The utility man's standout performance at Wrigley Field showcased the versatility Minnesota needs to stay in the postseason hunt.
The Minnesota Twins have spent the last month getting a better look at the player they believed Luke Keaschall could become.
Friday night at Wrigley Field provided another reminder of why the organization remained confident despite the rookie’s uneven start.
Keaschall reached base three times, made a pair of plays that impacted the game on both sides of the ball and helped spark a four-run third inning in Minnesota’s 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. But for manager Derek Shelton, the biggest takeaway wasn’t one individual moment. It was seeing the complete version of Keaschall begin to emerge.
"I think we're seeing the Luke Keaschall that we thought we were going to see," Shelton said postgame, via Twins TV. "The ability to control at-bats and get hits. He's done a nice job, especially over the last three or four weeks."
That stretch has represented a significant shift for Keaschall, who entered the season trying to adjust to his first extended opportunity in the major leagues. Shelton acknowledged earlier struggles were part of the adjustment process, especially for a player beginning the year in the big leagues for the first time.
Now, the Twins are seeing a hitter who is becoming more comfortable controlling his at-bats and creating opportunities.
Friday’s game was a good example of how that development has shown up beyond the box score.
Keaschall’s third-inning infield single started the sequence that changed the game, but it was what happened after that caught Shelton’s attention. When Tristan Gray grounded a ball toward first baseman Michael Busch, Keaschall recognized the opportunity to disrupt the double play attempt and moved inside the baseline.
The play resulted in a collision with shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was hit in the face by the throw, but it also allowed the Twins to keep the inning alive before Ryan Jeffers followed with a three-run homer.
Shelton pointed to that decision as an example of the instincts Keaschall brings to the field.
"It's something we talk about a lot," Shelton said. "Just to be able to think right there, 'OK, we're going to make this play. We're going to get inside.'"
Those types of plays have become part of what the Twins have valued in Keaschall’s game. The rookie also made one of the defensive highlights of the night, ranging into left-center field for a sliding catch in the eighth inning.
“I kind of surprised myself when I caught it at first,” Keaschall said, via MLB.com's Zach Sweet. “I was happy I caught it.”
Shelton also pointed out the difficulty of playing center field at Wrigley Field, where the wind and large outfield dimensions can make defensive reads challenging. Keaschall handled those moments while continuing to provide production at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
It has been the type of all-around contribution Minnesota hoped to see when Keaschall earned his opportunity.
The timing also matters for a Twins team that has steadily climbed back into the American League playoff picture. Friday’s win moved Minnesota to .500 for the first time since April 22 after the club had fallen eight games below that mark earlier this season.
Shelton knows there is still plenty of work ahead, but the recent progress has changed the outlook inside the clubhouse.
The Twins will look to build on this return from the All-Star break and claim the series win on Saturday, sending Taj Bradley to the mound against the Cubs' Matthew Boyd.
