Max Kepler’s Hot Week Gets Attention
By Wally Fish
Nary a Twins prospect worked their way into one of the top-13 spots on this week’s Prospect Hot Sheet over at Baseball America.
Sunglasses on a Twins cap during spring training. (Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
One Minnesota farmhand, OF Max Kepler, did get a mention in the next group of seven dubbed “In the Team Photo.” If you’ve been reading my On The Pond Daily pieces, this shouldn’t come as a surprise since the 20-year old has hit 0.310/.394/.655 in his first seven games with Cedar Rapids.
Kepler went 0-3 with a walk in his Midwest League debut on June 20th but then proceeded to hit safely in his next six games. During this streak, which is still active, six of his nine hits have been of the extra-base variety with four doubles and two home runs.
The Twins organization has to be thrilled with his early showing. He’s making contact and hitting for power but he’s also displaying good BB (12.1%) and K (18.2%) percentages. Granted it’s a small sample size but four walks and only six strikeouts in 33 plate appearances is noteworthy given he’s making his full season debut and missed out on the first 2.5 months of the season dealing with a forearm/elbow injury.
Not only has Kepler’s strong start earned him a mention in BA’s Prospect Hot Sheet, it also prompted John Sickels to publish a prospect profile recently which is definitely worth checking out.