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New York Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins win again behind rookie Luke Keaschall and ‘grandpa' Ryan Fitzgerald
MINNEAPOLIS — Since the Minnesota Twins called up Luke Keaschall on April 18, teammates, coaches and media members have made frequent note of his stoic demeanor and matter-of-fact reactions to his non-stop success. Despite being just 22, no moment has seemed too big. And despite season-ending elbow surgery last August and a broken forearm a week into his big-league career in April, Keaschall is off to one of the greatest starts to a career in Twins history. Advertisement Through 12 games, he's hit .415 with a 1.207 OPS and 12 RBIs , reaching base safely in all of them and notching at least one hit in each of the 11 games in which he logged an official at-bat. Yet while everyone around Keaschall has been marveling at his incredible performance, he's mostly just smiled, kept his head down and acted as if it were normal. But even he has his limits. Keaschall had a career-high three in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals, the last of which was a two-run walk-off homer to right-center field in the 11th inning. And as he rounded the bases, the emotions finally flowed out of him. Luke Keaschall #WALKOFF homer! The @Twins win it in the 11th! — MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2025 He pointed to the Twins' dugout as he rounded first base, leapt into the air while doing a fist pump as he neared second base, screamed all the way to third base and jumped directly into the celebratory chaos waiting for him at home plate. And then for good measure, Keaschall bear-hugged and chest-shoved veteran reliever Michael Tonkin, who wriggled out of jams in the 10th and 11th innings to clear the stage for the red-hot rookie's latest heroics. 'I'm usually calm, cool and collected,' Keaschall said, 'but I kind of lost my crap and went crazy. That was probably the most fun game I've ever played.' It continued a post-trade deadline roll for the Twins that no one saw coming after their fire sale sent 10 players packing, including Carlos Correa and basically the entire bullpen. They've won five of the last seven games, with back-to-back series wins for the first time since the All-Star break. 'We're trying to make things happen out there,' manager Rocco Baldelli said. 'We're trying to win a game by getting guys in spots where they can succeed. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't. No game is going to be perfect. But the way we're able to work together as a group right now feels good and looks good.' Advertisement Keaschall hit .368 with five steals in his first seven games, but a hit-by-pitch on April 25 sidelined him for over three months. He returned on Aug. 5, and has picked up right where he left off and then some, hitting .454 with two homers and 10 RBIs in five games, four of which the Twins have won. 'It's just about believing in the work you've put in, believing you can do it and staying confident,' Keaschall said. 'I was pretty bummed when I broke my forearm. I was doing pretty well at that time and I wanted to keep playing, but sometimes it doesn't go your way. Sometimes you've got to fight through it.' Sunday's dramatic, mistake-filled, back-and-forth win over the Royals played out in a way that was able to draw big emotions out of even Keaschall. Tonkin, who was the pitching hero, is a 35-year-old journeyman in his third different stint with the Twins, who originally drafted him out of high school in 2008. He spent much of this season rehabbing a shoulder injury alongside Keaschall at the team's year-round facility in Florida. 'We were on the IL together and he kept me in a good head space the whole time,' Keaschall said. 'So to go out there and watch him just destroy guys on the mound for two straight innings in a high-leverage situation, and then to be able to help him out and get the game-winning hit, was fun.' Ryan Fitzgerald's first Major League hit is a two-run homer! — MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2025 Before it became another 'Luke Keaschall Game,' it was shaping up to be the first Ryan Fitzgerald Game, as the 31-year-old journeyman infielder homered in the third inning for his first career MLB hit after nine seasons in the minors. Fitzgerald spent most of the season at Triple-A St. Paul, where he became fast friends with Keaschall. '(Fitzgerald) is the man,' Keaschall said. 'Finally getting his chance in the big leagues and showing he plays the game super hard, plays the game with his hair on fire. He's been really great to me. One of my best friends down there. It was pretty cool to see.' Advertisement Fitzgerald described Keaschall as 'like a little brother to me' and noted that he could tell the prospect was capable of greatness within just a few games of watching him with the Saints. 'I give him a lot of s— behind closed doors,' Fitzgerald said. 'And he calls me his grandpa. Just being around Keasch, I was like, 'Dude … you're going to be playing this game for a long time.'' That certainly seems like a safe assumption at this point, but in the meantime it's remarkable how much of an impact Keaschall has made in a short time. He's set Twins records through the first 12 games of a career for OPS (1.207), times on base (24), RBIs (12), stolen bases (5) and Win Probability Added (1.2). 'Right away, I could tell he's a ball player,' Fitzgerald said. 'It's guys like him that give you energy. That's who you build a team around.' And the Twins have repeatedly gotten unexpected contributions from unheralded players like Fitzgerald who were added to the roster after 40 percent of the team was traded at the deadline and have taken advantage of what might be their best — and maybe only — chance in the majors. Fitzgerald knew 'the window was closing' on his big-league dreams this offseason and was pondering an offer from a Mexican League team when the Twins called him in January with the promise of a Triple A roster spot. He didn't even get a spring training invite to major-league camp. 'I've been doing this a long time,' Fitzgerald said. 'Nine seasons in the minor leagues. Not everyone gets to make it this far. I'm just blessed to have the opportunity. This group of guys, too. They cleaned house last week, but it's fun. It's a good group of ball players and I think it's a good brand of baseball.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keaschall hits 2-run homer in 11th as Twins top Royals 5-3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Ryan Fitzgerald homered for his first career hit, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Sunday. With two outs, Keaschall hit a fastball from Royals closer Carlos Estévez (4-4) to the first row of seats in right-centerfield for Minnesota's ninth walk-off win of the season. It was the third hit of the day for Keaschall, who has reached base in 12 straight games to start his career. Michael Tonkin (1-0), Minnesota's seventh pitcher, pitched scoreless 10th and 11th innings for his first win since July 30, 2024. Adam Frazier had four hits and Maikel Garcia three for Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 20th home run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh. The Twins tied it in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers drove in Austin Martin, who tripled on an ill-advised diving attempt by John Rave with the ball getting past the left fielder and rolling to the wall. In his fourth career game, Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who signed a minor league contract with Minnesota in January, hit a third-inning slider from Ryan Bergert off the top of the right field wall for a 2-1 Twins lead. Key moment Seeking his second career five-hit game, Frazier flew out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Kansas City was 1 for 15 with men in scoring position and left 15 runners on base. Key stat The Royals lost for just the fourth time in 50 games when leading after seven innings. Minnesota won for the third time in 48 games when trailing after seven. Up next Kansas City LHP Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) hosts Nationals' RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00) on Monday. RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) gets the ball Monday for Minnesota against Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44). ___ AP MLB:
Reuters
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Twins' Luke Keaschall blasts walk-off in 11th against Royals
August 10 - Luke Keaschall hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Teammates lined up to exchange hugs and high fives with Keaschall, whose opposite-field blast to right gave Minnesota the series win. Keaschall finished 3-for-5 with a double, a homer and two RBIs. Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run homer for Kansas City, which could not hold on to a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. Adam Frazier went 4-for-5 with an RBI while Maikel Garcia reached base five times with two singles, a double and a pair of walks. Twins right-hander Michael Tonkin (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings as the sixth and final reliever to follow starter Jose Urena, who gave up one run on three hits in three innings. Royals right-hander Carlos Estevez (4-4) gave up two runs on one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Kansas City used five pitchers out of the bullpen after starter Ryan Bergert allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Keaschall provided a dramatic finish with two outs in the 11th. He tracked a 95-mph fastball that was up in the strike zone, and he muscled it to right for the second homer of his rookie campaign. Fellow rookie Ryan Fitzgerald also shined for the Twins. He cracked a two-run homer for his first big-league hit, which gave the Twins a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Teammates cheered from the top step of the dugout for Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who has appeared in 708 minor league games. He was 0-for-3 in his first three big-league games before Sunday, when he finished 2-for-4. Minnesota held on to a one-run lead until the Royals had a two-out rally in the seventh. Garcia started the comeback with a single to left. Pasquantino followed with a high-arching, two-run shot that landed just beyond the wall in right to put Kansas City on top 3-2. The blast marked Pasquantino's career-best 20th homer of the season. The Twins pulled even 3-3 in the eighth. Ryan Jeffers hit an RBI single to drive in Austin Martin, who tripled to the wall on a ball that left fielder John Rave dived for but missed. --Field Level Media
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Keaschall hits 2-run homer in 11th as Twins top Royals 5-3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Ryan Fitzgerald homered for his first career hit, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Sunday. With two outs, Keaschall hit a fastball from Royals closer Carlos Estévez (4-4) to the first row of seats in right-centerfield for Minnesota's ninth walk-off win of the season. It was the third hit of the day for Keaschall, who has reached base in 12 straight games to start his career. Michael Tonkin (1-0), Minnesota's seventh pitcher, pitched scoreless 10th and 11th innings for his first win since July 30, 2024. Adam Frazier had four hits and Maikel Garcia three for Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 20th home run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh. The Twins tied it in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers drove in Austin Martin, who tripled on an ill-advised diving attempt by John Rave with the ball getting past the left fielder and rolling to the wall. In his fourth career game, Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who signed a minor league contract with Minnesota in January, hit a third-inning slider from Ryan Bergert off the top of the right field wall for a 2-1 Twins lead. Key moment Seeking his second career five-hit game, Frazier flew out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Kansas City was 1 for 15 with men in scoring position and left 15 runners on base. Key stat The Royals lost for just the fourth time in 50 games when leading after seven innings. Minnesota won for the third time in 48 games when trailing after seven. Up next Kansas City LHP Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) hosts Nationals' RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00) on Monday. RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) gets the ball Monday for Minnesota against Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Twins' rookie Luke Keaschall has tied Mike Trout's MLB rookie record
Twins' rookie Luke Keaschall has tied Mike Trout's MLB rookie record originally appeared on The Sporting News Luke Keaschall has taken the major leagues by storm. The Minnesota Twins rookie is off to quite the start to his MLB career. So far, the 22-year old infielder has played in 10 games. He is 13-for-32, a .406 average. In that time, Keaschall has doubled five times, homered once, driven in 10 runs, walked five times, stolen five bases and only struck out twice. His on-base percentage is .513. His slugging percentage is .656. And his OPS adds up to 1.169. MORE: Cal Raleigh ties Hall of Famer's record with slump-busting, game-winning home run In the process, he's matched recent rookie history held only by Mike Trout. Keaschall's OBP above .500, his 10 RBI and his five steals are the key numbers. The only other MLB rookie in the last 20 years to have those stats over any 10-game span is Mike Trout in 2012, per OptaStats. Keaschall has actually done better than Trout here, too. Those weren't Trout's first 10 games. He had actually scuffled upon his initial call-up, whereas Keaschall has hit the ground running and then some. It's not a total surprise. Keaschall was ranked as a top-50 prospect in all of baseball before the season by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus. MORE: Guardians' Nic Enright reaches special personal milestone in comeback from cancer He was a second-round pick by the Twins out of Arizona State in 2023. No, he probably won't hit .406 for his MLB career. But anytime you can match something only Trout has done recently, that's quite the company to keep. The Twins may have traded away almost half their roster before the deadline. But it cleared the runway for Keaschall, and he's taking the chance and flying with it. MORE MLB NEWS: Roman Anthony gets paid by the Red Sox Umpires don't like Guardians star Steven Kwan Blue Jays' Ernie Clement shows lifelong hitting ability in historic night for Toronto Cubs' Matthew Boyd has mastered the balk pickoff move Angels closer Kenley Jansen reveals his retirement plans Yankees are paying 3 players a combined $43.8 million to not play for them
