The Minnesota Twins have been applauded for their first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Walker Jenkins but they’re starting to get praised for another pick in that draft, infielder Luke Keaschall.
Keaschall wrapped up his first full season of professional baseball last summer and has already opened some eyes. While Baseball America named Keaschall as one of four Twins players on their top 100 prospects list on Wednesday morning, Keaschall was also identified as a prospect who could rise quickly from the 46th spot this season.
“Though his season was cut short by Tommy John surgery, Keaschall showed enough to push for a spot in Minnesota sometime in 2025,” Baseball America’s Josh Norris wrote. “He’s a cerebral hitter who has plenty of bat-to-ball skills and should hit for at least average power, assuming everything reverts to normal after he’s recovered.”
Luke Keaschall’s glove could help him push for a spot with the Twins in 2025
Keaschall was the 49th pick by the Twins in the 2023 MLB Draft coming off a collegiate career where he hit .327/.432/.571 with 30 home runs, 122 RBI and 59 stolen bases in two seasons at Arizona State.
The 21-year-old had a strong start to his professional career, hitting .288/.414/.478 with three homers, 15 RBI and 11 steals in 31 games in 2023 and earned a spot in the 2024 MLB Futures Game after hitting .303/.420/.483 with 15 homers, 48 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 102 games between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita last season.
But while Keaschall’s bat is good enough to make an impact in the major leagues, his glove might be what gets him there. MLB Pipeline ranked Keaschall as the No. 3 second base prospect heading into next year and was given a 50-grade field tool along with Cleveland’s Travis Bazzana, Christian Moore of the Los Angeles Angels, Boston’s Christian Campbell, Johnson and Seattle’s Michael Arroyo.
Norris also praised Keaschall’s athleticism and suggests that he could stick at second base if he fully recovers from undergoing Tommy John surgery last August.
“[Keaschall] is an above-average runner and moved around the diamond plenty in 2024, seeing time at first base, second base and the outfield,” Norris wrote. “Where he winds up will also be influenced by how much his arm strength is affected by the surgery. If all goes well, he could lock up the Twins’ everyday second base job in the coming years.”
With Jenkins already established as one of the top prospects in baseball – and potentially one of the best Twins’ prospects of all-time – Keaschall’s development could give Minnesota two gems in the 2023 MLB Draft and two players fans can get excited about heading into 2025.