Twins rookie Luke Keaschall running wild, ties MLB record with 5 steals in first 5 games

MINNEAPOLIS — 5 video games into his big-league profession, Luke Keaschall seems like a five-year veteran. And he’s already setting data.

In determined want of a spark for his or her unproductive, banged-up lineup, the Minnesota Twins referred to as up Keaschall on Friday, at age 22 and after enjoying simply 14 video games at Triple-A St. Paul whereas nonetheless recovering from August elbow surgical procedure. He made a direct impression and hasn’t slowed down but.

Keaschall has a minimum of one hit in all 5 video games, going 6-for-17 (.353) with three doubles, 4 walks and a hit-by-pitch. He’s reached base safely 11 instances in 5 video games, one in need of Kirby Puckett’s staff report 12 instances on base via 5 profession video games in 1984.

Luke Keaschall was down 0-2 to the reigning Cy Younger winner and ended up ripping an RBI double off one of many recreation’s elite sliders.pic.twitter.com/VpfoGLZlzM

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 19, 2025

Keaschall batted .297 with a .415 on-base proportion within the minors, drawing 90 walks in 148 video games. He’s proven that very same mature, disciplined strategy on the plate within the majors, shedding borderline pitches and utilizing a compact, direct swing to make constant, onerous contact, posting a lofty 1.029 OPS.

“I’m trying to have gritty at-bats,” Keaschall mentioned. “To find a way on base as much as possible. That’s the thing I probably value the most, is trying to get on base. When you feel good or you feel bad, if you can get on base, that’s a good way of being productive. It’s something I definitely value a lot.”

Keaschall has reached base in half of his plate appearances, and as soon as there, he’s wreaked havoc on opposing defenses with pace and aggressiveness, stealing 5 bases in 5 tries and scoring 4 runs so as to add a component the largely station-to-station Twins lineup has lacked in recent times.

“He’s settled in very quickly,” supervisor Rocco Baldelli mentioned. “It’s almost like there was no settling in; he just came in ready to play. He’s taking the game to the opposition. He’s showing everyone what he’s capable of. He’s hitting balls hard. And the way he runs the bases can transform a lineup.”

With two steals in Wednesday’s win over the Chicago White Sox, he tied the all-time MLB report for many stolen bases (5) by a participant after their first 5 profession video games, becoming a member of Luis Castillo (1996), Ced Landrum (1991), Donell Nixon (1987) and Vince Coleman (1985).

“I’ve seen young guys come up and play well,” Baldelli mentioned. “But coming up and taking things by storm on the bases, plus that type of approach at the plate, there’s not too many guys who do it.”

Luke Keaschall has recorded 5 stolen bases via the primary 5 MLB video games he has appeared in.

That’s tied for probably the most stolen bases since a minimum of 1901 pic.twitter.com/hdJ5chmqu7

— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2025

Previous to Keaschall operating wild, no participant in Twins historical past had greater than two steals of their first 5 video games. Excessive-end base-stealing is a talent the 2023 second-round draft choose confirmed in school (59 steals in 165 video games) and the minors (38 steals in 148 video games), however he’s ramped it up with the Twins.

“I feel like baserunning is all situational,” Keaschall mentioned Wednesday, after his second multi-steal recreation in as many nights. “If they give me the green light, I’m always comfortable. If they believe in me, then I believe in it, too.”

And the Twins positively imagine in him, with Keaschall, the second-youngest participant invited to take part in major-league camp, making an amazing first impression on Baldelli and the remainder of the teaching workers throughout this spring.

“From the moment he walked into the clubhouse, on the first day of spring training, he was just bouncing around,” Baldelli mentioned. “It’s all hard work and eagerness. He makes you wake up, sit up and pay attention. You give him the green light, and all of a sudden he’s gone.”

Keaschall was named Twins minor-league participant of the yr final season and emerged as a consensus top-100 prospect regardless of enjoying via a torn elbow ligament that restricted him principally to first base and designated hitter to handle his throwing workload.

Long run, Keaschall profiles as a succesful second baseman/middle fielder who might additionally see time within the outfield corners. For now, although, he’s but to be cleared to play the outfield and three of his 5 begins for the Twins have come at DH. It’s all a part of the plan eight months faraway from surgical procedure.

Keaschall began at second base Wednesday, committing his first error and likewise being helped by a scoop from first baseman Ty France on a protracted throw. However the Twins referred to as up Keaschall forward of schedule, figuring out his throwing and total fielding worth will not be totally again till subsequent season.

They believed Keaschall’s bat and legs had been able to make an impression, and thru 5 video games, they’ve been very, very proper.

(Photograph: David Berding / Getty Photographs)