MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler sprawled out throughout the third-base bag as he leaned over so he might level at his teammates within the first-base dugout, with the trace of a smile on his face.
He’d simply put the dagger into one other Twins win with a two-out, pinch-hit, three-run triple within the seventh inning, one other a type of late, large frames which have carved out — or put an exclamation mark on — Minnesota’s wins of late.
And because the Twins claimed one other collection with an 8-4 victory over the Mets, that large blow added to the cascade of hard-hit drives, opposite-field batted balls, glorious defensive performs and smiles which have characterised the rejuvenation of the Minnesota proper fielder following a number of seasons of struggles and disappointment.
“There’s quite a lot of issues that have been taking place that affect a participant,” hitting coach David Popkins mentioned. “I feel he discovered a approach to management what he is permitting into his atmosphere and management his zone, and also you see it in how a lot enjoyable he has — the smiling, the celebration. … That is the primary time I’ve seen him have actual enjoyable when he is enjoying, which is superior to see.”
The Twins are having that sort of enjoyable as a crew, too.
Their third straight collection victory as soon as once more expanded their result in seven video games within the American League Central, matching a season excessive, with 20 extra to play. They haven’t any head-to-head matchups remaining in opposition to the second-place Guardians, who have been scheduled for a West Coast recreation in opposition to the Angels later Saturday night time.
The Twins took a 3-2 lead into the underside of the seventh, after they loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a single. Kepler hadn’t began the sport in opposition to southpaw David Peterson, however he was summoned to pinch-hit in opposition to right-handed reliever Drew Smith and crushed a 2-2 pitch off the highest of the massive wall in right-center.
He admitted he thought it was gone for a grand slam — and celebrated towards his dugout accordingly. As a substitute, it took a giant bounce off the wall, permitting Kepler to coast into third with a easy headfirst slide and a roar of triumph at third-base coach Tommy Watkins.
“I pimped it just a little too early,” Kepler mentioned with a smile. “Fortunately, it took a bounce the place I might advance to 3rd, however I am not that man, often. I try to play the sport laborious. Hopefully, the baseball gods will not be too mad at me for that one.”
As he says, Kepler hasn’t typically been that man. However it’s laborious responsible him contemplating, after three years of stagnation and offensive regression following his breakout 2019 and questions of his viability for the roster, Kepler is hitting .250/.318/.476 for his highest OPS since ‘19, with 21 homers to match a crew excessive.
“I’ve seen him play for a very long time now,” supervisor Rocco Baldelli mentioned. “He’s enjoying nearly as good as he’s ever performed, proper at this second.”
Lengthy a Statcast darling who couldn’t translate his very good anticipated metrics to on-field offensive manufacturing, Kepler entered a possible stroll 12 months in ‘23 with Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Joey Gallo and Matt Wallner all threatening his enjoying time — particularly after he once more struggled mightily to a .692 OPS on the finish of June.
However the Twins caught with him — and he rewarded their religion.
For the reason that begin of July, he’s hitting .291/.357/.528 (an .885 OPS) together with his usually stellar protection in proper subject and has been as accountable as anybody for the membership’s second-half turnaround.
Kepler has by no means been one to speak concerning the behind-the-scenes of his recreation, all the time merely saying that he chooses to “see ball, hit ball.” However Popkins famous that, along with different work, Kepler has adjusted his leg kick and located new components for his staunch routine — and Kepler attributes his turnaround to well being.
“I’ve bought wholesome toes and a wholesome thoughts,” Kepler mentioned. “While you’re not enjoying with the strain of enjoying catch-up coming off an harm, there’s quite a lot of issues that come into play that issue into enjoying the sport freely — with a free thoughts.”
It additionally helps that the rookies have introduced extra power and togetherness, as Kepler describes it, to the clubhouse and the sphere — and Kepler is having enjoyable performing and having fun with with them.
“He is discovered himself,” mentioned Jorge Polanco, who was Kepler’s first roommate within the Minors and has recognized him longer than anybody else within the clubhouse. “That makes you’ve enjoyable.”