Twins Prospect Spotlight: OF DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. (Video)

[Seth Stohs]

Outfielder DaShawn Keirsey put together a record-breaking season with the St. Paul Saints which earned him his first promotion to the Minnesota Twins. Seth chatted with him after the season about his terrific 2024 season. 

Image courtesy of Sep 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (89) celebrates his first career home run with third base coach Tommy Watkins (40) as he runs the bases during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins selected outfielder DaShawn Keirsey out of the University of Utah in the 2018 MLB draft. The path to the big leagues was complete with peaks and valleys, winding left and right. After missing time early in his career with injuries, Keirsey has been healthy the last few seasons and with that, he has really elevated his play. 

He put together a terrific season in St. Paul. In 111 games, he hit .300/.368/.476 (.845) with 22 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs, and 81 RBI. He also stole 36 bases. The triples and RBI were single-season Saints records, while his 133 hits also set the new mark for the Twins Triple-A affiliate.   

In early September, the Twins placed Max Kepler on the Injured List and called up Keirsey. He played in five games in center field before Byron Buxton returned, and Keirsey was optioned. On the final day of the season, Keirsey was called back up to play in that game. He recorded the first home run of his career. 

Recently, I chatted with the athletic 27 year old from southern California about his whole season. Here are some of the highlights. 

1:20: Excited for Michael Helman. Assumed that he wasn't going to get called up. Two days later, he unexpectedly received The Call. Find out how he found out. 

4:00: What kind of support did he get from the guys in the Saints clubhouse, from his Twins teammates, the coaching staffs, and from past teammates? 

6:40: Keirsey was an official non-roster invite to Twins spring training in 2024. What was the experience like, anything stand out from the veterans or others? 

8:15: He started the season fast, offensively. He was hitting anywhere in the Top 5 of the lineup, providing on-base skills and enough power. Was there something that just clicked technically with his swing or with his approach? 

9:44: What mechanical change did he observe from Royce Lewis and the two worked on together that he also thinks helped his overall offensive game? 

13:25: We watched one of Keirsey's at-bats and discussed his thought process on the AB. He spoke of committing himself to have an approach going into every single plate appearance. 

16:00: Like Max Kepler in his last couple of minor-league seasons, Keirsey filled up the stat sheet. He is an all-around player, something he has always wanted to be. Keirsey considers himself an athlete who can play baseball. 

20:00: He can play a great center field, but he has also spent a lot of time playing in the corners. When he was younger, he didn't like playing the corners, but now he is really glad that he has had plenty of time at both corners. 

23:10: Who were the first phone calls when you got The Call? 

26:10: Calling his dad was a huge, emotional deal. When he didn't get called up right away in September, they weren't expecting the call three days later, which might have made it even more special.

27:20: MLB debut in Tampa. He came in as a defensive replacement in center field late in the game. Immediately the ball found him. He had to run a LONG ways to try to catch the ball. He almost made the catch, a back-hand attempt in which the ball hit his glove and his glove hit the wall simultaneously. He later found out that the odds of that ball being caught was 0% 

29:30: We look at a diving catch that he made in support of Pablo Lopez at Target Field. We discussed reaction and getting a good jump and the mentality to do what's needed.   

32:00: With so many young players and the team's philosophy on platooning, did he know his role coming to the club? 

34:05: Do you know who Keirsey got his first MLB hit off of? Does he?  (also, here Keirsey mention the comedy of Matt Wallner for the second time.)   

36:25: Do you remember who Keirsey hit his first home run off of? Do you think he did? His memory of that moment are pretty special too. Just as important, the support and the love that he got from his teammates meant the world.   

39:30: We dig deeper into the timing mechanism that he worked with Royce Lewis on during spring training. "I'm not doing it for the looks. I'm doing it for the functionality." 

41:03: Have you had a chance to reflect on the season? Did he have a moment when it all just sunk in?

44:30: Any fun offseason plans? Travel? "I live in a place that most people come to vacation." 

I hope you enjoyed the back-and-forth conversation. It was a lot of fun to live vicariously through Keirsey's memories from his 2024 season. 

Keirsey has previously done interviews for Twins Daily: 
March 3, 2021: Twins Spotlight (Get to Know 'Em)
June 27, 2023: DaShawn Keirsey: Twins Most Underrated Prospect 

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[Doctor Gast]

I watched the interview when it 1st came out, & loved it! I was hoping that Keirsey would have gotten the nod to be the 1st backup to Buxton starting the season. Picking up Margot was a terrible call. Keirsey would have made the team so much better defensively & offensively. Margot disturbed everything. Keirsey has a small window to prove himself. I criticize the Twins for making that window smaller. As I've said before Keirsey has a lot of character as well as being a very good player. That's a very good combination.

[miracleb]

I was also ticked they picked up Margot when they could have inserted Keirsey.  Better defense, and at worst....same bat.  

[Blyleven2011]

I don't care how old he is , since the injuries derailed his professional career he has been a under appreciated  prospect  ...

Since he has been healthy he has proved he can play baseball  and the results in minor leagues the past 2 plus seasons since healthy has proved it ...

Since drafted I have watched this kid play  , he earned his spot on the roster last year  more than some others ...

Now the brains of the twins need to let him play big league baseball  to see if he can produce at this level  , he can add speed to our game  , play good Defense  and maybe hit for power and a decent average  ...

Starts with adding him to the roster out of spring training  , one player prospect that i want on the 26 man roster to prove others wrong  that are down on him ...

 

[thelanges5]

#freekeirsey

[Fezig]

Breaking records in triple A means a player spent too much time there.

[TopGunn#22]

I agree Fezig !!  We've talked about the Twins getting faster and more athletic.  This guy is the answer to that and we don't need to trade for him.  Just give him a chance.  I don't know how well he hit LH pitching at St. Paul, but he was an everyday player.  He's the obvious answer to 4th OF on the team.  

Adding him to the 40 man (they have the room now) and if he makes the team out of spring training will set up a corresponding move.  A trade of either Larnach or Wallner.  The obvious guy is Larnach, but we could get a LOT more for Wallner.  The Twins need to explore options for both and see how big the deal could be.

Like Fezig said, if you set records at AAA you've probably spent too much time there.  Kiersey's glove would be an immediate upgrade and his speed will be a welcome addition.  The other possibility is a trade of Buxton and just putting Kiersey out in CF.  Moves need to be made.  All options should be considered.  

[Doctor Gast]

7 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I agree Fezig !!  We've talked about the Twins getting faster and more athletic.  This guy is the answer to that and we don't need to trade for him.  Just give him a chance.  I don't know how well he hit LH pitching at St. Paul, but he was an everyday player.  He's the obvious answer to 4th OF on the team.  

Adding him to the 40 man (they have the room now) and if he makes the team out of spring training will set up a corresponding move.  A trade of either Larnach or Wallner.  The obvious guy is Larnach, but we could get a LOT more for Wallner.  The Twins need to explore options for both and see how big the deal could be.

Like Fezig said, if you set records at AAA you've probably spent too much time there.  Kiersey's glove would be an immediate upgrade and his speed will be a welcome addition.  The other possibility is a trade of Buxton and just putting Kiersey out in CF.  Moves need to be made.  All options should be considered.  

He spent basic all last season AAA that was too much time & shouldn't have happened.

[LambchoP]

Twins need to improve on defense, get more athletic and inject some speed, energy and base stealing to the 2025 team. Keirsey could help with all this. I say give him the fourth OF job and let him play. Him and Martin should be able to hold down the backup OF roles until Rosario, Rodriguez and Mccusker are ready. Not worrying about the OF means we could focus on a first baseman instead. I like Miranda but don't think he's a good fit at first base. Christian Walker would be a great addition, if we can free up payroll to sign him for 2-3 years. On the trade front Yandy Diaz of the Rays would be a good fit too, and he's set to make only ten million this year I believe.