Credit: William Parmeter
We are less than two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to kick off Spring Training. The Minnesota Twins open Grapefruit League action on February 21, and plenty of players have already arrived in Fort Myers.
Among them is breakout rookie Luke Keaschall. After his bat carried him to the big leagues last season, it’s his arm that will be the focus in 2026. Slow-played defensively following Tommy John surgery in 2024, Keaschall is now on track to take on an expanded role this year.
Outfield on The Table for MN Twins Luke Keaschall
A second-round pick by the Minnesota Twins during the 2023 MLB draft, Luke Keaschall quickly rose through the prospect ranks. He appeared in 49 games at the big-league level last season, all at second base. Still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and later dealing with a broken forearm, the outfield was never a realistic option.
An offseason thumb surgery extended his time on the shelf, but his arm is now ready to go. With a dynamic defensive skill set, Keaschall is expected to get plenty of reps in the outfield this season.
Luke Keaschall has arrived in Fort Myers. Yes, he’s getting reps in the outfield.
📸: William Parmeter pic.twitter.com/dHBpOFfQXG
— Ted (@tlschwerz) February 2, 2026
Keaschall played all 41 of his defensive appearances at second base last year and also served as Rocco Baldelli’s designated hitter eight times. His .302/.382/.445 slash line earned him a ninth-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting. He added 14 doubles and stole 14 bases, with his early-season pace setting Major League Baseball history.
Second base is not typically a demanding defensive position, and Keaschall was deployed there largely because arm strength is not a premium at the spot. While he held his own on the dirt, the metrics were mixed: 1 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), -2 OAA (Outs Above Average), and -1 FRV (Fielding Run Value). His arm strength ranked in just the sixth percentile.
Luke Keaschall Gives the MN Twins Options
At this point, it should be expected that new manager Derek Shelton will use Keaschall as the Opening Day second baseman. However, he can also contribute in both center and left field. His 28.7 feet-per-second sprint speed ranks in the 85th percentile, and he logged plenty of innings in the outfield throughout his minor league career and in college.
Luke Keaschall’s first 49 MLB games:
.302 BA
.382 OBP
.827 OPS
14 doubles
4 HR
14 SB
Positives:
– Elite 20% Chase% ✅
– Elite 18.5% Whiff% ✅
– Great 14% K% ✅
– Only 23 y/o ✅
However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for the Minnesota Twins prospect 👇 pic.twitter.com/iWOOSksubx
— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) November 19, 2025
Minnesota’s corner outfield spots are currently occupied by lumbering left-handed bats, or a utility option in Austin Martin. James Outman, acquired from the Dodgers in the Brock Stewart deal, is the only true backup option for Byron Buxton in center field. Keaschall bats right-handed and has the athleticism to handle both outfield spots, particularly where elite arm strength isn’t a requirement.
How the Minnesota Twins choose to deploy Keaschall this season will be fascinating to watch. The fact that he’s healthy and provides the team with so many lineup and defensive options makes him one of the most valuable players on the roster.
Mentioned in this article: Luke Keaschall
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