Why is Luke Keaschall Playing So Damn Deep?

[Cody Schoenmann]

Not appearing at any of the three outfield positions in a major league game until June 20, Luke Keaschall appeared in right field against the Arizona Diamondbacks, signaling Minnesota Twins decision-makers were preparing to move the poor-fielding former infielder off second base. Keaschall then made his first start in right against the Colorado Rockies on June 26 and has almost exclusively been an outfielder since.

 

The 23-year-old started nine games at the position before transitioning over to center field on July 8, one day after primary center fielder Byron Buxton was placed on the 10-day IL with a right hip strain. Since then, Keaschall has started eight games in center field, functioning as the club’s primary center fielder during Buxton’s absence. Buxton will return to patrolling the position at a near full-time rate now that he's returned from the IL. Keaschall filled in admirably, however, netting 21 putouts over 70 innings played at the position, including the fantastic one below:

Admittedly, this ball did have a 65% catch probability. Any worthwhile center fielder would have caught it—Still, it was an exceptional catch for a player making their sixth start at one of the most demanding positions. He will then show how green a center fielder he is, missing balls that had a 99% catch probability, like the one below:

One of the more interesting developments of Keaschall’s move to center fielder is how deep Twins decision-makers position him. He is tied with Matt McLain for the fifth-deepest starting position of all center fielders in baseball, typically positioned at 332 feet. For reference, Jose Caballero leads the league, positioning himself at 338 feet. Minnesota is likely positioning Keaschall that deep because it is usually easier for center fielders to come in on balls than it is to run back. Due to him having so little playing time at the position, the Twins and Keaschall could be in agreement that giving him the opportunity to use his athleticism to run in on balls and avoid challenging angles is in the best interest of both club and player. Still, him playing so deep is putting the club at a disadvantage, letting balls drop in front of him that result in bloop singles and/or hustle doubles, like the catastrophic play that happened against Chicago this past weekend:

Keaschall is a horrendous fielder—That’s why Minnesota was wise to finally move him off second base. Still, he should have been playing shallow enough to catch that ball, with Nico Hoerner’s batted ball resulting in the second out of the inning instead of a bases-clearing triple. On average, Byron Buxton starts at 320 feet, which is one of the shallowest starting points of all center fielders in the game. The Twins and Buxton trust his ability to get back on balls, allowing the veteran to often play shallow, often catching balls that Keaschall couldn’t get to. Ryan Kreidler, Austin Martin, Kody Clemens, James Outman (when he was a Twin), and even Kyler Fedko played exponentially shallower than Keaschall, too, proving Minnesota is making a concerted effort to start the 23-year-old that much closer to the center field wall.

 

Again, Keaschall is very athletic and has the range necessary to be an adequate backup center fielder, let alone a viable corner outfielder. The former second baseman has shown flashes of being an adequate outfielder who could play all three positions and serve as Buxton’s primary center field backup in the short-to-mid-term future. That said, Minnesota needs to take the training wheels off, as playing him so deep in center has been detrimental to him and the club.

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[DJL44]

Most likely he has a bad drop step

[gman]

Hopefully he is playing at the depth that the coaching department told him to play. He is not Buxton and probably never will be.

[bean5302]

Austin Martin has the same skill set as Keaschall, but with a better arm. Matt Wallner also had a similar skill set as Keaschall. Neither one of those players is going to be a regular in Center Field.

Keaschall's glove is made of cement. Among the worst fielders I've ever seen in my life.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

He probably doesn't field as well drop stepping and turning, running and tracking the ball.  When he can go horizontal or run forward that is when he is at his best.  They are more willing to give up the bloop hit for a single than a double or triple to the wall.  Thats just good strategy for a new fielder.   

[HarmonK03]

These are the consequences of the philosophy of anyone can play anywhere.  In reality it isn't that easy and there is going to be a learning curve.  You have to live with the ups and downs of the learning curve.