What Could Luke Keaschall’s Role Be With the 2025 Twins?

If he can hit they will find a spot for him.  2nd and 1st are clearly the areas that he could get his best shot, but his bat will be what gets him to majors and stays there.  I have a feeling both Julien and Miranda will have shorter leashes.  Julien head got in his way last year, and that is harder to fix.  Miranda injuries have got in his way last couple of years.  When fully healthy he has shown he can carry a team for stretches, but he has not been able to stay fully healthy. 

Ty France unless he has a hell of a bounce back will be an easy cut for his price tag. I just hope he does not get the Margot treatment and sticks around all year despite being a huge negative on the team. 

I am really interested to find out what kind of defensive player he is.  Ive not seen any kind of a deep dive on that other than he has defensive versatility which usually is code language for the guy isn’t a good fielder.  The bat and speed on the bases would fit nicely into our lineup.

The list of Twins core players stops after Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. The catching tandem is fine and it is hopeful those two can fill the position one more time in 2025. After that it is a fair amount of hope based on promise, expectations, and health.

Keaschall has a good shot at being a really good MLB player. The Twins need to find him a position at some point although he could easily just slide along as a DH, 1B, 2B, OF option until his arm and potential fielding skills allow him to settle at one position.

One question remains - Can anyone identify the last Twins rookie to be inserted into an Opening Day lineup and given the time and at bats to prove themselves versus patiently waiting for an injury to open a spot?

4 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I imagine he will start in AAA just to get some consistent AB's. Coming off surgery he will need some time to get the feeling for throwing back. In St. Paul he can also get time at DH w/o blocking the spot on the Twins. I fully expect him to get called up a little later in the season.

This is my thought as well.  Assuming he hits and nobody on the big club grabs 2B, Keaschall could make an impact on the club later this year.

A big issue holding him back IMO is the Twins propensity for slow-rolling their position player prospects.  As close as I think he could be this season, it would also not surprise me in the slightest if he did not get called up at all, regardless of how he plays in MiLB.

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The list of Twins core players stops after Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. The catching tandem is fine and it is hopeful those two can fill the position one more time in 2025. After that it is a fair amount of hope based on promise, expectations, and health.

Keaschall has a good shot at being a really good MLB player. The Twins need to find him a position at some point although he could easily just slide along as a DH, 1B, 2B, OF option until his arm and potential fielding skills allow him to settle at one position.

One question remains - Can anyone identify the last Twins rookie to be inserted into an Opening Day lineup and given the time and at bats to prove themselves versus patiently waiting for an injury to open a spot?

My guess would be Mauer.  Nishioka might count here too, but I am sure I am missing someone.

8 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The list of Twins core players stops after Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. The catching tandem is fine and it is hopeful those two can fill the position one more time in 2025. After that it is a fair amount of hope based on promise, expectations, and health.

Keaschall has a good shot at being a really good MLB player. The Twins need to find him a position at some point although he could easily just slide along as a DH, 1B, 2B, OF option until his arm and potential fielding skills allow him to settle at one position.

One question remains - Can anyone identify the last Twins rookie to be inserted into an Opening Day lineup and given the time and at bats to prove themselves versus patiently waiting for an injury to open a spot?

Joe Mauer  , I'm only guessing because it's early and I haven't had my morning coffee  ...

Keaschall is showing a good bat and reports are he is average with defense , IMO he won't make opening day roster with no AAA experience and also mending from an injury ...

I could be wrong , we never know what our brain trust is thinking  , I just hope they don't wreck him cause we could certainly use a good bat in the order  ....

Yet, with Jenkins needing to undergo prolonged development in the minors 

Huh?  He was 19 years old and had a cup of coffee at AA.  Really don't understand your comment.

46 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I imagine he will start in AAA just to get some consistent AB's. Coming off surgery he will need some time to get the feeling for throwing back. In St. Paul he can also get time at DH w/o blocking the spot on the Twins. I fully expect him to get called up a little later in the season.

He might start back in AA. Coming back off an injury, with less than half a season worth of ABs in AA, it would hard be a knock if they started him off in Wichita. (plus, it should be at least a little warmer which might be better coming off the injury) I expect to see him in AAA, but while hitters tend to come back faster and easier from TJ, this was still a major surgery. So I'm pumping the brakes a little on him. Not because I don't respect the talent, but injury rehab isn't always linear.

20 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

He might start back in AA. Coming back off an injury, with less than half a season worth of ABs in AA, it would hard be a knock if they started him off in Wichita. (plus, it should be at least a little warmer which might be better coming off the injury) I expect to see him in AAA, but while hitters tend to come back faster and easier from TJ, this was still a major surgery. So I'm pumping the brakes a little on him. Not because I don't respect the talent, but injury rehab isn't always linear.

I'm pumping the brakes too. IMO he should start at AA, although that might not be for long. He should start off at 1B/ DH & see when he can go to 2B. IMO OF should be out of the question. IMO there's no doubt about his hitting. 

I see him taking over at firstbase in future 

Mauer didn't really get his chance until AFTER the Twins traded AJ to the Giants (a great trade by the way).  But Mauer probably still qualifies. 

I don't think Keaschall needs to start in AA.  I think he will certainly begin the season at St. Paul.  The Twins will be interested in seeing how Brooks Lee and Julien play in spring training and then to begin the season.  Unless he has a huge spring training, I can't see Julien breaking camp with the Twins.  He's got too much to prove.  And Julien will have stiff competition for innings at 2B in St. Paul with Keaschall and Peyton Eeles.  Julien has his work cut out for him.  A slow start for Julien and good starts for Eeles and Keaschall may lead to an early season trade.

But Keaschall sure is intriguing.  Linus made a great point about Keaschall's defense.  We've heard and read that he at least appears to be be competent at 2B, 1B and LF.  He's got to build up arm strength as well.  But is there a position he shows above average to pretty good defensive ability?  It seems the tendency of the Twins is to keep playing players at multiple positions.  But could he become a Brian Dozier type 2B?  Could he be a little bit better?  A little worse?

I just don't know and I don't think many of us here on TD know either.  It's an important question to be asked.  With the addition of Bader (like it or not) our OF is pretty full (especially if you add Keirsey to the mix).  This just might put E-Rod BEHIND Keaschall in who might get a call up first.  Our OF looks much more certain than 2B and 1B do.

Rocco has said Ty France is going to get a lot of AB's.  I'm assuming that means in spring training.  Rocco is going to give France a chance to make the team.  But if France doesn't impress and Miranda looks pretty good, I think France gets cut.  

Another young guy being asked to play about 17 different positions and not getting enough reps to be good at any of them.  I get the man-crush is for "flexibility".  But for defensive purposes, I wish the organization would allow these kids to actually work at a position or two.  The Twins were a poor defensive team last year.....it may not be the only reason, but I can't help but wonder if this "master of none" approach to establishing positions for players is at least part of the reason.

....all that said, I'm really excited about this kid's future.  Love the speed and offensive profile.

10 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

First he needs a 40 man spot. He doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until December 26. 

If he doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until that time. Getting placed on the 40 man will require a combination of events. Injuries or unexpected poor play from others combined with good play from Luke playing for the Saints. 

If those things happen... we could see him this year and I'll cheer my head off for him. 

Injuries and poor play happen all the time so it isn't impossible for these things to happen. It's up to him to hit that baseball in AAA so he's the obvious call to make. 

One thing that works in his favor is his multi-position work. This opens the door for him for injuries and poor play at multiple spots.

The thing that doesn't work in his favor is that 40 man roster. He has to out perform those in AAA that are on the 40 man.   

 

I'm not in a position to judge who is talented enough or deserves a roster position for an MLB roster, a factual "no duh" comment. Numerous young players, who would qualify as rookies and a few with minimal experience, have quite a bit of skill yet to learn at the minor league levels. Repetitions and regular game action are, IMO, important to the development of any player. 

Luke Keaschall, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Walker Jenkins, David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Payton Eeles, and others may need further skill development and consistent every day plate appearances to prepare them for the rigors of MLB competition. As a fan I cannot argue that point. However, are they already superior in talent to those holding a position above them and more likely to make a significant impact at the MLB level?

When I look over the past 20 years of Twins baseball  I couldn't find a single position player who was elevated to the lineup and given a shot to play at the MLB level. Did I miss someone? (Nishioka came over from Japan and had won a batting championship there. I don't  consider Japanese baseball as a minor league experience.) That may be true of other teams as well, I simply don't know. The Twins have to go back to Joe Mauer. What does this say about the talent, development, or decision-making of the Twins? Anything? Maybe not. 

How many plate appearances will Walker Jenkins need? Emmanuel Rodriguez? If Julien needs time at 1B and Brooks Lee needs reps at 2B in St. Paul, how does that impact either Keaschall or Eeles? Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio were hyped prospects who received a long run before one succeeded and the other was sent back to AAA. Jackson Merrill had 300 PA at A+, 211 PA at AA, and zero at AAA  before he was plopped into CF, a position he had never played, by the San Diego Padres. Merrill was not viewed in the same tier as either Holliday or Chourio (a tier where Jenkins currently resides) but was essentially in the same tier of prospect as Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall. Apparently the Padres saw something in their prospect that the Twins don't ever seem to see in their prospects.

While I don't necessarily question any of the specific current decisions related to any specific rookies, I do question why it takes a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Fame player before the Twins take a chance on playing a prospect. I also wonder what some of the coaches believe, but from prior experience know this will never be known.

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

First he needs a 40 man spot. He doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until December 26. 

If he doesn't need to be placed on the 40 man until that time. Getting placed on the 40 man will require a combination of events. Injuries or unexpected poor play from others combined with good play from Luke playing for the Saints. 

If those things happen... we could see him this year and I'll cheer my head off for him. 

Injuries and poor play happen all the time so it isn't impossible for these things to happen. It's up to him to hit that baseball in AAA so he's the obvious call to make. 

One thing that works in his favor is his multi-position work. This opens the door for him for injuries and poor play at multiple spots.

The thing that doesn't work in his favor is that 40 man roster. He has to out perform those in AAA that are on the 40 man.   

 

To add on to this if you bring him up before he is ready you start the service time clock ticking.  So between that and the 40 man factor I don’t see him up with the Twins this year barring crazy injuries.

3 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

My guess would be Mauer.  Nishioka might count here too, but I am sure I am missing someone.

Byung-Ho Park is more recent.

Buxton was handed the job when Aaron Hicks flopped after they traded away Denard Span and Ben Revere.

Royce Lewis got a job in May of 2022 and they were prepared to let him keep it but he injured himself.

2 minutes ago, Greggory Masterson said:

I think Aaron Hicks might be the most recent to debut on Opening Day (2013)?

I think you nailed it.

Aaron Hicks. Yes. Thank you, I missed him. Felt I was missing a player too. I didn't consider players who had played substantially in another country's MLB.

Does Aaron Hicks and his failure to star make him responsible for no more chances for rookies? JK. 

3 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Does Aaron Hicks and his failure to star make him responsible for no more chances for rookies? JK. 

The last 3 were Hicks, Byung-Ho Park and Nishioka. Not a stellar track record.

16 minutes ago, Linus said:

To add on to this if you bring him up before he is ready you start the service time clock ticking.  So between that and the 40 man factor I don’t see him up with the Twins this year barring crazy injuries.

When is a player ready? Some teams have no problem bringing a player directly from A+ or AA. Even the mighty NYY put Anthony Volpe at shortstop after 22 games at AAA. Volpe is a good player but hardly an All Star. The service clock is never a reason to lose games playing inferior talent. I'm not expecting anything but it seems radical to never play a rookie until nobody is left as an option.

For various reasons I think the most likely answer is Keaschall doesn't really have a role with the 2025 Twins. He hasn't earned a promotion from Double-A yet (830 OPS and he hasn't really played his best defensive positions due to arm issues). I would give him at least 2 months in Wichita while playing at most two positions. If his bat gets him to St. Paul they will need to focus more on a single position to prepare him for an everyday spot in MLB. That will take another few months.

It will probably be in September when we see Keaschall debut.

13 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

When is a player ready? Some teams have no problem bringing a player directly from A+ or AA. Even the mighty NYY put Anthony Volpe at shortstop after 22 games at AAA. Volpe is a good player but hardly an All Star. The service clock is never a reason to lose games playing inferior talent. I'm not expecting anything but it seems radical to never play a rookie until nobody is left as an option.

Yea well that is not what I said.  Go ahead and re-read what I wrote to answer your question.

36 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

For various reasons I think the most likely answer is Keaschall doesn't really have a role with the 2025 Twins. He hasn't earned a promotion from Double-A yet (830 OPS and he hasn't really played his best defensive positions due to arm issues). I would give him at least 2 months in Wichita while playing at most two positions. If his bat gets him to St. Paul they will need to focus more on a single position to prepare him for an everyday spot in MLB. That will take another few months.

It will probably be in September when we see Keaschall debut.

I tend to agree with you on this, because of the roster construction the Twins have. If I was running the Twins I would start EROD in left or right, whatever position he would be best at. I wouldn't bring up Keaschall until I had to, injuries, terrible play by others. IMO the biggest issue the Twins have is they really don't know what they have with WAY too many players, Will Wallner be adequate against LH? same with Larnach, Miranda, Julien, Lee and Lewis going to get better or not, that means it is hard to give another position to a rookie and let him learn the job on the fly and struggle. (Landford, Merrill, Chuorio, Volpe style) so they bring in mediocre vets and retard the younger guys. Very similar to what they have done with the rotation is SWR a legit rotation guy (don't care what number) if they believe he is, you can just put Festa in there and see how it goes, but since that really isn't an answered question you get Paddack and Festa most likely ends up in AAA and when he gets called up if he struggles he will probably go down and Matthews comes up, and if one of them doesn't secure the job, rinse and repeat in 2026.

26 minutes ago, Linus said:

Yea well that is not what I said.  Go ahead and re-read what I wrote to answer your question.

I'm not suggesting who is or who isn't ready. I'm questioning the decisions and record.

"To add on to this if you bring him up before he is ready you start the service time clock ticking.  So between that and the 40 man factor I don’t see him up with the Twins this year barring crazy injuries." - Linus

You said that if you bring a player up before they are ready the clock starts and also the use of the 40 person roster spot. You don't think Keaschall gets a shot until something crazy or an injury happens. Is this close?

I'm questioning the decision-making process over time of when a player is ready.