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.

[Road trip]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

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.

Agree, he's not good at this point, but that's a tall standard for a team that recently rostered Edouard Julien.  And Sano.  And tried to hide La Tortuga on defense.  And Delmon Young.  And (unfortunately) I could go on...  back to Todd Walker and Willie Norwood and the immortal Bombo Rivera... so it isn't just a recent Twins thing.

[bean5302]

2 minutes ago, Road trip said:

Agree, he's not good at this point, but that's a tall standard for a team that recently rostered Edouard Julien.  And Sano.  And tried to hide La Tortuga on defense.  And Delmon Young.  And (unfortunately) I could go on...  back to Todd Walker and Willie Norwood and the immortal Bombo Rivera... so it isn't just a recent Twins thing.

Fly balls are literally bouncing off his glove in the outfield. That's beer league softball stuff for real. He has the wheels to get there, but knowing when to open and close a glove? You learn that on the sand lots and fields with a tennis ball and a little league bat as a kid. I've seen guys with a major case of the yips and throwing issues. I can't ever remember seeing the kind of glove Luke Keaschall has at the MLB level.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins moved Buxton in shallower three years ago with the intent being to keep him from crashing into the wall as often. Surely Keaschall is deeper because shallow reads are easier than deep reads for new outfielders, but that's probably only half of the reason for the discrepancy with Buxton.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Look, the guy's not a great centerfielder at this point in his career. Frankly, he's barely competent in centerfield, if that.  Still, it's more than a little early to make grand pronouncements about his ability to play in centerfield or the outfield at all. He's played all of what, 15-20 games in the outfield total and maybe 8-10 or so in centerfield? I know we all like to judge and then set our opinions in stone never to be reviewed, able to haughtily dismiss anyone who has the temerity to question those opinions formed oh so long ago. I get it, it beats actually having to think, but all of this seems like a little early. I think we need to take a deep breath and give him the rest of the season to get his feet wet as a full-time outfielder, and then give the team the chance to really work with him next year in spring training on things like his drop step, feeling where the wall is, knowing when to throw home or to third base and when to concede the run, all those things that come with real experience. Then we we can judge his defense in the outfield. You know, about next May, not now. Until then, this is what development looks like. For all of you that want to call up prospects from AAA, including me, get ready for some ugly moments at the plate or in the field. There will be some. With all of them.

Oh, and by the way, over the last 100 plus PAs, Luke is hitting .303/.413/.419 (.832), with 16 SOs and 13 BBs (almost a 1:1 ratio). He has actually been better than that over his last roughly 50 plate appearances. That guy starts on my team and needs a place to play. Second base clearly wasn't it so let's find him one in the outfield. But you're right, he kind of sucks out there right now. Hope it gets better.

[Andy MacPhail]

It's a lot easier to come in than go back. It makes a lot of sense that he plays deep while he learns the OF.

[USAFChief]

:"Anybody can play anywhere."

In this case, it doesn't matter, since Keaschall is a liability no matter where you put him.

Edited 2 hours ago by USAFChief

[BillyBallLives]

 

"Keaschall is a horrendous fielder"  Totally true, but in a way kind-a fun to watch, you NEVER know what could happen on ANYTHING hit his way.

[BillyBallLives]

2 hours ago, Road trip said:

Keaschall's glove is made of cement.

Cement is way to heavy, I am guessing it's made out of wood. I think I even saw a "Willie Norwood" autograph on it the other night.  :)

[RpR]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Look, the guy's not a great centerfielder at this point in his career. Frankly, he's barely competent in centerfield, if that.  Still, it's more than a little early to make grand pronouncements about his ability to play in centerfield or the outfield at all. He's played all of what, 15-20 games in the outfield total and maybe 8-10 or so in centerfield? I know we all like to judge and then set our opinions in stone never to be reviewed, able to haughtily dismiss anyone who has the temerity to question those opinions formed oh so long ago. I get it, it beats actually having to think, but all of this seems like a little early. I think we need to take a deep breath and give him the rest of the season to get his feet wet as a full-time outfielder, and then give the team the chance to really work with him next year in spring training on things like his drop step, feeling where the wall is, knowing when to throw home or to third base and when to concede the run, all those things that come with real experience. Then we we can judge his defense in the outfield. You know, about next May, not now. Until then, this is what development looks like. For all of you that want to call up prospects from AAA, including me, get ready for some ugly moments at the plate or in the field. There will be some. With all of them.

Oh, and by the way, over the last 100 plus PAs, Luke is hitting .303/.413/.419 (.832), with 16 SOs and 13 BBs (almost a 1:1 ratio). He has actually been better than that over his last roughly 50 plate appearances. That guy starts on my team and needs a place to play. Second base clearly wasn't it so let's find him one in the outfield. But you're right, he kind of sucks out there right now. Hope it gets better.

So what if he gives away few games.

[darin617]

He's clearly not comfortable with the position change.  He most likely hasn't figured out how to read them yet. Not sure how long it would take. 

[ashbury]

Why is Luke Keaschall playing so damn deep?  Because he's not yet very damn good at the position.

[thelanges5]

Highlights the problem of the Swiss Army knife approach, the Twins take to their defense. You can use a Swiss Army knife for just about anything, but it’s often not the right tool for the job.

[1985Fan]

I hope that the hyped outfield prospects can play OF better than Keaschall! If so, the plan should be to trade Keaschall. I don’t see him fitting in anywhere on the field and he sure doesn’t hit enough for DH.