Minnesota Twins promising rookie infielder/outfielder Luke Keaschall suffered a nondisplaced fracture in his right forearm on Friday, as reported by the club following the Twins’ 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The injury occurred when he was struck by a pitch from Kyle Hendricks in the first inning. Although Keaschall managed to run the bases after being hit, he was replaced during his next at-bat in the third inning.
According to Twins dugout reporter Audra Martin, the team has yet to announce a timeline for his recovery. While the nondisplaced nature of the fracture is promising, Keaschall is expected to be sidelined for a significant period, with recovery times for similar injuries typically ranging from slightly over a month to about six weeks, based on data from the Baseball Prospectus injury database.
This injury is a major setback for the struggling Twins, who currently hold a record of 10-16, just ahead of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central division. Keaschall had demonstrated strong performance prior to this injury, slashing .368/.538/.526 since his call-up, including tying an MLB record by stealing five bases in his first five games.
Keaschall was initially ranked as the 46th-best prospect in the game by CBS Sports prior to the start of the spring. Here’s an excerpt of what was noted:
“Keaschall, the 49th pick in 2023, reached Double-A in his first full professional season. He did so while providing above-average offense thanks to his barrel and zone awareness. Overall he notched 15 home runs and 23 stolen bases across 102 games, with most of his power coming to his pull side. Keaschall should continue to be an asset on offense. Defensively, his exact landing spot is unclear due to Tommy John surgery that prematurely ended his season, but he has also been experimented with in center field. Wherever he eventually settles, his strong offensive capability remains promising.”
Keaschall’s absence will be a significant loss for the Twins, who are in urgent need of effective contributors this season.
