Max Kepler

Twins rookie Kepler hitting home runs at impressive pace

Published Sep. 1, 2016 4:30 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Twins are currently struggling through a lengthy losing streak, but rookie Max Kepler remains one of the team's biggest bright spots heading into a four-game series with the Chicago White Sox.

The German-born outfielder ranks third on the team with 16 home runs, and is averaging a homer every 19 at-bats, one of the best rookie rates in franchise history.

Former Twins outfielder Jimmie Hall set the club record in 1963, hitting 33 home runs in 497 at-bats and finishing third in American League Rookie of the Year voting.

Then-rookie Miguel Sano finished the 2015 season just behind Hall, hitting 18 home runs in 279 at-bats.

Player	Year	AB/HR
Jimmie Hall	1963	15.06
Miguel Sano	2015	15.5
Max Kepler	2016	19
Gary Gaetti	1982	20.32
Tony Oliva	1964	21

And while the Twins have struggled to pick up wins, they've been solid at the plate, and enter Thursday's series-opener with the AL's fourth-best team batting average in August.

Team	Team BA
Cleveland Indians	0.28
Boston Red Sox	0.276
New York Yankees	0.274
Minnesota Twins	0.27
Chicago White Sox	0.266

Second baseman Brian Dozier has been leading the way, and has already set career highs in home runs and RBI, and is also on pace for career highs in batting average and OPS with 29 games remaining in the regular season.

	2016	Career High	Year
H	135	148	2015
HR	32	28	2015
RBI	81	77	2015
BA	0.269	0.244	2013
OPS	0.886	0.762	2014

Statistics courtesy of STATS, LLC

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Max Kepler

Miguel Sanó

Minnesota Twins

Major League Baseball