Luke Keaschall Might Be a Much Better Outfielder Than He Was a Second Baseman

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think the Twins see real potential with Keaschall and are trying to find a spot where he can maximize that potential. He's only 23. and has hit .268/.349/.3685 (.717) in 456 ABs, with 52 walks and only 77 SOs. That's 508 plate appearances, basically 85-90% of one season's worth of regular time, and he has a .717 OPS, 10.2% BB rate, and a 15.2% SO rate.  He has speed and a .349 OBP. That's a decent regular NOW, and he is more likely than not going to get better with more experience. He has shown hitting competence at the MLB level while Emma, Jenkins, and GG are still trying to conquer AAA. Now, playing him in the OF may be holding back Roden who actually has conquered AAA, but I would argue its Fedko being on the roster and rostering a DH only player like Bell is what is keeping Roden down for now.  There is absolutely no reason why the Twins don't demote Fedko, promote Roden, and find Roden 15-20 ABs a week. Even better, demote Fedko, trade Bell, and now you have space to give a bunch of guys regular ABs. 

This season should be about finding the core for next year and beyond. Keaschall could be an integral part of that core, he could be a bench guy, he could be a AAAA player. We will never know if he is a keeper if he doesn't play. He's shown that 2B isn't going to be his long-term spot. I applaud Shelton for trying him in RF and giving him ABs. This is the year to find out if he can make it now. Same for Lee, same for Lewis, same for Kriedler. The jury is still out on all of these guys. PLAY THEM and FIND OUT.

 

[MMBoys93]

It seems more and more that we’re going to see an unexpected trade before the deadline. Moving Royce around to other positions and now Luke in the outfield while having six major league quality outfielders in Saint Paul means that something has to give here.

You deal from a point of strength here and retool for the future. There’s no way to get everyone ABs with 2 corner OF spots.

I have a couple names in mind that I could see getting moved but will keep it to myself for now. 

[LakesPibble]

6 hours ago, Sam Caulder said:

If there's one thing we've learned about the Twins this year, it's that they value defensive versatility

Translation:  if there's one thing we've learned this year, it's that we don't have many good fielders.

[RpR]

2 hours ago, Road trip said:

...so there is still time for him to become the player we *thought* he was going to be last year....

 

That chorus has been sung for SO many rookies, LOL.

[Hunter4848]

4 minutes ago, RpR said:

That chorus has been sung for SO many rookies, LOL.

Yeah the Twins organization constantly fails young players. 

[HeresWaldo]

He doesn't have the power required to be a good regular out there. I'm entirely willing to believe he can be a useful utility guy/platoon bat and I don't think people should be giving up on him, but I don't think he's a regular. Maybe he'll hit .300 and prove me wrong, but I doubt it. In a lot of ways I like Keashall and think the Twins should put more emphasis on fairly fast athletes like him when building their bench, but if he can't hit for power and can't play good defense at a premium position there's a pretty low ceiling in modern baseball. 

[HarmonK03]

I am still baffled by this move.  If feels like they are giving up on him to a certain extent.  He has had a years worth of games at 2B.  He has had some good games and to me it looks like he is thinking and not reacting.  The best way to solve that is reps.  For those who say he should be sent down to work on his defense, what can they do in AAA that our major league staff can't.  I think they need to show more patience especially when there is not a clear replacement.  Clemens should be in a utility role moving around to get his bat in the lineup while he is producing.

Is there any kind of plan for this team, they have completely remade the infield barely halfway into the season.  Defensively no one regressed at their position, they didn't improve but I don't feel there was regression.  So then why weren't these moves made at the beginning of the season or better yet wait until of this season.  Not to mention as others have we have at least 6 corner outfielders that are going to pushing up for at least a look between now and the end of 2027.  So you add another player to that mix, where again is the plan.  Not every player is a finished product and he did look better playing next to Kreidler, you can't totally dismiss the instability at SS and the impact on Keaschall.  He has the athleticism and his arm probably plays best at second.

It would be nice if we could develop more than one or two players to be productive starters in the majors.  But part of that is showing patience, something that has been in short supply with many of the younger players under the Falvey regime.  And even though Falvey is gone, all the supporting cast is still there and they are not operating much differently than in the past.

[Jacksson]

Let's examine the 2025 offseason, 2026 Spring Training and the second half of the 2026 season and make some observations with respect to the front office, the manager, the coaches, and ownership.

Third Base = Was Royce Lewis, Now Brooks Lee

Shortstop = Was Brooks Lee, Now Tristin Gray & Ryan Kreidler

Second Base = Was Luke Keaschall, Now Kody Clemons

First Base = Josh Bell & Kody Clemons, Now Royce Lewis

Right Field = Matt Wallner & Austin Martin, Now Luke Keaschall

Center Field = Byron Buxton & James Outman, Now Byron Buxton, Ryan Kreidler, Kody Clemons

Left Field = Trevor Larnach, Now Trevor Larnach

Catcher = Ryan Jeffers & Victor Caratini, Now Victor Caratini & Alex Jackson

DH = Trevor Larnach, Josh Bell, Byron Buxton, Now Josh Bell

Certainly does not instill much confidence in the organization and their ability to identify, analyze, coach and utilize the on field product.  What in the heck were they doing?  The time and place to learn and start at new positions IS NOT when the season begins !! 

 

[Mike Sixel]

25 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Let's examine the 2025 offseason, 2026 Spring Training and the second half of the 2026 season and make some observations with respect to the front office, the manager, the coaches, and ownership.

Third Base = Was Royce Lewis, Now Brooks Lee

Shortstop = Was Brooks Lee, Now Tristin Gray & Ryan Kreidler

Second Base = Was Luke Keaschall, Now Kody Clemons

First Base = Josh Bell & Kody Clemons, Now Royce Lewis

Right Field = Matt Wallner & Austin Martin, Now Luke Keaschall

Center Field = Byron Buxton & James Outman, Now Byron Buxton, Ryan Kreidler, Kody Clemons

Left Field = Trevor Larnach, Now Trevor Larnach

Catcher = Ryan Jeffers & Victor Caratini, Now Victor Caratini & Alex Jackson

DH = Trevor Larnach, Josh Bell, Byron Buxton, Now Josh Bell

Certainly does not instill much confidence in the organization and their ability to identify, analyze, coach and utilize the on field product.  What in the heck were they doing?  The time and place to learn and start at new positions IS NOT when the season begins !! 

 

I mean, other than Bell and Outman, what would you have done differently to start the year? They've made adjustments, that's good! I assume you are somehow blaming them for Jeffers injury? Like, ?

[HarmonK03]

21 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I mean, other than Bell and Outman, what would you have done differently to start the year? They've made adjustments, that's good! I assume you are somehow blaming them for Jeffers injury? Like, ?

How are Lee, Lewis and Keaschall any different from the beginning of the season?  If they were good enough to start the season at their positions and haven't regressed defensively, then why make the change now.  Especially with no real upgrades at their positions.  It was change for change sake.  These changes should have been made at the beginning of the season or next off-season bring in better performing players to replace them.  There is no plan and tonight's lineup further illustrates this.

[twinstalker]

You're saying he can play OF?  Big whoop.  Most players outside of Miguel Sano can.

The question is whether he can play OF (including hitting) better than anyone besides Buxton and Jenkins.  If not, he's not worthy of starting out there.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, twinstalker said:

You're saying he can play OF?  Big whoop.  Most players outside of Miguel Sano can.

There's a reason up the middle are called "skill" positions, and corner outfield is not.

[tony&rodney]

Derek Shelton and the coaching staff did not sign the players that came to Spring Training. Since the beginning of the year we have watched the club undergo a slow transformation. The incumbents had a shot and some have been shifted or moved out. There was opportunity for guys like Outman, Wallner, and others to hold their positions. Clearly the defense needed work and the moves made have improved the team and created outs. There is still work to do and improvements to be made but the staff is doing a good job of making baseball decisions.

As far as what happens to Luke Keaschall, we will need to wait a while before the next moves are made. Thus the window for Keaschall to produce is still open. 

[mluebker]

Yeah, he looks completely comfortable out there. What luck that they pulled RF out of the hat when they decided it was time to move him someplace where his sparkling defensive skills could really be showcased. Heck, maybe this is exactly the move that will destroy his confidence entirely.

[mluebker]

6 hours ago, Jacksson said:

What in the heck were they doing?

It’s the new “Twins way.” No one really gets to learn a position well or play it regularly—that archaic approach never works. Meanwhile, does Kody have any brothers?