Keaschall has confidence despite his struggles.
The Minnesota Twins dropped a tight 2-1 game to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, and no one felt the sting more than second baseman Luke Keaschall.
The Twins left nine runners stranded and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, with Keaschall at the center of both missed chances.
He struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the third inning and then grounded into a double play with runners on the corners in the fifth.
His numbers through 76 at-bats tell the story.
A .211 batting average with a .541 OPS is not where anyone expected him to be, especially after a spring training where he looked like a completely different hitter.
But when he spoke after the game, Keaschall was not hanging his head.
"We'll get it back," said Keaschall, who is batting .211 with a .541 OPS through 76 at-bats. "We're a tick off. It can change quickly. That's what I keep on thinking, and it's going to happen soon."
Why There Is Reason to Believe Him
That confidence is not empty talk.
Keaschall was named one of the top breakout candidates ahead of the 2026 season by MLB.com, and he earned that label with what he did as a rookie.
In 49 games last year, the Arizona State product slashed .302/.382/.445 with an .827 OPS, four home runs, 28 RBIs and 14 stolen bases while dealing with injuries that cut his season short.
This spring was even better.
Keaschall put up a .377/.411/.717 line with three home runs and 12 RBIs over 18 games, looking every bit like the breakout star Minnesota was banking on heading into the regular season.
The talent has not gone anywhere. The results just have not caught up yet, and the 23-year-old seems to understand that.
The Bigger Picture in Minnesota
The Twins sit at 11-9 and have surprised a lot of people by holding first place in the AL Central after a 1-4 start to the season.
Taj Bradley has been outstanding on the mound, Josh Bell has provided middle-of-the-order pop, and Trevor Larnach has been one of the best bats in the lineup.
Minnesota has proven it can win games even without Keaschall producing at his ceiling, which makes the upside even more exciting if he does start hitting.
The Reds, now 12-8, got just enough pitching on Friday to hold the Twins down as Brandon Williamson allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings.
But the game was there for Minnesota to take, and Keaschall knows it.
He is 0-for-7 over his last two games, but one hot week could flip the entire narrative. That is how baseball works in April, and Keaschall is betting on himself to find it.