The Twins announced that outfielder Max Kepler and first baseman Miguel Sano have been placed on the 10-day injured list. Kepler has a toe fracture, while Sano is dealing with left knee inflammation. In corresponding moves, outfielder Mark Contreras was called up from Triple-A and the Twins selected the contract of infielder Tim Beckham from Triple-A, while Bailey Ober was moved to the 60-day IL to create a 40-man roster spot for Beckham.
Kepler hasn’t played since he was hit by a pitch on July 24, and his IL placement is retroactive to the 27th. While he hasn’t been on the field, Kepler has been taking part in limited baseball activities and even running drills, so it is possible he might only miss the minimum 10 days if he continues to show good progress (or if the fracture doesn’t continue to limit his ability to run).
It has been a curious year for Kepler, who has hit .244/.344/.390 over 337 plate appearances, good for an above-average 113 wRC+. However, between a wealth of excellent Statcast metrics and a .361 xwOBA, Kepler is actually underachieving compared to what he “should” be hitting based on his advanced numbers. For the third straight season, opponents are deploying shifts against Kepler almost every time he steps to the plate, which has largely neutralized much of Kepler’s hard contact.
Still, Kepler has been a very productive player overall, between his still-solid batting numbers and his excellent right field glove. His absence will further hamper a Minnesota outfield that has already been shorthanded by Byron Buxton’s lingering knee issues, as Buxton has been getting a lot of DH time rather than his customary spot in center field. The left-handed hitting Contreras will fill Kepler’s role to some extent, as the Twins will now be juggling Buxton, Nick Gordon, Alex Kirilloff and reserves Contreras, Gilberto Celestino, and Kyle Garlick around the three outfield spots.
Sano was only just activated from the 60-day IL earlier this week, making it troubling that he has already been sidelined again by issues with his surgically-repaired knee. His latest injury actually occurred when Sano was on his minor league rehab assignment, as Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park) that Sano hurt his knee while sliding in his last rehab game. An MRI is scheduled for Sano on Monday.
Sano underwent his surgery in early May, and has only played in 20 games this season, posting a measly .345 OPS over 71 PA. There was some thought that the Twins might move on from Sano entirely given that he now seems like the odd man out on the roster, yet this latest IL placement will hold off any decisions on that front. If Monday’s MRI reveals bad news, it could mark the end of Sano’s 2022 season, and quite likely his Minnesota tenure — the Twins will very likely buy out (for $2.75MM) their $14MM club option Sano for the 2023 season.
Beckham signed a minor league deal with the Twins in February, and he might now be in line for his first taste of MLB action since 2019. The former first overall pick didn’t play anywhere during the canceled 2020 minor league season, and spent all of 2021 in the White Sox organization with their Triple-A affiliate. Beckham has played all over the infield and also seen some time as a left fielder in his career, so he’ll provide the Twins with some utility depth off the bench.
Time to DFA Sano or trade him for a dozen baseballs.
Overpay
Time to DFA Sano or trade him for a dozen baseballs. I’m beginning to wonder if the Twins should be sellers.
They’re in first place in the division and you think they should sell?
Getting rid of Sano isn’t really selling. He’s actually been impressively terrible this year.
I’d take him on my team
Consider both of them, do you really think they’re going to win you a WS?
For now. But that is not sayin a lot. They would be in fourth place in the Eastern division and third place in the western division.
Tim Beckham is back once again, talk about one of the most underwhelming #1 overall picks
Brian Bullington
He is having a monster season in AAA St. Paul. Maybe some of that lightning will strike a few miles away at Target field too
Personally glad to see him back. The MLB draft is not like others–no guarantees, which is why tanking is questionable. Go get ’em, Tim…hope you can stick!
Sano sure worked out good for them.
I could be wrong, but it seems like they had a lot of opportunities to trade him as a prospect and decided to hold on to him instead.
Ok captain hindsight.
Sano needs to be shown the door.
bro, mets fan here, didn’t sano just come back???
He did just come back, for a cup of coffee. Back to the DL he goes.
0 for 6 4ks now we get to pretend it’s because he’s hurt instead of just a bad baseball player
Yes Sanoman just came back and melted in the heat once again. Every twins fan knows he should be released but so many expect another David Ortiz.
Well deserved callup for Beckham.
I think the twins should be very careful if they do any trades. Even if they somehow hung on to division they are probably going nowhere and may even extend their losing streak in the playoffs and be more embarrassed. No momentum for this team right now.
When is Sano not on the DL?
Sayno isn’t on the DL when buxton is..
Lo those many moons ago.. i said.. trade him for Pitching… Pitching wins championships more often than not… home runs… not so much..
That fat ass sano was just on the DL like days ago WTF. Twins deserve better
Go get Mahle and Drury or Solano.
The pitcher who hit Kepler should be immediately suspended and remain so for the entire time that Kepler is unable to perform at the MLB level. Additionally, the pitcher should also be suspended for an additional 6 days (7/24 – 7/30).. The days of the pitcher and his team not receiving ANY repercussions for injuring a player from an opposing team by plunking him are long past. The antiquated argument that these instances are “just part of the game” are both outdated and ludicrous.
As I said in another thread about Sano, he can’t stay on the field long enough to be effective. Time to dump him and eat the $3M owed to him in 2023.
Sano has a 3.25 buyout or 14.25 for next year. Easy call.
Sano has a 3.25 buyout or a 14.25 salary in ‘23. Easy call.
while Sano is horrible, fat and a waste of a roster spot, Kepler, from the same international signing class, is almost as bad. dude looks like he’s just out there for the paycheck. hit by pitch on the pinkie toe….how about getting out of the way? it was a big looking curveball.