Max Kepler Deserves a Minnesota Goodbye

[Cody Christie]

There’s a slim chance the Twins will be fighting for their playoff lives on Sunday. If the team is eliminated, Minnesota deserves the chance to say goodbye to Max Kepler?

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, the Twins announced that Max Kepler’s regular season is likely done. Kepler received a cortisone shot in his hip last week for an injury that has kept him out since the beginning of the month. He faced live pitching on Monday, but the decision was made that he isn’t healthy enough to help the Twins in their potential playoff push. 

“I could’ve shut it down completely and said, ‘Let’s do what’s necessary here for moving forward and my health,’ but I thought cortisone shots would help just to see if I can push out some more of my ability,” Kepler said. “At this moment, in all honesty, I think the guys on the roster have a better shot than me.”

Kepler is the longest-tenured member of the organization, having signed with the Twins in 2009 as a 16-year-old from Germany. Minnesota signed him to a six-year, $44 million extension before the 2019 season. He is headed to free agency this winter for the first time in his career. His longevity in a Twins uniform has him among the team’s top 20 hitters in multiple categories, including home runs (12th) and games (16th). 

“I haven’t really decompressed and looked back on every moment as a Twin but I’m truly grateful and this is not really bothering [me] too much on my way out,” Kepler said. “Obviously, I want to go out on a higher note, but I mean add the minor league years into it, 15 years of my life – half my life as a Twin– I don’t think I could have done much more as a kid from Berlin.”

The Twins find themselves in a challenging situation heading into this weekend’s series with Baltimore. Minnesota has a slim chance of earning the final AL Wild Card spot, but it will take a strong performance in the team’s final games. Sunday’s contest at Target Field might decide whether or not the club qualifies for the playoffs for the fourth time in the last six seasons. There is also a chance that the season finale will be inconsequential for either team.

If the Twins are eliminated, giving Kepler a Target Field send-off is only fitting. He could be activated before Sunday’s game to occupy a spot on the bench or begin the game as the DH. Minnesota could give him one final at-bat in front of the hometown fans so they can show their appreciation for everything he has accomplished in a Twins uniform. 

“This game comes with a lot of unexpected adversity and challenges,” Kepler said. “I’m proud of myself for what I’ve done as an individual, as a teammate, as a friend to everyone in this clubhouse.”

Kepler will finish his Twins tenure with a career 102 OPS+ while also being one of baseball’s best defensive right-fielders. He’s likely headed to the Twins Hall of Fame when he finishes his career because of what he’s meant to the organization on and off the field. Minnesota likely won’t have payroll space to bring him back next season, so fans deserve the chance to honor Kepler.

What’s your favorite Kepler memory? Will he get one more at-bat for the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

Max Kepler has been tagged in more than 700 articles at Twins Daily. Spend some time perusing the history. 

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[h2oface]

One at bat to "show their appreciation"?

Talk about lame. Fans and posters have been trying to get rid of Kepler for the last 5 years or so. Ungrateful in general. Most would rather have 1 year strangers than a team that can gel and stay together. Always talking about getting rid of someone for unproven prospects that usually bomb and suffer the yoyo of the AAA train, or vets for a year, strangers, that are a shadow of what they once were, or just plain dumpster dives, especially when it comes to pitchers.

Sure. Show your appreciation as you kick him out the door. Real sincere. 

[DJL44]

Twins Hall of Fame? His entire list of league wide awards is:

AL Player of the Week August 7 2016

AL Player of the Week May 26 2019

I like Max Kepler but there's no reason to exaggerate his accomplishments.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I think he got moved to the 60 day so someone else can be brought up?

League might have issue with an at bat (and i wonder how such things as curtain calls are dealt with in the potch clock era?)

 

I vote for ceremonial 1st pitch?

[jud6312]

Guessing this was written in advance and not updated? Eliminated from playoff contention and Kepler moved to the 60-day IL yesterday - it was super important to get Funderburk up last night, apparently.

 

It was a nice thought that he'd get a proper send-off once they were eliminated, but the best he can hope for is to be summoned from the dugout by the fans. 

 

While it could happen because the general fanbase seems to be more appreciative of Max than the lot frequenting this website is, I doubt Rocco and/or the front office would be on board as he's been little more than Rocco's scapegoat (as Cuddyer was for Gardy) and the front office's favorite hypothetical trade chip.

[LambchoP]

I always liked Max and enjoyed watching him play,but I think he and the team knows it's time to move on. With guys like Rodriguez, Mccusker, Rosario, Keaschal, Keirsey, Martin and eventually Jenkins, there are cheaper and more productive options. I'm guessing Wallner takes over as our everyone right fielder, but of course we'll need a right handed hitter to play against lefties if Rocco is still around...

[Parfigliano]

5 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

I always liked Max and enjoyed watching him play,but I think he and the team knows it's time to move on. With guys like Rodriguez, Mccusker, Rosario, Keaschal, Keirsey, Martin and eventually Jenkins, there are cheaper and more productive options. I'm guessing Wallner takes over as our everyone right fielder, but of course we'll need a right handed hitter to play against lefties if Rocco is still around...

Kepler is the one lefty that regularly played against LHP

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Good luck in free agency Max! I hope someone backs up the Brinks truck!

[Whitey333]

The Twins maybe could have done something nice for Kepler.  But no one has accused this organization of having any class.  They don't stay with their players very often once they get too expensive.  Yes the did so for some reason with Buxton by giving him. truly a part time, now very athletically limited wallpaper a 100 million dollar deal.  It was a great deal for Buxton.  But IMO they don't show much loyalty to wallpapers.  Way too much turnover each year.  Way too many new faces that have proven they can't handle MLB.  It hard to embrace a team that is made up of 26 players. Many of whom have shown they don't want to play.  There should be major changes coming in players, and coaches  management and Front Office.  What we may very well get is generally a let's explain why we blew it, make excuses, and do the same thing next year.  That is unacceptable.

[jjswol]

32 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

The Twins maybe could have done something nice for Kepler.  But no one has accused this organization of having any class.  They don't stay with their players very often once they get too expensive.  Yes the did so for some reason with Buxton by giving him. truly a part time, now very athletically limited wallpaper a 100 million dollar deal.  It was a great deal for Buxton.  But IMO they don't show much loyalty to wallpapers.  Way too much turnover each year.  Way too many new faces that have proven they can't handle MLB.  It hard to embrace a team that is made up of 26 players. Many of whom have shown they don't want to play.  There should be major changes coming in players, and coaches  management and Front Office.  What we may very well get is generally a let's explain why we blew it, make excuses, and do the same thing next year.  That is unacceptable.

Well said. 

[mikelink45]

In sports like baseball where turnover is not only a choice of the team but something demanded by players. There is no reason to apologize for those who wanted to trade Kepler and move on. Nor is there any reason that those same fans can't appreciate that he did have loyalty and stay on as long as he did. I wish him well. I've been watching other former twins prospects and players do well in the leagues and maybe Kepler will find a new level with a new place.   

[gman]

👏👏👏👏👏

[IndianaTwin]

As noted above, they are eliminated, but yesterday's move to the 60-day IL eliminates the possibility of being activated, since he played on Sept. 1. 

I like Kepler a lot and have often tossed out comments about his stats being the best ever for a person born in Germany, but given the current tenor of things, I think the best (and most likely) show of appreciation for Kepler will be a video tribute and nice ovation when he returns to Target Field as a member of an opposing team next season (or 2026 if he's in the NL). 

 

[jkcarew]

I tip my 🎩 to you, Max Kepler.

[Linus]

Anybody who has been around as long as Max will become familiar and valued. Max seems like a nice guy. However Max is the definition of average. Let him tip his cap from the dugout and move on. 

[bean5302]

Kepler shouldn't have been in a Twins uniform the last couple of years, but the guy is one of the more valuable players wearing a "Twins" jersey who has ever played.

1. Carew* 64 WAR
2. Killebrew* 60 WAR
3. Mauer* 55 WAR
4. Puckett* 51 WAR
5. Oliva* 43 WAR
6. Hrbek* 38 WAR
7. Knoblauch 38 WAR
8. Allison* 31 WAR
9. Gaetti* 27 WAR
10. Hunter* 26 WAR
11. Tovar* 26 WAR
12. Buxton 25 WAR
13. Morneau* 23 WAR
14. Dozier 23 WAR
15. Coskie 22 WAR
16. Smalley 21 WAR
17. Kepler 21 WAR

Following Kepler is Mack, Gagne*, Polanco, Span, Brunansky, Cuddyer*, Gladden* and a whole host of others.
*Twins HoF

Will Kepler make it into the Twins HoF? I don't know. It'll honestly probably depend on what he contributes to the organization off the field after his retirement. Guys like Gladden certainly didn't make it based on what he produced on the field for the Twins with his only good season coming in 1988. (5.7 career Twins WAR in 5 years, more valuable with the Giants to start his career, and played with the Tigers at the end)

[jkcarew]

7 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

…Gladden certainly didn't make it based on what he produced on the field for the Twins…

Except for the 29 postseason hits, 17 postseason runs, 15 postseason RBI…all ranking at or near the top in team history…also, the two rings…and making the play that won the greatest game 7 in WS history.

[bean5302]

3 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

Except for the 29 postseason hits, 17 postseason runs, 15 postseason RBI…all ranking at or near the top in team history…also, the two rings…and making the play that won the greatest game 7 in WS history.

Lets get Al Newman in there! He was part of the 87 and 91 teams too!

Gladden was not a good player. He was a scrub, just like Gene Larkin, who is the one who actually knocked in the RBI-less in 33 1991 WS plate appearances Dan Gladden to win game 7.

[rv78]

Max had 1 good year in his career with the Twins and that was during the famous juiced ball season. He played good defense in RF and if that was the only criteria for making the Twins HOF he'd be in, but it should take a complete player or something he did that was special, like Gladden in the post season. He's an average player overall when you account for his low BA (.237) and low OBP (.318) over his career. If that deserves HOF status anywhere, then baseball has fallen off the cliff. 

[Jocko87]

I think he's getting an exact Midwestern goodbye.  We are at step 7.

[Craig Arko]

18 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I think he's getting an exact Midwestern goodbye.  We are at step 7.

They left out the Tupperware container of leftover hotdish.

[cheeseheadgophfan]

On the radio broadcast Friday...Gladden seemed to be a little critical of Max being "no where to be found" on German appreciation night at Target Field.  He made a comment about Max should've/could've thrown out the first pitch, but he was not around.  Gladden muttered "C'mon Max".   Maybe it was tongue in cheek but he sounded serious.

[HoskenPowell]

Kep had one good year in the juiced ball year.   He played well above average defense most of the time and had some bone headed mistakes as well ( not Eddie Rosario bad , but bad).  HE kept out of trouble and seemingly was good in clubhouse.   He however showed little fire , was always getting hurt and the past few years seemed more interested in being in France with his lady of the day and eating pastries.  When asked to play CF part time

a couple years back he refused...........that doesnt sit well with me.

[David Maro]

They now have RF open for the revolving door position that they want.As long as the FO and Rocco are there they will have a team of chess pieces.It is a team that is unwatchable at this.It makes me sad because I have been a fan since day one.I have lived in 7 different states but still find a way to watch.Max is a team player who covered RF very well and had some big games just not enough.We will now see 3-6 different RF play the position next year and beyond if Rocco is the manager.

[joefish]

Thanks, Max. 

Fare well.

[ewen21]

On 9/28/2024 at 10:35 AM, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Good luck in free agency Max! I hope someone backs up the Brinks truck!

As if the 45 million he made playing in Minnesota wasn't enough.  Outside of the second half of last year, Max has been lackluster and underachieving ever since the Bomba Squad left town.

 

 

[DJL44]

On 9/28/2024 at 2:58 PM, Craig Arko said:

They left out the Tupperware container of leftover hotdish.

When I read the headline to the thread I assumed the author meant we should sit in the doorway at Target Field and not let Max leave until he takes six Cool Whip containers of leftovers home.

[DJL44]

On 9/28/2024 at 8:59 AM, Parfigliano said:

Kepler is the one lefty that regularly played against LHP

If you want to play everyday in the big leagues be good at defense.