Are we talking enough about Luke Keaschall?

[chpettit19]

One of those guys is Luke Keaschall and the other is some fella named Brooks that a few people around here (myself included) are pretty excited about. Hint: The second one is Lee. 

Keaschall's name is starting to pop up on top 100 lists, and he's certainly getting some love by the Twins faithful, but are we excited enough about him? The praise for Lee had a lot to do with his draft position, but Luke has bested him in wRC+ at every level (Lee skipped A ball) at a younger age. 

Keaschall looks like he has every opportunity to make it to AAA in his first full season just like Brooks Lee did. He's now playing a lot of CF which opens up more paths to the majors. Luke jumped up to #9 on the most recent Twins Daily prospect ranking, but is that high enough? I'd argue no. I know some people will find this crazy, but I'd actually put Luke ahead of Emma. Brooks is still a prospect, and is showing he can hold his own in the majors to some extent right now so he'd be my #2 with Jenkins still at #1. But I think Luke Keaschall is the #3 prospect in the Twins organization, and am excited to see what he can do in AAA at the end of the year (or maybe sooner?).

[Linus]

Does anybody have any detailed info on his fielding?  I know he is moving around a lot which makes me wonder how good he is with the glove. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Does anybody have any detailed info on his fielding?  I know he is moving around a lot which makes me wonder how good he is with the glove. 

Here's Fangraphs

Quote

The other huge variable here is Keaschall’s defense. A bad college middle infielder, Keaschall continued to look rough at second base with Cedar Rapids, DH’d for most of May, and came out the other side playing more center field and even some first base. His feel for center is predictably pretty rough, but it’s noticeably better now than when he started playing there at the beginning of the season. He’s an above-average runner but not blazingly fast, and so feel and instincts are going to be important for him to stick in center; the Twins may have an everyday center fielder on their hands if he can keep improving out there. You could argue Keaschall should be slotted behind Austin Martin on this list because they’re similar players and Martin is big league ready, but the cement is dry on Martin where it isn’t on Keaschall, who will be an offseason Top 100 prospect if he can solidify his defense in center field.

 

[DJL44]

Brooks Lee has the glove for SS and 3B. Keaschall has "looked rough" in the infield. That gives Lee more long-term value. People seem to like Emmanuel Rodriguez' glove in the outfield as well.

From Fangraphs on Rodriguez

Quote

The thing that is going to pop off the screen at you when Rodriguez reaches Minnesota is his defense. He isn’t an elite speedster with huge range; instead, he has incredible skill at the catch point. He makes spectacular plays around the wall and while going to the ground. His reads, routes, instincts and ball skills in center are all spectacular, and right now, he has the foot speed to play there.

 

[Trov]

4 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

One of those guys is Luke Keaschall and the other is some fella named Brooks that a few people around here (myself included) are pretty excited about. Hint: The second one is Lee. 

Keaschall's name is starting to pop up on top 100 lists, and he's certainly getting some love by the Twins faithful, but are we excited enough about him? The praise for Lee had a lot to do with his draft position, but Luke has bested him in wRC+ at every level (Lee skipped A ball) at a younger age. 

Keaschall looks like he has every opportunity to make it to AAA in his first full season just like Brooks Lee did. He's now playing a lot of CF which opens up more paths to the majors. Luke jumped up to #9 on the most recent Twins Daily prospect ranking, but is that high enough? I'd argue no. I know some people will find this crazy, but I'd actually put Luke ahead of Emma. Brooks is still a prospect, and is showing he can hold his own in the majors to some extent right now so he'd be my #2 with Jenkins still at #1. But I think Luke Keaschall is the #3 prospect in the Twins organization, and am excited to see what he can do in AAA at the end of the year (or maybe sooner?).

He is climbing up prospect rankings, MLB has him 5th in Twins right now, behind Jenkins, Lee, Rodriguez, and Festa.  Prospect rankings are fun to look at but they do not mean a whole lot when it comes time to play at the MLB level.  Lee was/is ranked higher because he was at least an average defending SS, Keaschall is considered a poor defender overall.  If he can learn CF and play it even average and hit like he has show, then yeah he will be huge.  Lee was always talked big on because he was expected to have solid floor but not sky high ceiling. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Could he be a “sell high” candidate for a starting pitcher trade?  

 

[Linus]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Here's Fangraphs

 

Thanks for the info. The Twins seem to collect good bats with no position. 

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, Linus said:

Thanks for the info. The Twins seem to collect good bats with no position. 

Guys can find a position if they can hit.....not so much the other way. Like who, btw? Julien was decent/good at 2B this year. Larnach if slightly below average in LF, but not awful. Wallner is under rated by fans, Who among high picks do they have that has no position (other than Sabato, ugh)?

[Linus]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Guys can find a position if they can hit.....not so much the other way. Like who, btw? Julien was decent/good at 2B this year. Larnach if slightly below average in LF, but not awful. Wallner is under rated by fans, Who among high picks do they have that has no position (other than Sabato, ugh)?

Miranda Julien Kiriloff Larnach Martin in the bigs. Keaschall Doncon Sabato and others in the minors. I think modern baseball places less emphasis on fielding than what I do. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Linus said:

Miranda Julien Kiriloff Larnach Martin in the bigs. Keaschall Doncon Sabato and others in the minors. I think modern baseball places less emphasis on fielding than what I do. 

Miranda is not w/o a position, he was more than adequate at 3B.. Julien was good at 2B this year (not at hitting). Martin? I mean, what do you want, he's a 2b and LF. Larnach? Are you expecting every LF to be great at fielding? None of those guys are w/o a position at all. We're clearly going to disagree here, I'm ok with that.

they literally just traded for Doncon, and we know he has no position? Keaschell is in year 1 of his career, and we know he has no position?  I'll give you Sabato.....

[wabene]

I've been high on Keashall from the get go. The comparisons to Schobel drove me nuts. As I've posted many times 5'9" 170 vs 6'0" 200 and 200 plus now. Keashall is ripped and ready in my opinion. Some of his defensive problems and DHing early on this season were due to a sore elbow. This guy will have no problem finding a defensive home, but where is yet to be determined. He had his first underwhelming week in AA last week, but then this week he is back to terrorizing AA pitchers. 

MOVE HIM UP THE LIST!!!!! LOL

[Linus]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Miranda is not w/o a position, he was more than adequate at 3B.. Julien was good at 2B this year (not at hitting). Martin? I mean, what do you want, he's a 2b and LF. Larnach? Are you expecting every LF to be great at fielding? None of those guys are w/o a position at all. We're clearly going to disagree here, I'm ok with that.

they literally just traded for Doncon, and we know he has no position? Keaschell is in year 1 of his career, and we know he has no position?  I'll give you Sabato.....

Yea our assessments of the defense of those players is widely different so I’m out. 

[DocBauer]

Nothing against Keaschall, but I didn't understand the pick at the time, despite hearing the Twins were just in love with him and his game. I thought there were guys available that filled better needs. And didn't they draft another 2B/utility player in virtually the same spot the year before in Schobel? (Yes, I understand they are different sizes and different players). 

And a big YES to him being a DH early this season due to injury, so the prospect report on his defense isn't exactly accurate. From what I hear, the arm just isn't strong enough for 3B...which is too bad if true...but good enough for LF/CF. He seems to be athletic enough to turn himself in to a decent 2B. I mean, even if he wasn't a particularly good college SS, he did play there. If he could play there, he should be able to make the 2B transition. I like him playing some 1B. He might bring better defensive value at 2B or the OF, but I've never had a problem with a good, productive athlete at 1B instead of the classic, slow, big bodied slugger. 

He looks pretty special as a hitter. They'll find a spot or a role for him. And I'm hoping for a cup of coffee at AAA to end the season, but that's definitely where he'll be playing next year. 

He's definitely top 10 in the system. But #2? IDK. Rodriguez looks pretty special. And there's a handful of pitchers who might want to talk about their worth on such a list. And really, not sure what number he's ranked matters. He's good! And I'm glad he's ours.

[SaberNerd]

I think people are too low on him, but #2 is going too far in the other direction.  Baseball America has him ranked #48, and if he settles the questions on his defense he could be a top 25 prospect.

[Shaitan]

I think this site overhypes everyone not named Vasquez/Margot 😆

But I like what I'm reading today here and in some other threads. Sounds promising if he can play adequate OF. 

[Wellimam]

Keaschall's been impressing with his numbers, and his ability to outshine Lee at a younger age is something to watch. His shift to CF is a big deal too—it opens up more opportunities for him. I’d definitely put him ahead of Emma and have him as a solid top-3 in the Twins’ system.