The D-backs announced Sunday that they have signed veteran outfielder Max Kepler to a one-year contract.
Kepler, who became a free agent at the end of the 2025 season, is currently on the restricted list while serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The 33-year-old can return June 25 but is ineligible for postseason play.
Ahead of the Diamondbacks' series opener on Tuesday against the Marlins, manager Torey Lovullo said he knows very little about the transaction and could only speak to his impressions of Kepler from managing against him.
“I just always thought he was really heady, hard-working player, got some really big hits against us, and I think one was a walk-off home run,” Lovullo said. “I've always thought a lot about him. I'm aware that he signed. He's in our system, and he's got to get back into playing shape, and then see where this takes us.”
In 2025, Kepler bounced back in the power department after playing through injuries throughout 2024. He hit just eight home runs in 399 plate appearances in 2024 before signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies and slugging 18 homers in 474 plate appearances.
The left-handed hitter finished 2025 with a .216/.300/.391 slash line, playing primarily against right-handed pitching. He has a career .770 OPS against righties, compared to a .653 mark against southpaws. The D-backs entered Tuesday with the Majors' best batting average against left-handed pitching (.273) but the third-worst average against right-handed pitching (.228).
“I'm listening that [we are] very right-handed,” Lovullo said. “[It] would be nice to get a little bit more of balance, and his name certainly fits. But right now, my main focus is the 26 guys that are here. When and if that opportunity happens [and] he gets back here – which I'm hopeful it will because I know he's a good baseball player – we'll focus on how he can help us win games.”
He is capable of playing all three outfield spots, although he hasn’t made double-digit appearances in center field since 2021 with the Twins. After playing right field exclusively in 2023 and '24 -- where he graded out as an above-average defender both years -- he made 101 appearances in left field, two in center and 36 in right for Philadelphia in 2025.
While he has had two straight seasons with an OPS under .700, Kepler posted an .816 OPS with 24 home runs as recently as 2023. During his 11-year career, Kepler has averaged 24 homers per 162 games. Playing his first 10 seasons for the Twins, he is tied with Byron Buxton for the most home runs in Target Field history (84).
Kepler’s finest season with Minnesota came in 2019, when he posted a .252/.336/.519 batting line, hit 36 homers and drove in 90 runs. He finished the year with 4 bWAR and received down-ballot American League MVP votes. For his career, Kepler owns a .235/.316/.425 slash line.