the other side of this that will tap into as much as he can get. But he can certainly hit it over the fence. Wood bat, metal bat, certainly doesn’t matter, I think he’s going to have a decent amount of power, I don’t want to put a number on it. I fully expect he’ll be a doubles/home run guy.”

When you see Keaschall in person, you can’t help but notice that he is a big dude. He is not a prototypical, little middle infielder. Instead, he stands about six feet tall, and while he is listed at 190 pounds, I’d venture to guess he’s at least 15 pounds above that. 

In fact, as I was in Cedar Rapids last week, watching the games and taking photos, I couldn’t help but see a striking similarity between Keaschall and one of the best hitters of the generation. It was uncanny. 

No, I’m not saying that Luke Keaschall is the next Mike Trout (although I'd be just fine with that!). I’m simply pointing out that there is a resemblance. From a hitting stance, there are some key similarities to note. Both stand fairly tall. Both utilize a similar leg kick. Also notice the arms and bat. Both hold their hands high, with their chin almost tucked into their left shoulders. In doing so, a hitter is basically telling himself to trust his hands, to keep that front shoulder in, and to drive the ball all over the field. 

It’s a great approach. It’s a process, and it’s trusting that process. 

Keaschall began this season by going 1-for-11 over his first three games. Since then, he is 11-for-28, hitting .393/.528/.714 (1.242) with three doubles and two home runs. He also has seven walks to just three strikeouts. And, he is 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. 

One he got the proverbial camel off of his back, he was able to settle in and get going. Hopefully that can continue through the rest of the season, and beyond. 

OK, fine... in this photo, he literally looks like Mike Trout, right? 

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[Karbo]

The way the Twins are hitting so far he could be up soon. It would be great if he could hit like Trout, but then again he doesn't need that kind of pressure on him. I could easily see him finishing the season at AAA.

[Fatbat]

Thats about as close to a trout clone as you can get!  What a great story and we should be geeked about seeing him in St. Paul soon!! Its pretty clear that some of our recently signed vets are on the slippery down side of their careers. Next year and beyond, get these young bucks to MLB and let them play!! I’m so over watching aging vets suck the life out of the Twins. 

[Dman]

I have been impressed with his bat from the start of his  pro career.  Will be interesting to see where he play can defensively.  Would kind of be nice if he played some left field as we need good righty bats in the outfield.  He has a long way to go, but he looks good out of the gate.

[roger]

Great report, Seth, thanks.

When he was drafted was hoping he could develop into another Spencer Steer.  Will agree with the above comment about reaching AAA this year.

Regarding Ms. Miller, is my memory correct and she was a competitive surfer before she became a super model?

[Ghost of Kirby Puckett]

Loved the pick back when we took him, said it on here repeatedly. Now we're seeing him get stronger and coached up and with his makeup, just like Jenkins, the sky is the limit.

[DocBauer]

I'll admit, I had real questions about his draft selection. I mean, what do I KNOW about scouting and drafting for MLB as a couch GM? But he seemed a virtual clone of Tanner Schobel the year before, and almost the exact same spot. At the time, I thought Schobel was an early slot pick so save $. But then he signed for slot. So why pick the same ballplayer, seemingly so, the next year? 

Shows how much I actually know. Schobel is looking really solid as a prospect, and Keaschall might be even better.

Keaschall seems to have better overall speed, SB ability,  and power than Schobel. There are similarities between them, but I want to stop there and just focus on Luke.

It appears he has HIT potential and OB%, something needed to mitigate the more power centric players on the Twins, and in the system. He's got the speed to run the bases and steal bases. That could be important.

Defensively, he's spent time at SS in college but not in the Twins system. I'm guessing we can't view him as a ML SS even on an occasional basis. That's fine. But I've heard hints he might be an OF/CF option. And he's done a little bit of that in college and pro ball, but just a little bit.

Why do I even care about potential OF ability? Because I think this kid is going to be a fast riser. And barring unexpected trades or HOPEFULLY NOT continued injury situations in the future, a STARTING JOB in the INF might be difficult. 

There is just SOMETHING about him that reminds me of Spencer Steer, which @rogeralluded to. I see him as a faster, more athletic version that might not be able to play SS, but could be a somewhat similar prospect who is big enough, powerful enough, to cover 3 INF spots and MAYBE play some OF as well.

SO FAR, the kid seems to have the HIT tool, makes solid contact, can BB and not K to a high %, has decent and budding power, and can run the bases and steal some. Is he what we kinda hoped Martin might be? Is he a young Marwin Gonzalez without the SS ability? Or again, is he Steer part 2 but an even faster and better defender?

I 'd be surprised if he's at A+ very long. It just seems this kid has the "IT" factor that reminds me a bit of Royce. AA soon, and maybe AAA before the season is done.

[Fatbat]

21 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'll admit, I had real questions about his draft selection. I mean, what do I KNOW about scouting and drafting for MLB as a couch GM? But he seemed a virtual clone of Tanner Schobel the year before, and almost the exact same spot. At the time, I thought Schobel was an early slot pick so save $. But then he signed for slot. So why pick the same ballplayer, seemingly so, the next year? 

Shows how much I actually know. Schobel is looking really solid as a prospect, and Keaschall might be even better.

Keaschall seems to have better overall speed, SB ability,  and power than Schobel. There are similarities between them, but I want to stop there and just focus on Luke.

It appears he has HIT potential and OB%, something needed to mitigate the more power centric players on the Twins, and in the system. He's got the speed to run the bases and steal bases. That could be important.

Defensively, he's spent time at SS in college but not in the Twins system. I'm guessing we can't view him as a ML SS even on an occasional basis. That's fine. But I've heard hints he might be an OF/CF option. And he's done a little bit of that in college and pro ball, but just a little bit.

Why do I even care about potential OF ability? Because I think this kid is going to be a fast riser. And barring unexpected trades or HOPEFULLY NOT continued injury situations in the future, a STARTING JOB in the INF might be difficult. 

There is just SOMETHING about him that reminds me of Spencer Steer, which @rogeralluded to. I see him as a faster, more athletic version that might not be able to play SS, but could be a somewhat similar prospect who is big enough, powerful enough, to cover 3 INF spots and MAYBE play some OF as well.

SO FAR, the kid seems to have the HIT tool, makes solid contact, can BB and not K to a high %, has decent and budding power, and can run the bases and steal some. Is he what we kinda hoped Martin might be? Is he a young Marwin Gonzalez without the SS ability? Or again, is he Steer part 2 but an even faster and better defender?

I 'd be surprised if he's at A+ very long. It just seems this kid has the "IT" factor that reminds me a bit of Royce. AA soon, and maybe AAA before the season is done.

Id bet Keaschall blows past several players headed to the bigs. He seems to have something special!

[Linus]

Write ups like this a very interesting but almost always focus on offensive potential. What are his fielding attributes?  Is this another Twins draft pick that is all bat and no glove?

[wabene]

I'm high on Keaschall and he hasn't disappointed. I'll say again I don't get the comps with Schobel 5' 170" and Steer 5' 11" 185. Keaschall just seems like a bigger, more explosive athlete with more upside. I agree that left field would be one good option for the righty bat. We may see this guy get his first taste sometime next year. This is when a college bat makes so much sense to get help for the big club in quick fashion.