ATLANTA 每 Luke Keaschall broke into the big leagues in a big way in the Twins' 6-4 loss to the Braves on Friday night at Truist Park.
The Twins＊ No. 3 prospect (MLB Pipeline No. 57 overall) 每 whose contract was selected from Triple-A St. Paul prior to the game 每 went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in his first MLB at-bat in the second inning and a double and a run in the fourth for the Twins, who dropped the series opener.
The 22-year-old Keaschall, who is listed as a second baseman, outfielder and first baseman, was a second-round pick (49th overall) out of Arizona State in the 2023 Draft. He batted eighth and was the DH in his debut.
On the second pitch of his first at-bat, Keaschall hit an opposite-field bloop single to right field and drove in catcher Ryan Jeffers from third.
※It was awesome,§ Keaschall said. §I was just trying to get the ball to the outfield. I wasn＊t swinging at the best pitches to get the ball to the outfield. But I got the job done, and I was just happy I scored a run.§
It didn＊t take long for Keaschall to earn his first MLB stolen base, as he swiped second on Braves pitcher Bryce Elder and catcher Sean Murphy two batters later.
※We knew how quick [Elder] was to the plate,§ Keaschall said. ※We got the opportunity, we were on the same page, me and [third-base coach] Tommy [Watkins] and [first-base coach] Ramon [Borrego]. They gave me the green light, and I went for it.§
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli had confidence in Keaschall＊s speed when he gave the rookie the green light.
※Green light? Yes. And he was ready,§ Baldelli said. ※Sometimes you give guys the green light, and they＊re not wanting to really do something. He＊s going to be a guy that＊s always going to want to do something.
※He accelerated really good on that. The throw was decent, and he outruns the ball with his speed. I like the aggressiveness. We＊ve been running the bases lately, and it＊s led to runs.§
After Keaschall reached base a second time with a double down the left-field line, he exhibited his speed again when he scored from third on an Edouard Julien sacrifice fly to Braves center fielder Michael Harris II. Harris was running in on the ball and made a competitive throw, but Keaschall slid in just ahead of Murphy＊s tag attempt.
※It＊s just exciting,§ Keaschall said. ※[Watkins] had my back and was telling me when to go and all that good stuff. I got a good jump. I haven＊t even seen where he threw the ball yet, but I＊m sure it was a good throw and I scored a run. They told me to go, so I was going.§
Keaschall put the ball in play all four times to the plate. He hit a 100.5 mph groundout off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias for the second out in the ninth, getting robbed of a third hit by third baseman Austin Riley.
※He＊s a good pitcher and a good closer and well-known around the league,§ Keaschall said of Iglesias. ※It＊s always good to go up there and compete against those guys. You want to play against the best. I＊m just happy I hit the ball hard. I wish I found a hole, but that＊s baseball sometimes.§
Keaschall＊s debut did not have a happy ending, though. The Twins blew a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning as Minnesota＊s relief corps allowed five runs on four hits and the Braves batted around. Fellow rookie Drake Baldwin＊s two-run pinch-hit single put Atlanta ahead.
※[It＊s messed up] a lot because I love to win,§ Keaschall said. ※You play to win every day, and I don＊t like losing. At the same time, I＊m happy to be here and happy to be with a great group of guys. We＊re going to bounce back tomorrow and be even better.§
Keaschall, who is from Watsonville, Calif., had family in attendance in Atlanta.
※My girlfriend, my parents, her parents, my brother, my grandpa and one of my cousins [made the trip to Atlanta],§ Keaschall said. ※Mostly everybody is from California, except my brother is from Arizona.§
Keaschall＊s family was shown on the television broadcast multiple times throughout the game.
※Yeah, I＊m sure my girlfriend was front and center, too,§ Keaschall said.
After the game, Keaschall met with family outside of the Twins＊ clubhouse and took photos on the field.
※They were excited,§ Keaschall said. ※They were great. They were happy to be here and got pictures. They＊re super-stoked and happy to see me be successful.§