According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the Philadelphia Phillies have signed free-agent outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year contract. Kepler has spent his entire 10-year MLB career playing with the Minnesota Twins. Last season, he saw his campaign cut short due to left-knee tendinitis he suffered in early September. Across 105 games in 2024, the veteran outfielder posted a .253/.302/.380 slash line with 21 doubles, eight home runs, 42 RBI and one swiped bag. Under the hood, he generated a below-average 36.8% hard-hit rate and 6.2% barrel rate. In addition, he posted a low .301 xwOBA, which was his lowest mark since the 2019 season. Fantasy managers should expect Kepler to operate as a depth outfielder in Philadelphia who will contend for a starting role in spring training.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) has been transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list on Friday. That means Kepler is officially done for the 2024 season. The left-handed slugger has been sidelined since the beginning of September due to a lingering knee issue. The Twins were hopeful he could contribute down the stretch of the season, but that's not going to happen. He'll finish the season with a .253 batting average with eight home runs and 42 RBI across 105 games. The 31-year-old is set to enter free agency this winter and could be forced to take a prove-it deal after a down year in 2024.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (hip, knee) isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list in the regular season, which ends this Sunday, according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Knee tendinitis sent Kepler to the IL at the beginning of the month, and he also received a cortisone injection for his hip pain last week. If the Twins secure a spot in the postseason this week, the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder could rejoin them for a playoff run in October. The Twins probably aren't banking on Kepler being a big part of their offense if they are playing in October, though, as he battled injuries all year long and has hit a very mediocre .253/.302/.380 with only eight home runs, 42 RBI and 43 runs scored in 368 at-bats over 399 plate appearances. Since the All-Star break, Kepler has hit .246 (30-for-122) with two homers, 10 RBI and 28 K's in 33 games.
Twins Hope To Get Max Kepler Back For Final Homestand
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler's (hip, knee) knee is doing better, but he experienced soreness in his hip area that led to him getting a cortisone injection on Monday, according to president of baseball operations Derek Falvey. The hope is that Kepler can get into minor-league rehab games with Triple-A St. Paul and possibly return to the Twins for their final homestand against the Miami Marlins and Baltimore Orioles that runs from Tuesday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 29. The Twins are trying to ramp the 31-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder for a possible postseason run in October. He has been dealing with tendinitis in his knee since early September, although his hip injury is now the bigger concern. Kepler is having a down year with only eight homers and a .682 OPS in 105 games, but the Twins are still hoping he can be an option for them against right-handed pitchers to close out the year.
The Minnesota Twins placed outfielder Max Kepler (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with left-patellar tendinitis and recalled rookie outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. from the minors in a corresponding move. Pitcher Kody Funderbunk (oblique) was moved to the 60-day IL to add Keirsey to the 40-man roster. Kepler had been dealing with a knee injury for a while and had only played in three of the team's last 11 games, so a move to put him on the IL made sense. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter has been a disappointment in 2024, but the Twins will likely just be looking to get him healthy for a potential playoff run now. Keirsey, who will be making his MLB debut, will likely just be a bench player in Minnesota for the time being, with most of the extra playing time in right field going to Matt Wallner. Wallner, also a lefty hitter, has batted .261 (42-for-161) on the year with 10 homers and 28 RBI.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) is out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Kepler will miss his second straight game after he was scratched from Monday's lineup with more soreness in his left knee. In his place, rookie Michael Helman will make his major-league debut, starting in right field and batting ninth against Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs. It's an issue that Kepler has been dealing with recently. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. The 31-year-old German has provided very little to fantasy managers in 2024 with a .253/.302/.380 slash line with a below-average .682 OPS and just eight homers and 42 RBI in 368 at-bats. Helman, a former 11th-round pick in 2018 out of Texas A&M, got the call-up to the big leagues after hitting .283 with 13 home runs, 43 RBI and 10 steals in 63 games for Triple-A St. Paul this year.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (undisclosed) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The team hasn't given a reason why Kepler was scratched, but it's probably related to his lingering knee issue. For now, fantasy managers should consider Kepler as day-to-day until further notice. Carlos Santana will replace him in the lineup, while Trevor Larnach takes over the designated hitter spot against right-hander Zack Littell. Larnach has been a surprisingly decent bat for the Twins this season. He's hitting .253 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI, so he'll probably see more time at DH until Kepler returns. UPDATE: Kepler was scratched with left-knee soreness after missing time last week with the same injury.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 31-year-old outfielder continues to deal with a lingering left knee issue. The hope is that Kepler can rest on Friday and be available to play this weekend. For now, fantasy managers should consider Kepler as day-to-day. Matt Wallner will play right field and bat cleanup against right-hander Kevin Gausman on Friday. Wallner has eight hits, two home runs, and three RBI over his last five games. He's worth a look as a streaming option until Kepler is back in the mix.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) is starting in right field and is batting sixth against Atlanta Braves rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach at Target Field on Tuesday. Kepler will make a return to the lineup for Minnesota after missing the previous two games with left-knee soreness. The 31-year-old left-handed hitter won't be a popular DFS play in his return given his recent slump. He's hitting only .236 (17-for-72) with two home runs, three doubles, six RBI and 16 strikeouts in 19 games in the month of August but has also gone 4-for-30 (.133) in his last eight games since Aug. 15. Kepler is always a better bet against right-handed pitching, but he's done very little for fantasy managers in 2024 with a .259/.309/.392 slash line and only eight home runs, 42 RBI and 42 runs scored in 355 at-bats.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Max Kepler (knee) was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to left-knee soreness, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. As a result, he was replaced by Manuel Margot. It is still unclear how severe the injury is, so fantasy managers should consider the 31-year-old to be day-to-day for the time being. If Kepler were to miss any significant period of time, Margot would be a strong candidate to see the majority of starts in right field, with Matt Wallner occasionally slotting in when he is not serving as the designated hitter. Before the injury, Kepler carried a .236 average this month with an overall .259/.309/.392 slash line this summer.
Max Kepler
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