Has Luke Keaschall Surpassed Emmanuel Rodriguez as Minnesota Twins' Second-Best Prospect?

46 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

So, he's still on injury rehab and we shouldn't expect to see him in the big leagues until that's done. My guess is that will take several weeks.

You could go to about 11:53 on the podcast. My paraphrase…

The next step is full games and then back to back days. In mid May early June begin working in the outfield in practice off days before getting him back in game action in the outfield after that.

2 hours ago, jkcarew said:

The defensive concerns here regarding Keaschall are way overblown. He played a lot of SS and OF in the college/amateur ranks. He was an elite wrestler in California. Elite wrestlers are quick, explosive, athletes, with very good feet. And they know how to work, and they know how to navigate pain.

He hasn’t been playing late in games for load management reasons as they ramp him up. He’s been ‘stuck’ at 2B because that’s clearly where they think the current need is.

Don’t know if he’s going to be a great second baseman at the major league level. He ain’t Julien.

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He can beat the odds. Brendan Donovan has played a just little shortstop professionally and Brandon Lowe hasn’t played shortstop professionally. They play a lot of second base. Both Lowe and Donovan also have played a lot of games in the outfield. They play well enough at 2B with very good bats. I don’t think Keaschall has the power of Lowe but maybe his hit profile is similar to Donovan. In any case he doesn’t have many professional innings on the diamond in the outfield or second base and he will benefit from the AAA season this year.

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Miguel Sano played SS for the Twins at both Rookie Ball levels. Doesn't mean that's relevant

Sure does. It means that Sano was a good athlete with decent glove and instincts…before he added 80 lbs or more of mostly fat…and decided he was fine with one (post rookie) contract. I’m quite sure there’s a universe of self discipline and work ethic between the two. Although, ironically….one thing we know is Keaschall doesn’t come with Sano’s arm…the Tommy John sure didn’t diminish Sano’s arm, for whatever that’s worth.

Not saying Keaschall is going to be great defensively….or above average…or serviceable. I’m saying there is about 110% chance he’ll achieve his potential defensively…whatever that is…based on his track record as an athlete/competitor.

7 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Rankings are fun but... in the end... they don't mean much. 

Whoever gets the first call will be dependent on who provides the opening. 

It won't matter if Keaschall is out performing Emma at the moment. 

If an OF goes down. Emma or Martin gets the phone call.

Emma needs to be better than Martin when the call comes. 

Keaschall needs to be better than Miranda when an IF goes down and it still important to keep in mind that Keaschall is not on the 40 man yet.  

 

Gasper is.

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Has Luke Keaschall Surpassed Emmanuel Rodriguez as Minnesota Twins' Second-Best Prospect?

He surpassed him long ago, like when he was drafted.  I don't think it's close.  It's easy to walk in MiLB, it's really hard to not strike out.  And in the majors all those mistakes EmRod hits out won't be there.  He'll be low average, some power, some obp.

Keaschall will be a stud.  Why?  He is super tough to strike out, and when he's not striking out a little, walking a fair amount, or homering, he'll be hitting at a rate of about .325. to begin with.  Keaschall's always been better than EmRod.

Who cares?  The problem is that they are both still PROSPECTS.  Get 'em up.  Rodriguez in LF, Larnach to DH. Keaschall at 2B, Lee to 3B. Lewis to 1B.  Cut the ******** and mixing and matching, laminate the lineup card for the next half decade and move on.  This ain't rocket science.

Keaschall is doing as well as he has all while knowing Tommy John surgery was coming.  Think about that.  The kid was not 100% and he, as well as the Twins knew this surgical setback was inevitable, yet he raked and played CF and 2B and some 1B.  I haven't actually seen him play, but I think his athletic profile gives him a chance to be much better defensively at 2B than Julien (low bar). 

Keaschall also has much better bat to ball skills than E-Rod.  He will be more consistent.  The better question to focus on at this point isn't who is the BETTER prospect.  It is who will get to the major leagues SOONER.  The answer is probably Keaschall.

Julien has at least been O.K. with the bat to begin the season.  We all know he will never be a PLUS defender anywhere.  The best thing Julien can do for the Twins and himself,  is to keep hitting, thus increasing his trade value to teams looking for an offense upside 2B.  He's going to get passed up by Keaschall and Lee and possibly even Payton Eeles.   There is also Royce Lewis lurking...what is he?  3B? 1B? LF? 1B?  Somewhere, someplace, Lewis, if he can EVER stay healthy will settle in at one of those 4 positions.

E-Rod, if he can demonstrate his elite on-base skills as well as his power, "projects" to still be the better prospect.  E-Rod's defensive ability at either corner OF spot as well as CF is a given.  His bat is what will determine if he's a middle of the order regular or nothing more than a 4th OF/Platoon player in the future. 

Ty France has been a nice story so far, but I don't expect it to last beyond June.  This is why Larnach and/or Wallner should have been taking grounders at 1B already, especially with the acquisition of Bader.  With E-Rod and Walker Jenkins on the way, the OF is just too crowded.  And 1B remains a black hole in the lineup for the near and distant future.