StaTuesday: Kepler joins elite Twins company with three-homer game
Just four Minnesota Twins players had hit three home runs in a single game before Monday night.
Max Kepler added one more name to that list: His own.
The Twins' rookie right fielder homered in his first three at-bats of Monday's 12-5 win over the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Minnesota rookie to hit three home runs in a game. The 23-year-old joined Twins greats Bob Allison, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Justin Morneau as the only players in team history to accomplish the feat (note: since moving to Minnesota in 1961; only one Washington Senators player, Goose Goslin, did it).
Player
Date
Opp
Result
PA
AB
R
H
HR
RBI
Max Kepler
8/1/2016
CLE
W 12-5
6
6
3
4
3
6
Justin Morneau
7/6/2007
CHW
W 12-0
5
5
3
3
3
6
Tony Oliva
7/3/1973
KCR
L 6-7
5
5
3
3
3
3
Harmon Killebrew
9/21/1963
BOS
W 13-4
5
5
3
3
3
5
Bob Allison
5/17/1963
CLE
W 11-4
5
5
3
3
3
6
"It's fun to watch," manager Paul Molitor said. "Those balls were basically line drives that went really far. They weren't lifted. They were just hit the way you want to hit a baseball."
Monday's outburst was Kepler's most impressive performance yet. All three of his home runs were line-drive shots that scored Joe Mauer. The third gave Minnesota a 10-3 lead in the sixth inning.
Kepler batted in the eighth inning with a chance to become the first Twins player to hit four home runs in a game, but he grounded out. He added a single in the ninth inning for the first four-hit game of his career.
In total Kepler finished 4 for 6 with three home runs, six RBI and 13 total bases, which tied for the second-highest total in team history.
Player
Date
Opp
Rslt
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
TB
RBI
Kirby Puckett
8/30/1987
MIL
W 10-6
6
4
6
2
2
14
4
Max Kepler
8/1/2016
CLE
W 12-5
6
3
4
0
0
3
13
6
Rich Becker
7/13/1996
CLE
L 11-19
6
3
4
1
1
2
13
6
Tim Teufel
9/16/1983
TOR
W 11-4
5
5
5
1
2
13
3
Justin Morneau
7/6/2007
CHW
W 12-0
5
3
3
3
12
6
Jacque Jones
5/6/2003
TBD
W 7-3
5
3
5
1
2
12
2
Corey Koskie
7/12/2001
MIL
W 13-5
5
3
4
2
2
12
3
Gary Gaetti
4/6/1982
SEA
L 7-11
4
2
4
1
2
12
4
Bobby Darwin
7/17/1974
MIL
W 10-5
4
2
4
1
2
12
4
Tony Oliva
7/3/1973
KCR
L 6-7
5
3
3
3
12
3
Tony Oliva
6/29/1969
KCR
W 12-2
5
2
5
1
2
12
5
Cesar Tovar
5/21/1967
CAL
W 12-3
6
3
4
2
2
12
4
Harmon Killebrew
9/21/1963
BOS
W 13-4
5
3
3
3
12
5
Bob Allison
5/17/1963
CLE
W 11-4
5
3
3
3
12
6
The power outburst gave Kepler 14 home runs in 62 games (203 at-bats) this season, which leads American League rookies. He added six RBI on the night to bring his season total to 44, which also leads American League rookies.
Almost all of Kepler's production has come since the Twins recalled him on June 1. He was especially prolific in July, tying for second in the major leagues during that month in home runs (eight) and RBI (23).
Not bad for the German-born rookie who had never hit more than 10 home runs in a season in his professional career.
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