Remembering Max Kepler's Biggest Moments

I think Kepler may be a prime example that you don't notice what you have until its gone. Don't get me wrong, I think it is time to move on and give some other guys a chance to take over right field, but you knew what you were going to get out of Kepler every year. Roughly league average offense and great defense in RF. Gonna miss him and wish him the best.

Max Kepler absolutely owning Bauer in 2019 is a truly delightful Twins memory.

Always liked Kepler. His entire second half in 2023 could merit a place on this list, as he was great down the stretch and carried the team in August.

It's too bad he wasn't able to find a way to consistently hit for power; his 2019 and 2023 seasons stick out pretty clearly as the years where he was able to mash. The rest of the time he was vaguely disappointing on offense while usually providing quality to excellent defense.

The Cuddyer comp isn't that far off; Max was a much better defender (Max had much better range, Cuddy had a better arm, but not by a ton), but Cuddy was a more consistent offensive player. I think a lot of us thought we could expect Cuddyer's power production out of Kepler, especially after he had the big year in 2019, but he couldn't do it. Injuries in the past few seasons certainly played a part.

A good but not great player, but you need guys like Kepler on your roster to support your stars, and if a couple of them have peak years at the same time maybe you can win a title. Someone will offer Kepler a contract, but I'm betting it's a 1-2 year deal to platoon in the corners, maybe DH a little against RHP.

Thanks for the memories, Max.

Max and Jorge, Jorge and Max - the best of teammates.

12 hours ago, cjm0926 said:

I think Kepler may be a prime example that you don't notice what you have until its gone. Don't get me wrong, I think it is time to move on and give some other guys a chance to take over right field, but you knew what you were going to get out of Kepler every year. Roughly league average offense and great defense in RF. Gonna miss him and wish him the best.

I agree.  We'll miss him when he's gone.  Not right away, but when Larnach or Wallner or Rodriguez or Martin struggles enough to get sent across the river.  Will probably miss his defense sooner than that.  Would love to see him take a smaller number to return and at that point wouldn't mind seeing someone like Rodriguez play him off the roster.  Won't happen but also not convinced we won't be sitting here in a year wishing it had.

For me, Kepler has even more value in life as he did in baseball. My daughter started following baseball when she was 17 several years ago. She knew nothing about the game. Since she was born in Germany, she chose Max as her favorite player.

That season, the Twins traded away many key pieces after the All Star break and the year was lost. We started going to Twins games at this time. It didn't matter that they were bad. It was time with my daughter. The two of us have been attending Twins games regularly ever since. Max is the foundation with which we have rebuilt our father/daughter relationship.

The last game of that year, in Kansas City, Max gave my daughter her first baseball from an MLB player. The Kansas City fans helped us get that ball from him and it was such a magical moment. After the game, Max returned to us and gave my daughter his red Nike sunglasses. It was a thrilling!

As the next few years progressed, we became regulars at Target Field. Even as my daughter's fandom grew to include other favorite players, Max has always been her baseball anchor. Right field is baseball home to her. The thought of that space without Max Kepler is real void in her life. As a father, my love for Max may not be the same reason as just about every female Twins fan, but I've come to follow him and get to know his game, a rekindling of my love for the tiny nuances of baseball. I will miss him, too. 

Good luck, Max, and thanks for the memories. We will always be your fans no matter where you end up. One day, I hope to take my daughter back to Germany so she can visit her birth place, and how thrilling if Max could be our guide for a day! 

P.S.  When you opened up your stance and lowered your strike zone, that's when you found your power last year. You've worked hard to spread the ball around in order to beat the shift and it's paid off. Last half of last year and first part of this season, you've put it all together. Lay off those low sliders. I genuinely believe you will have a late career resurgence. I wish like crazy the Twins would keep you for baseball reasons. But I believe a good coaching staff with a good eye will benefit you greatly.

On 11/1/2024 at 1:54 PM, jmlease1 said:

Max Kepler absolutely owning Bauer in 2019 is a truly delightful Twins memory.

Always liked Kepler. His entire second half in 2023 could merit a place on this list, as he was great down the stretch and carried the team in August.

It's too bad he wasn't able to find a way to consistently hit for power; his 2019 and 2023 seasons stick out pretty clearly as the years where he was able to mash. The rest of the time he was vaguely disappointing on offense while usually providing quality to excellent defense.

The Cuddyer comp isn't that far off; Max was a much better defender (Max had much better range, Cuddy had a better arm, but not by a ton), but Cuddy was a more consistent offensive player. I think a lot of us thought we could expect Cuddyer's power production out of Kepler, especially after he had the big year in 2019, but he couldn't do it. Injuries in the past few seasons certainly played a part.

A good but not great player, but you need guys like Kepler on your roster to support your stars, and if a couple of them have peak years at the same time maybe you can win a title. Someone will offer Kepler a contract, but I'm betting it's a 1-2 year deal to platoon in the corners, maybe DH a little against RHP.

Sadly, I see Kepler beginning the journeyman part of his career. Unless a team has been paying close attention to what he's been doing the last 3 years, how he has evolved as a hitter, and how he just recently has been trying to mix that new found hitting with his old power, he's going to be platooned as you noted. If he gets stuck in that role, all this progress will get lost. I really hope the right team that will know how to use him, will take him. He has late career resurgence written all over him.