This stat is important because batted balls hit between 8 and 32 degrees are the batted balls most likely to result in base hits. This is one of the reasons that Keaschall is hitting .329 so far this season. His expected batting average of .292 would also be among the best marks in baseball. That mark would be tied for 15th with Ben Rice if Keaschall were qualified.

Another reason to love Keaschall is his ability to limit strikeouts while also walking a lot. He is walking over 10% of the time while striking out less than 13% of the time. The only qualified hitters that are doing that are Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Schanuel.

He has shown a ton of poise in the box, especially for a rookie. His in-zone contact rate of 88.3% would be top 25 among qualified hitters, and his chase rate of 19.4% would be top 10. The only qualified hitters with better marks in those two stats, as well as whiff rate (17.3%), are TJ Friedl and Geraldo Perdomo.

Is there any cause for concern with Keaschall at the plate? Unfortunately, there is, and that concern is whether or not he can impact the baseball consistently. His barrel rate of just 5.8% would be among the worst in baseball if he were qualified. And that is despite hitting more baseballs in the launch angle sweet spot than almost anyone in baseball.

His average bat speed of just 66.8 mph is in the same class as guys like Xavier Edwards, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and just a touch slower than Geraldo Perdomo’s.

If you have noticed a trend in these comparisons, it is for good reason. If you are the Twins, what you can dream on with regards to the bat is Geraldo Perdomo. I am not going to go through every statistic, but go and take a peek at their Savant pages. A lot of their Statcast data is very similar.

Perdomo has been able to increase his slugging percentage this year by optimizing his launch angle. If Keaschall can continue to hit baseballs in that sweet spot, he should continue to overperform in the power department.

Intangibles

This is going to sound like something you would hear from an old head that has been around baseball forever. However, it certainly rings true with Keaschall. There is just something about watching the kid play. In other words, he has it. While it is hard to describe what it is, he just has it.

The best way to describe it is that he plays like his hair is on fire! He has been very good on the basepaths this season, racking up 12 stolen bases while only being caught twice. For reference, he has only reached base 62 times this season and has made 14 attempts at stealing a base.

If Keaschall had the minimum number plate appearances to be qualified (447) at his current OBP (.409), he would be on pace for 41 stolen base attempts. That would only trail Jose Caballero and Chandler Simpson.

Now that could be a bit of a stretch, as who knows if he could keep up that pace or if his OBP would remain that high. The point, however, remains that he is being incredibly aggressive on the bases. In 37 games, he is already second on the team in steals, only trailing Byron Buxton.

This is also for a guy who is fast, but not exactly the fastest on the planet. He currently sits in the 83rd percentile for sprint speed.

Beyond his work basepaths, when Keaschall was first called up in April, he seemed to inject a certain energy into every game he played. Again, it is not something that you can quantify, but you can see it when you watch him play.

The Twins didn’t play their best during those seven games in April, but I am sure fans would agree that there was a certain amount of hope that came with Keaschall as soon as he joined the big league squad.

Where Does Keaschall Fit Long Term?

The Twins have undoubtedly found a potential star in Luke Keaschall. The question, however, is where he fits into the team for the long haul. It currently appears that the Twins are going to have to make some decisions as to where Keaschall will fit and what his long-term role will be.

The first thing to consider is that this could be a potentially crowded infield next season. If Kaelen Culpepper continues on his current pace, he could be competing for a spot in the lineup early next year. That would add him to the current list of starters that includes Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, and Keaschall.

The second thing to consider is that the Twins do not have a first baseman. Kody Clemens has primarily manned the spot since the All-Star break. Yet, following a hot start, he has slowed down considerably, posting a 63 wRC+ since the break. The Twins should move on from him following the season, at least as an everyday player.

Keaschall has earned a starting spot on this team, and that is not in question. The question is whether first base would make more sense for both the Twins and Keaschall moving forward. He is not the best defender at second base, having already posted -2 OAA (Outs Above Average), but he does have 1 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved).

Once Kulpepper gets to the majors, likely next year, he will be the best defensive shortstop on the Twins’ roster. Brooks Lee, who is currently the everyday shortstop, has been abysmal there defensively. His defense would likely improve with a move to second base (hopefully).

This could all influence a move to first base for Keaschall. He does have some experience (albeit limited) at first base in the minors. This is just something to keep your eye on as the Twins progress to next season.

All in all, Keaschall looks like a potential All-Star in the making. He has all of the intangibles to be one. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a long career in Minnesota for the young infielder. There could even potentially be a pre-arb extension in his near future (wishful thinking).