The Minnesota Twins parted ways with one of their longest-tenured players when He officially signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. His departure, however, represents more than just a vacancy in the outfield.
Kepler was a key member of one of the most notable international signing classes in Twins history, joining Miguel Sanó and Jorge Polanco in 2009. Together, they played pivotal roles on the Bomba Squad in 2019, though their time in Minnesota leaves fans wondering “what could have been.”
Kepler was part of a trio of players the Twins secured in 2009. Discovered as a 14-year-old from Germany, Kepler joined the Twins through an international signing, alongside Sanó and Polanco. All three progressed through the organization together, with Polanco debuting first in 2014, followed by Sanó and Kepler in 2015. By 2016, they were all regulars in the lineup, with Sanó earning an All-Star selection in 2017 after hitting .264/.352/.507 with 28 home runs and 77 RBIs.
The peak for all three came in 2019. Kepler and Polanco both signed five-year contract extensions ahead of the season, with Polanco’s valued at $25.75 million and Kepler’s at $35 million. This vote of confidence resulted in career-best performances from both players, with Polanco starting at shortstop in the All-Star Game and Kepler hitting a career-high 36 home runs and 90 RBIs. Sanó also had a standout season, hitting .247/.346/.576 with 34 home runs and 79 RBIs, earning a three-year, $30 million contract before the 2020 season.
Despite their promising 2019 campaign, the trio never managed to replicate that success. Sanó struggled through a challenging three-year stretch, posting just .207/.295/.441 with 44 home runs and 103 RBIs from 2020 to 2022, and finished his Twins career with a dismal 2022. Polanco, despite a strong 2021 season, was hampered by injuries in 2022 and 2023 before being traded to the Seattle Mariners and later becoming a free agent.
Kepler, in particular, leaves behind a mixed legacy. Over his 10 seasons with the Twins, he showed flashes of potential but never fully lived up to expectations. The shift in defensive strategy hindered his performance, and his batting stats declined over the last five seasons, though a strong second half in 2023 stood out. He never surpassed 3.0 WAR after posting 3.5 WAR in 2018 and 4.0 WAR in 2019, with his OPS+ of 102 reflecting average hitting. His defense, however, kept him in the lineup, even though he struggled against left-handed pitchers throughout his career.
Together, the trio was part of a team that repeatedly fell short in the postseason. The Twins were eliminated in the first round of the 2020 playoffs, missed the playoffs in 2021 and 2022, and finally broke their postseason drought without Sanó in 2023.
The 2009 international signing class remains a remarkable achievement for the Twins, with all three players contributing to the franchise. However, their combined potential was never fully realized due to the team’s struggles in the postseason and the uneven careers they had. If fans from 2019 could have foreseen the path these players would take, they might have been skeptical. Yet, there’s still a possibility that Kepler, Polanco, and Sanó may one day be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame, leaving a bittersweet feeling for fans who are sad to see Kepler go but hopeful for the future.
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