Minnesota Rookie Keaschall Opts for Surgery on Torn UCL in Thumb
Minnesota Twins rookie infielder Luke Keaschall underwent thumb surgery on October 1 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb. After sliding headfirst into second base against the Texas Rangers on September 23, Keaschall left the game with a thumb sprain. It wasn't long after that that Keaschall landed on the IL again, this time ending his 2025 campaign that saw him bat .302, steal 14 bases, and collect 28 RBI in 49 games with the Twins, one of the few bright spots in a season we'd love to forget about.
After seeing a hand specialist, Luke Keaschall is set to have surgery tomorrow for a UCL thumb tear, same injury that Alan Roden suffered. Expected to be ready for spring training. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) September 30, 2025
Unfortunately, this is only the most recent in an already growing list of injuries for Keaschall. He previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 for a torn UCL in his right (throwing) elbow. Earlier this season, Keaschall was struck by a sinker in the right forearm. The result was a fractured ulna and months on the IL. It has been a rough beginning to a promising career, but the initial prognosis is that Keaschall will be ready for spring training in 2026.
This latest setback for the Minnesota rookie calls to mind the myriad of significant injuries sustained by past top prospects for the Twins. Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, both still with the team, have experienced extended periods on the IL, which stalled their careers at certain points. Buxton, healthy for the entire season, has finally seen the fruits of his labor with a standout season that resulted in his nomination for the Hank Aaron award. Lewis, the man with so much potential, has been unable to remain in the lineup consistently, the results of which were lackluster numbers and some questioning his overall attitude based on some off-color comments he made regarding not making adjustments mid-season. Now that Keaschall is on the IL so often, it is hard for Twins fans not to say, "Here we go...again."
Of course, the hope is that Keaschall will indeed be ready when players report to camp in sunny Florida in February. He has been a spark plug for this team and should continue to be so with his aggressive base running and solid approach at the plate. Keaschall has made himself a key piece of this team, and if they plan to rebuild, he should figure heavily in for years to come — if he can remain healthy.