Minnesota Twins infielder Luke Keaschall is seeing a change.
After breaking out during the 2025 season, Minnesota Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall has really struggled in his second season. Across 76 games, the 23-year-old has posted a .249 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, .656 OPS, two home runs and 24 RBIs.
After smashing 14 doubles in just 49 games last year, he has managed to hit just 12 through 27 more games this season. It has not been the year the Twins were expecting from the former second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Still, he is young, and for a team like Minnesota that is giving their younger talent time to develop at the big-league level, he likely has a long leash before anyone considers sending him back to the minors.
However, one area of concern beyond the bat has been his defense. According to Statcast's Baseball Savant, Keaschall has posted a Fielding Run Value of -5 and an Outs Above Average of-7, both well below league average. He has been a liability up the middle, and as a result the Twins are making a change.
"Luke Keaschall is making his first MLB start in right field tonight, with Kody Clemens starting at second base," wrote Twins reporter Aaron Gleeman on X.
The Twins have been preparing for this transition. Earlier this week, Keaschall was seen taking outfield drills, and now he will officially get a chance to test it out in a game.
Keaschall is very fast, and the hope is that with him in the outfield he can put that speed to better use. The Twins are not risking much by experimenting here given how his defense has graded out at second base.
This kind of transition has also worked before with other fast infielders who moved to the outfield and saw their overall value skyrocket. Two recent examples are Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres and Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, both of whom made similar transitions and thrived.
The move also gives the Twins flexibility, allowing both Tristan Gray and Kody Clemens a chance to get time at second base while Keaschall adjusts to his new position.
It is an experiment worth trying. If Keaschall can stay in the lineup every day while also improving his defensive value, this adjustment could unlock a more versatile version of him as a player and give Minnesota something to build on heading into the second half.
