The Philadelphia Phillies were searching for an outfielder this offseason. It’s a position that has haunted them while other groups of the roster have played at a high level. The Phillies wanted to add a strong contributor to help them contend for the club’s first World Series title since 2008.

The Phillies hope they have found that solution in their newest outfield acquisition, Max Kepler. Kepler will turn 32 next month and agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal. He’s been named the everyday left fielder for the Phillies in 2025.

When it came to outfield options, Kepler wasn’t the first name expected to be signed. Injury concerns and a drop in offensive output have been the highlight of the last few seasons for Kepler. Next season could have a different tone with his new outlook on playing for a new club and how he can help the Phillies win.

Per Steamer projections on FanGraphs, in his new home at Citizens Bank Park, Kepler is projected to hit .244 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 117 games. The projections would be a solid addition to the Phillies outfield, which has scuffled offensively. If Kepler can retain his defensive prowess, he can surprise many with his contributions and prove he can still perform at a high level in his career.

Kepler played his first 10 MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins and now is planning to prove himself. He has proven in past seasons he can play and can provide pop in a lineup. He’s ready for the next chapter and ready to put in the work to get ready for the upcoming season. According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, he’s ready to join a lineup that is built for October.

“There’s a bunch of ballers on that team that I think I would learn from and just enjoy watching work,” Kepler said, per Zolecki.

Kepler has also carried the burden of playing through injuries as of recently. Last season with the Twins, he batted .253 with eight home runs, 42 RBI and a .682 OPS, the second-lowest OPS in his career. Kepler had surgery in early October to address an abdominal issue that he believes hindered his playing ability, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. He’ll be healthy and plans to visit Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long before the start of spring training.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to hone in on some things before camp starts,” Kepler said.

Playing his home games at Citizens Bank Park will play a factor in his revamped approach. Kepler will be looking to adjust a few things and take a more balanced approach to hitting both left- and right-handed pitching. He has had his struggles against lefties but feels confident it can be tweaked to better his output next season.

“I think once a lefty [batter] routinely, consistently sees a lefty [pitcher], just like righties get to see righties, it comes easier,” Kepler said. “I hope I get the consistency to show and prove that I can hit lefties because I’m certain I can hit lefties.”

A unique hurdle for Kepler is that in his 1,034 career games, he has never played left field. Just another thing to work on down in Clearwater as he gets himself acquainted with the Phillies squad. His signing wasn’t expected at first, but he looks motivated to impress his new club and do everything he can to stay on the field. He’s looking to prove his worth to his new fan base and the championship-caliber team he gets to join in less than a month.