Do-It-All Minnesota Twins Prospect Pegged as Possible 2025 ROY Candidate
There are plenty of roles that the Minnesota Twins could benefit by addressing this offseason. There are some free agents that look like ideal additions. It remains to be seen how Derek Falvey will construct a blueprint considering the restrictions he has placed on him. One ideal reality includes contributions from internal talent. A Rookie of the Year winner wouldn’t hurt at all.
Luke Keaschall can continue rise for Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins organization hasn’t seen a Rookie of the Year winner since Marty Cordova back in 1995. At different points in 2024, it looked as though Simeon Woods Richardson should warrant consideration. Unfortunately that never came to fruition. Luke Keaschall was recently tabbed as a likely candidate by MLB Pipeline though.
“The only thing making this pick “risky” is that Keaschall, the Twins’ second-round pick in 2023, had Tommy John surgery in August. But that was timed so he’d be ready to swing the bat in the spring. It’s pretty clear his advanced approach at the plate will help him get to the big leagues quickly after getting to Double-A in his first full season and finishing with a .903 OPS. He’s shown he can handle three positions, giving the Twins more options to get him in the lineup.”
Luke Keaschall as a ROY candidate (MLB.com)
Keaschall was a second round pick in 2023 out of Arizona State. It’s not exactly surprising that a high-round pick is good. It is impressive just how quickly he has blitzed the system. Despite playing with a torn UCL last season, Keaschall earned a promotion from Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita. Across 102 minor league games, he owned a .303/.420/.483 slash line. He put up 21 doubles, a triple, and 15 home runs. Keaschall did all of this while having a near-even strikeout-to-walk ration.
Luke Keaschall now has the longest active on-base streak in all of @MLB and @MiLB at 36 consecutive games📈
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) June 14, 2024
He went 4-5 with a HR (105 mph) and a 2B (102 mph) yesterday
In 16 games since getting promoted to Double-A, he is slashing .344/.444/.492 (.936 OPS)‼️#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/epDuYcHqbP
Minnesota had Keaschall playing multiple infield positions with a primary focus on second base. He shifted to the outfield a bit, but his elbow limitation took that off the table. When moving to Wichita, Keaschall took on first base for the first time in his professional career. Across 115 1/3 innings, the 22-year-old didn’t commit a single error. Keaschall put his talents on the national stage this summer when he was selected to the Futures Game as well.
Luke Keaschall stays red hot with his third straight multi-hit game while also clubbing his second leadoff HR in three games 🥵
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) July 12, 2024
He went 3-4 with a HR (100.1 mph)
Over his last 30 games in Double-A, he is slashing .339/.447/.513 (.960 OPS), which is a 168 wRC+📈#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/H1hAbW8v4x
Related: Exclusive: Twins Top Prospect Opens Up About Torn UCL That Eventually Ended His Season
There is a pathway to playing time at first base for Minnesota. Carlos Santana is a free agent, and despite winning his first Gold Glove, it remains to be seen whether the Twins will bring him back. Keaschall isn’t going to make the Opening Day roster, but that doesn’t mean he won’t force Rocco Baldelli’s hand before the summer gets going.
Related: MLB Insider: Minnesota Twins Have to Consider Trading Carlos Correa…
Expect Keaschall to make waves during spring training. The surgery shouldn’t hold him back next season, and that’s a great reality for the organization.
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