When Max Kepler inked his one-year $10 million deal with the Phillies last winter, expectations were high and the front office thought he would be an immediate contributor.
The veteran outfielder was poised to be the club’s everyday left fielder, bringing experience and left-handed pop to a lineup hungry for consistency. As this season as unfolded, Kepler’s journey has been anything but smooth and his wide ride has everyone wondering which Kepler they will get on a night to night basis.
A rocky start
Kepler’s early season numbers were sobering, with him struggling at the plate. He not only struggled to get on base, he failed to show the power the team was expecting to see from him. In April, he hit .238 with two homeruns and six runs batted in. In May, his average was worse, dropping to .188 and slugged just three homers. His poor performance on offense led him taking on a platoon role, playing against right-handed starting pitchers and being pinch hit for later in games.
He started the season batting 5th or 6th but his play has forced manager Rob Thomson to slot him in the bottom of the order. His play forced the Phillies’ skipper to platoon him but he also was vocal about his role on the team and how he thought he was signed to be the everyday left fielder, pointing towards platooning affecting his rhythm at the plate.
When speaking with Matt Gelb of the Athletic, Kepler mentioned “The biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely. That’s the biggest challenge…I was told I was going to be the starting left fielder.”
Glimmers of hope
The left handed slugger seemed to be on his way out of Philadelphia as the MLB trade deadline approached. He could either be replaced via trade or internal promotion but the trade deadline came and went, with Kepler still a Phillie. The Phillies didn’t promote prospect Justin Crawford to take his spot but they did make a trade for outfielder Harrison Bader, who played majority of his time in center field.
With Bader expected to man center field, Brandon Marsh would be a lock to play left field everyday, leaving Kepler out of the outfield plans. Rob Thomson tried an experiment and did a double platoon in left and center field the first six games after the trade deadline, seemingly giving Kepler one last chance to prove he belonged on the 26 man roster.
In a 5-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles, he went 2-4 with a homerun and a double leading the team to victory, securing a series victory. Two games later, he had a massive double against the Texas Rangers in the 7th inning against Jacob DeGrom to help the Phillies to take the lead late. Jhoan Duran would eventually close the door on the Rangers and the Phillies would secure another series victory. His recent play at the plate has likely kept him on the roster and in a platoon, even though many fans don’t feel like it is an ideal situation.
Mental toughness
Kepler’s up and down season has surely tested his mental toughness, especially playing in a city like Philadelphia. The expectations for the Phils and for him are high and the fans are known to let players know when they are not playing up to the standards expected. His relationship with the fans have been complex, hearing plenty of boos during the last month or so. After his performance against Baltimore, he mentioned his interactions with the fans.
“Sometimes I think the boos are their love language”, he said jokingly during his postgame interview with Tom McCarthy and John Kruk. He acknowledged the city’s passionate and demanding nature while also embracing the challenge, leaning on his teammates and staff to stay grounded.
“I’m just happy to still be here and watch these guys ball,” he said after a recent win. “At the end of the day, we got a W, and I think the Mets just lost, so good day”.
With the Phillies holding a lead in the NL East and roughly 40 games left in the regular season, Kepler’s role remains fluid. Whether he continues to platoon or earns more consistent starts, his veteran presence and flashes of power could prove pivotal down the stretch.
For now, Max Kepler’s season is a study in perseverance and a reminder that baseball is as much about grit as it is about glory.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
