The Minnesota Twins have already experienced injury problems in the first week of the 2024 MLB regular season. Right fielder Max Kepler had to leave the game at the top of the eighth inning after hitting a pitch foul off his knee, costing the Twins their Opening Day matchup against the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals, 4-1.
Although Kepler’s injury did not result in a fracture, which would have prevented him from being out for months, things are still not looking good for the Twins right fielder. MLB.com reports that although Kepler is “in the clear from a medical standpoint,” according to Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey, he hasn’t been able to get over his pain to the point where he feels comfortable running.
Therefore, it appears that if Max Kepler is still unable to play after today’s off-day, the Twins may need to place him on the Injured List.
It seems foolish for the Twins to send Kepler back too soon given how early in the season he may require additional time to recover. The baseball season is a marathon in the making, and there’s no sense in starting out fast and running the danger of falling behind later on.
Max Kepler: an underestimated (possible) demise
Max Kepler might be placed on the 10-day injured list by the Twins. Running is one of the most crucial aspects of baseball, thus there is absolutely no need for Kepler to remain on the field if he is unable to run.
In the unlikely event that Kepler needs to miss additional time, the Twins do have some strong alternatives to attempt and replace his productivity. However, Kepler has been a mainstay in the Minnesota lineup for many years due to his consistency.
Kepler is a formidable force at the plate, particularly when he is rolling. He has always had some good pop. Kepler hasn’t finished a season with less than 2.0 WAR (not counting COVID-19 short seasons) thanks to his slugging (Fangraphs).
