Thread: Max Kepler - My Adopted Prospect

Prospect Info and Scouting Report

Max Kepler / OF, MIN
Born 2/10/1993 (19 yrs old)
Berlin, Germany

Height 6-4
Weight 180
Bats/Throws L/L
549

---

ScoutingBook Combine Ranking (4/23/2012): #449
MiLB.com Season Preview: Unranked or n/a
Scout.com/FOX Sports: Unranked or n/a
ESPN: Unranked or n/a
The Sporting News: Unranked or n/a
Baseball America 2012: Unranked or n/a
Baseball Prospectus: Unranked or n/a

---

Max Kepler-Rozycki is a big, strong, German-born outfielder deep in the Minnesota Twins system. He gets high marks from scouts for his instincts, baseball build and raw tools. At the same time, he's very young and hasn't established much of a baseline in professional play yet: we haven't yet seen him in anything higher than Appy-League play (.262/.347/.366 in only 191 at-bats). In that time, Kepler showed decent contact ability and good speed, coupled with some pretty rough but promising defense. He's been tested in each outfield position, and seems most comfortable as a left-fielder, though that has to be written in the faintest of pencil at this point. Give Kepler a couple of years, then check back to see whether he's blossomed enough that we can start making puns about stars yet.

kepler_display_image.jpg

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...089373&v=3 A short review on Kepler from mlb.com.


Here's a WSJ from a couple years ago that gives some good background info on the Baryshnikov in Baseball Cleats . It is Kepler's unique background that led me to adopt him as my prospect. He is currently in extended spring training, but should "hopefully" be playing with the Snappers at some point in the near future.

Before tonight's game, I happened to be listening to the radio broadcast on 1500. I'm not sure who the interview was with (Rantz, maybe?) because I only caught the tail end. In a nutshell, the discussion was about how all the players at EST want to get out of Fort Myers and head to Elizabethton. Kepler's name was brought up and the response was that Kepler almost made the trip to Beloit and that he might only be an injury away from heading there anyway. Just thought that was interesting.

Max is now 19 and the excuse of being young is no longer valid if he is a true prospect.
Starter out last year 0-13 after 3 games (2-23 after 5gms---.286 after ) & is 0-13 after 3 games this year.
I realize he's young but you have to evenually produce something.....average/power/speed/etc & he's shown none

Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

Max is now 19 and the excuse of being young is no longer valid if he is a true prospect.
Starter out last year 0-13 after 3 games (2-23 after 5gms---.286 after ) & is 0-13 after 3 games this year.
I realize he's young but you have to evenually produce something.....average/power/speed/etc & he's shown none

I don't know how hard he's hitting the ball but he has only struck out once in 13 AB's so far, so bad luck could be a factor in his 0-13 start. Otherwise I agree with you. Hew has to start doing something if he is to maintain his high prospect status.

since the start, 14-40 with 9bb 4k for a .350/.469/.475 line

Again..since the 0-13....16gms 19/57 for a .333/.506/.439 16runs 10rbi 14bb 6k 6hbp. The 14bb vs 6K is very nice but he needs to keep this up.

Is he the most interesting prospect the Twins have? Could end up anywhere between flaming out in A ball to becoming a superstar.

5/11 over last 3gms w/double triple 2rbi 2bb
Since the 0/13 first 3.... 19gms 24/68 .353/.511/.485 16runs 3doubles 3 triples 12rbi 16bb 6k 6hbp
Pretty impressive.....when should he see the great state of Wisconsin???

Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

when should he see the great state of Wisconsin???

Next year, I'd imagine.

Arcia spent his year 19 entirely in ELIZ (64gms) for comparison purposes, but this is Keplars 2nd yr in the lg (72gms) & 3rd overall. He is gonna have to be protected on 40man in 2 yrs after this. That is a gamble you have to take with signing a 16 yr old, so I think they may need to take a different approach. Not like the kid isnt doin EVERYTHING he needs to do (after the 0/13).
By 'great state of Wisconsin', I am bein sarcastic & know they probably wont let him into the state till he can legally drink (not like it stops anyone else)

Kepler is an interesting case. As was mentioned above, he is very intriguing because he could top out in A-Ball or a big league regular. He's so talented, but he's so raw. That's why I think that Elizabethton is where he should be. That said, because he is such a high profile prospect, signed at 16, it will be interesting to see how that plays out too.

Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

Again..since the 0-13....16gms 19/57 for a .333/.506/.439 16runs 10rbi 14bb 6k 6hbp. The 14bb vs 6K is very nice but he needs to keep this up.

I will be really impressed if he keeps it up through the next two levels of the minors but until then I am taking a wait and see approach.

Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

Kepler is an interesting case. As was mentioned above, he is very intriguing because he could top out in A-Ball or a big league regular. He's so talented, but he's so raw. That's why I think that Elizabethton is where he should be. That said, because he is such a high profile prospect, signed at 16, it will be interesting to see how that plays out too.

thought you were thinking in spring training that Keplar shoulda been in Beloit to start season OR at least in Beloit when SS started---Niko also??? Why the philosiphy change?

Sweet - a grand slam tonight!

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats...lurok_elirok_1

I was getting a little concerned about his lack of power - I believe this is only his 2nd home run in 2+ years. Obviously one home run isn't enough to quell any concerns, but it's still nice to see. Given that he's only 19, is there plenty of time for him to develop more power, or is his like of home runs a concern to others?

BA included him in the prospect hot sheet today.
"Because the Twins don't have a short-season club, CF Max Kepler is getting a second run through the Appalachian League. If you're going to repeat a level, it pays to dominate it, and that's what Kepler is doing now. He had four extra-base hits in his first 21 games, then produced five extra-base hits in a four-game stretch, including home runs in three straight games. The 19-year-old has the sixth-highest OPS in the league (.958) and nearly a 2-1 walk-strikeout ratio"

Originally Posted by Sssuperdave

Sweet - a grand slam tonight!

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats...lurok_elirok_1

I was getting a little concerned about his lack of power - I believe this is only his 2nd home run in 2+ years. Obviously one home run isn't enough to quell any concerns, but it's still nice to see. Given that he's only 19, is there plenty of time for him to develop more power, or is his like of home runs a concern to others?

The early scouting reports suggested that he would hit a lot of groundballs and line drives which would limit his home run totals. Combine that with his plate discipline and you are looking at a Joe Mauer starter package as a hitter. Ultimately it limits his upside but he's likely to be a plus defender on the corners or decent in center and it still carries a lot of value.

Originally Posted by kab21

The early scouting reports suggested that he would hit a lot of groundballs and line drives which would limit his home run totals. Combine that with his plate discipline and you are looking at a Joe Mauer starter package as a hitter. Ultimately it limits his upside but he's likely to be a plus defender on the corners or decent in center and it still carries a lot of value.

As long as he has gap power than I am not too concerned about the home run totals.

A Joe Mauer hitter without the killing of his legs . . .

That would be a HIGH ceiling for Kepler. A future of Kepler, Buxton, and Hicks/Benson??

Arcia also