Meet the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies: LF Max Kepler

2024 Stats: He slashed .253/.302/.380 with eight home runs, 21 doubles, and 42 RBIs in 105 games (368 at-bats) with the Minnesota Twins. He missed a few weeks at the very start and end of the regular season and later had minor surgery—in Philadelphia, ironically enough—to correct an abdominal muscle issue.

2025 Projections: Kepler looks to be one of the final pieces of the Phillies’ championship puzzle. The club lacked a third dependable outfielder last year—something their trade deadline move to acquire Austin Hays didn’t fix—so this time around, Dave Dombrowski brought in Kepler on a one-year, $10 million deal. The big change with the signing has Kepler—who has never played left field in the majors—moving over from the right field spot he held in Minnesota.

"I’m obviously a corner guy and I’m very easily adjustable," Kepler told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. "I’m not worried about the transition from right to left.”

Philadelphia doesn’t need a ton out of Kepler, just a steady glove and a decent bat—both of which he’s had the past couple of years. He’s hit slightly better against left-handed pitchers, average-wise, but with far lower power numbers. He probably won’t play every day, with Brandon Marsh, Weston Wilson, and others picking up a few games left. What he will be doing is wearing Rhys Hoskins’ former Philly number 17—though, to be fair, Kepler’s previous No. 26 is far more untouchable as far as the franchise is concerned.

Highlights from Last Season:

Stay tuned through Spring Training for previews of the rest of the Phillies roster.