Kepler activated, starts new chapter with D-backs after suspension
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ST. LOUIS – Having concluded his 80-game suspension, the Diamondbacks activated outfielder Max Kepler from the restricted list prior to Thursday’s series finale at Busch Stadium. Tim Tawa was optioned to Triple-A Reno to make room for Kepler on the active roster, and Ryne Nelson was moved to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
The club also optioned Mitch Bratt to Reno following his MLB debut start on Wednesday night and recalled Juan Burgos to supplement their options in the bullpen.
Kepler agreed to a one-year deal with the D-backs on June 9. He was suspended by Major League Baseball on January 9 after testing positive for Epitrenbolone, considered a performance enhancing substance by MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Should Arizona make the postseason, Kepler would be ineligible to participate.
“I do not know how it got into my system, and I'm not the type of player who would be cheating or having the necessary need to take a supplement to get through my career,” Kepler said Thursday before the scheduled series finale. “I’m lucky to be back in this position now, but yeah, that’s my stance.”
In 10 rehab games spread across three D-backs affiliates in preparation for his activation, Kepler was 10-for-30 with two home runs and six RBIs. Last season for the Phillies, he posted a .691 OPS with 18 homers in 127 games.
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Manager Torey Lovullo met with Kepler for about 15 minutes on Thursday to go over the team’s expectations to make sure the veteran outfielder could feel as integrated as possible into the plans at the halfway point of the season.
“I’m not really here to speak about what happened,” Lovullo said of the suspension. “I don’t know what happened. But he paid his penalty, he served it, and he’s here. He wants to show the world that he can still play this game at a very high level.”
Kepler will mainly feature in left field and at designated hitter for Arizona. The vast majority of his career starts have been in right, but with Corbin Carroll firmly cemented in that spot, Kepler will shift to the other corner; he played left for the majority of his starts in Philadelphia last season as well.
“Having been out of that baseball bubble, it felt like it was all over,” Kepler admitted. “To be here is surreal, and I just want to stay as grounded as possible. I’m going to have the Opening Day-type jitters, but I’m just happy and relieved that I still get to play this game.”