The Making of Max Power

Really cool article! Have loved seeing Kepler smack the ball around all year!

Very insightful! You can really see the difference in his swing in those clips.

Funny how we want Sano to use the whole field, (which he did today to good effect) and Buck too, (mainly because of his speed if he hits it in the RCF gap, its a triple)

but we want Max to pull it. 

It is still hit the ball where it is pitched though, because the first rule of hitting is "Get a Good Pitch to hit" .....Ted

When it comes to power hitting, the first rule should be "Hit it on the Sweet Spot"

With Max, when he hits it, you know it is gone.  I am amazed that Max has such a keen hitting eye with his inexperience. He hits it on the nose a lot.

Glad they extended him.  

Really good read. You can’t get stuff like this anywhere else without paying.

I think Kepler is a little under appreciated nationally. I think he’s getting there, but if he played for the Yankees he’d be a huge star right now (and can you imagine his numbers in that bandbox?).

Thanks for a good read, Parker.

Have been a huge Kepler fan sice he came on board as a 17 year old during the fall instructional league while attending high school across the street.  Am a believer that he is still scratching the surface of what he can become.

Commented several months ago, asking the question..."Can Max Kepler become a Hall of Famer?"  If you project an average of 35 home runs a year, ten to twelve years from now he would be pushing towards or beyond 500.  As he continues to gain more experience, is it unrealistic to expect him to retire with a lifetime .270-.280 average?  Given those two marks, he would likely finish with 1,200 to 1,500 runs scored and RBI.  Should he be fortunate enough to have good health so he can play into his mid-late 30's, do those numbers merit inclusion in that exclusive club?  I don't know if he will last that long and perform at those levels.  But of all the current Twins, I am most excited about his having a chance to. 

I know during the past off season lots of people here and elsewhere where begging the Twins to sign Bryce Harper while making Max a fourth outfielder, back up first baseman or even trading him.  Let me ask the question today, who would you rather have on your team, Kepler or Bryce Harper?  Looking at their current production, I'll take Max even before comparing contracts.  Wouldn't you? 

 

I know during the past off season lots of people here and elsewhere where begging the Twins to sign Bryce Harper while making Max a fourth outfielder, back up first baseman or even trading him.  Let me ask the question today, who would you rather have on your team, Kepler or Bryce Harper?  Looking at their current production, I'll take Max even before comparing contracts.  Wouldn't you? 

I'll admit it: I was one of those people who had concerns. I didn't have a problem with the contract extension, because with his ability to play CF his defensive value was high enough to support the deal. But I think it was perfectly fair to be concerned about whether Kepler would ever have the kind of offensive breakout people had been predicting for three years.

Prior to this year, Kepler had a remarkably consistent results profile as a hitter, and it was decidedly mediocre. Low BA, solid patience, good power for CF, lower end power for a corner OF. Poor BABIP. After three years of this, it wasn't crazy to be worried that this simply might be who he was as a hitter and a player: someone whose bat plays in CF but hits below average in the corners and makes up for the lighter hitting with elite defense in the corners while being solid in CF.

Fortunately for everyone involved, Kepler has taken that leap forward this year. He's really unlocked his power potential this year and it's a massive improvement. He's already hit career highs in HRs, RBIs, and WAR and will almost certainly crush his career high for 2B. Absent a signficant late slump, he's going to hit career highs in BA/OB%/SLG%, OPS, OPS+...you name it, he's crushing it. It's the breakout we've all been hoping for but many of us worried might never come.

Last year Kepler took a step up in total value, but it was mostly due to defense and playing a higher value position for it. Now, he's still playing great defense and hitting close to all-star levels. I'm thrilled for him and the team. The contract extension looks brilliant now, whereas before it looked ok and required a little hope stuffed in.

Ban Artificial Baseballs Everywhere

Atta Max.

Great posts! Mr Lease captures Kepler perfectly. So much could happen just look at Morneau, but yes the sky is the limit.