The list of highlights for the Twins this season is few and far between.
Byron Buxton has stayed relatively healthy and has produced a season that should get him some down-ballot Most Valuable Player votes. Joe Ryan became an all-star for the first time in his career. And in between injuries, Pablo López put together a solid season.
And then there’s Luke Keaschall.
Keaschall, one of the organization’s top prospects heading into the season, provided the Twins with a much-needed spark in his rookie season and looked every bit like a player that the Twins can build around. But his rookie season came to an end on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas, when he sprained his left thumb sliding into second base for his 14th steal of the season.
The second baseman stayed in the game initially before eventually coming out. The Twins sent him for imaging on Wednesday, and later in the day manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters in Texas that surgery was “likely at this point.” Keaschall is expected to see a hand specialist next week.
“I know I’m going to be the same player at the end of it,” Keaschall told reporters in Texas. “Trying to keep a positive outlook on it knowing that the offseason is right around the corner. So I mean timing-wise, it’s probably the best case scenario, so I’m trying to take the silver lining.”
The injury puts a close to his rookie season during which he hit .302 with a .382 on-base percentage and a .827 OPS. His 129 OPS+ is a number that is 29 percent better than the league-average hitter. Keaschall posted a 2.1 bWAR (Wins Above Replacement per Baseball Reference), which was third on the team among position players, impressive considering he played in just 49 games.
Called up in April, Keaschall missed most of the summer with a fractured forearm after getting hit by a Kyle Hendricks pitch late that month. He returned after more than three months in August and picked up right where he left off as he put together a strong rookie campaign.
“I’m just happy I got the opportunity to be here and be with a good group of guys and go out there and compete every day,” Keaschall told reporters in Texas. “I like to try to stay in the present moment. I feel like I did a good job of that this year, just trying to maximize each day and keep trying to do it next year and build off of it and take what I learned this year and build off it.
Briefly
Starting pitcher David Festa traveled with the team to Texas and met with Dr. Gregory Pearl on Tuesday. Festa is set to get Botox injections on Thursday, which should help ease the achiness he has been feeling in his shoulder. He has been on the injured list since July 23. … Bailey Ober will face former Twin Tyler Mahle on Thursday in the series finale in Texas. … The Twins will then send Joe Ryan, Mick Abel and Simeon Woods Richardson to the mound in Philadelphia over the weekend. The Twins acquired Abel in July as part of the return for closer Jhoan Duran.
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