Maximilian Kepler-Rózycki...Instagram: @kepleroni...attended John F. Kennedy School, an American school in Berlin, and the St. Emmeram Academy in Regensburg in 2008, where he trained for baseball...attended Ft. Myers South (FL) High School in time for his junior year of high school...his parents Marek Rózycki and Kathy Kepler were both professional ballet dancers in Berlin...grew up playing baseball, soccer, tennis, swimming and skiing; was given a tennis scholarship to the Steffi Graf Tennis Foundation in Berlin...played baseball for Buchbinder Legionäre Regensburg of Bundesliga, the highest baseball league in Germany...is a fan of Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin, a soccer team in Germany... went on 2019-20 off-season winter tour through Munich, Regensburg, Berlin and Frankfurt promoting baseball.
2019
Made Twins Opening Day roster for third consecutive season and was Opening Day rightfielder and leadoff hitter March 28 vs. Cleveland, his first ever at-bats from the leadoff spot....Set career-high with 10-game hitting streak March 31-April 14...matched that May 16-28.
...Recorded multiple home runs four times on season: April 27 vs. Baltimore, June 6 at Cleveland (3), June 29 at Chicago-AL, July 13 at Cleveland. ...Hit six leadoff home runs on season: April 7 at Philadelphia, April 28 vs. Baltimore, June 6 at Cleveland, July 13 at Cleveland and August 1 at Miami and August 24 vs. Detroit; tied Brian Dozier (2015 & '16) for third most in a single season in club history....Named AL Player of the Week May 27 for the second time in career...posted a slash line of .571/.600/1.190 with 10 runs scored, 12 hits, four doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, three walks and a stolen base in five games played...among AL leaders, finished the week first in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and extra-base hits (7); tied for first in RBI; and tied for second in doubles and hits...had multiple hits in six straight games, longest Twins streak since Justin Morneau in 2010. ...Hit game-tying home run in the 13th inning June 18 vs. Boston, followed by a walk-off single in the 17th for a Twins 4-3 victory...became first player with a game-tying RBI and walk-off RBI in 13th inning-or-later in same game since Milwaukee's Willie Randolph May 1, 1991....Hit three home runs June 6 at Cleveland (all off Trevor Bauer), joining Ted Williams as the only players in baseball history to hit three home runs multiple times in Cleveland (Kepler also did it in 2016)...was the 10th time in club history for a player with three homers in a game (12 now)....Hit five home runs in five consecutive at-bats (one walk in between) off Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (3 on June 6 and 2 on July 13, both at Cleveland)... became the first player in baseball history to homer in five straight at-bats off one pitcher in a single-season...over multiple seasons, it matched Carlos Delgado (2003-04 vs. Jorge Sosa) and Frank Howard (1963-64 vs. Bob Hendley)...the second home run on July 13 at Cleveland was his 79th of career, setting a record for most homers by a German-born player, passing Mike Blowers (78). ...Recorded second walk-off of season and sixth of career July 21 vs. Oakland, singling in the ninth inning of a Twins 7-6 victory...became first
Twin with multiple walk-off hits in a season since Oswaldo Arcia in 2013....Hit 30th home run August 1 at Miami in Twins game 108, the sixth fastest in club history to reach 30 homers, previous five all being Harmon Killebrew. ...Hit 35th home run August 24 vs. Detroit in Twins game 129, the fourth fastest in club history to reach 35 homers, previous three all being Killebrew...along with Nelson Cruz (41 HR), became the second pair of Twins teammates to each hit 35-plus HR in a single season, joining Killebrew (45 HR) and Bob Allison (35 HR) in 1963....Finished with 36 home runs and 32 doubles becoming the eighth different Twin (11th instance) with 30-doubles/30-homers, first since Brian Dozier had 35 doubles and 42 homers in 2016....Played in only 11 of the Twins 27 games in September, and only one after September 15 (as a pinch-runner), as he was slowed by a rhomboid muscle strain near his left shoulder. ...Set career highs in runs (98), hits (132), doubles (32, tying 2017), home runs (36), RBI (90), batting average (.252), on-base percentage (.336), slugging percentage (.519) and OPS (.855)....Played 84 games (72 starts) in rightfield and 60 games (53 starts) in centerfield...did not commit an error in 281 total chances on season....Hit 32 home runs from the leadoff spot, second most in club history, trailing Brian Dozier's 34 in 2017...Finished tied for fourth in MLB (T-2nd AL) with 32 homers while batting 1st...among AL leadoff hitters, also ranked fourth in RBI (74), fourth in SLG (.533), tied for sixth in doubles (28), seventh in OPS (.866), ninth in runs (87) and 10th in hits (109)....Finish tied for seventh in the AL in homers (36) and was one of 13 AL players and one of 23 in all of baseball with 30-plus doubles, 30-plus homers and 90-plus RBI. ...Played all three games in 2019 ALDS vs. New York-AL, going 0-for-10 with three walks and three strikeouts.
2018
Made Twins Opening Day roster for second consecutive season and was Opening Day rightfielder March 29 at Baltimore...Recorded fourth career multi-homer game April 11 vs. Houston...Had third career walk-off, second as a home run, April 11 vs. Houston, a two-out shot in the bottom of the ninth giving the Twins the 9-8 win...Hit .245 (36-for-147) vs. left-handed pitching and .216 (83-for-385) vs. right-handed pitching... Hit .265 (67-for-253) with 12 home runs in 76 home games and .186 (52-for-279) with eight home runs in 80 away games...Hit 20th home run September 30 vs. Chicago-AL, setting a single-season career-high...Ranked first on club in walks (71) and second in runs scored (80) - both career-highs...Ranked tied for 11th in the AL in walks (71)...Led club in games played in the field with 150 (142 starts), making just one error and seven outfield assists in 335 total chances...Ranked third in the AL in games played in the outfield, playing 117 games in rightfield (98 starts) and 55 games in centerfield (44 starts)...Given Jim Kaat Award for Twins Defensive Player of the Year, an award voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA...Signed five-year contract extension February 14 (along with Jorge Polanco) with a one-year club option.
2017
Made first career Opening Day roster and was Opening Day rightfielder, batting eighth April 3 vs. Kansas City...Tied career high with four hits July 3 vs. Los Angeles-AL...Tied career-high nine-game hitting streak May 29-June 7...Recorded third career multi-homer game August 8 vs. Milwaukee...Hit second career grand slam August 26 at Toronto...Hit second career walk-off August 31 vs. Chicago-AL after getting hit by pitch with the bases loaded; first walk-off HBP for Twins since May 1, 1996 vs. Kansas City when Paul Molitor did it...Set career-highs in games (147), runs (67), hits (124), doubles (32), home runs (19), RBI (69) and walks (47)...Hit .272 (105-for-386) with 17 home runs against right-handed pitching and .152 (19-for-125) with two homers against left-handed pitching...Ranked third on club in doubles (32)...Played 138 games (120 starts) in rightfield, ranking fifth in the AL.
2016
Optioned from Twins spring training to Triple-A Rochester March 25...Played two games for the Red Wings before being recalled from Rochester April 9 (Danny Santana - disabled list)...Played just seven games for the Twins before being optioned back to Rochester April 25 (Santana reinstated)...Hit .288 (30-for-104) with four doubles and six triples for the Red Wings before being recalled again June 1 (Miguel Sano - disabled list)...Hit first career home run June 12 vs. Boston off Matt Barnes, a three-run walk-off...became the fourth Twin to ever hit first career homer as walk-off, joining Jim Nettles (July 11, 1971 vs. KC), Dan Masteller (July 28, 1995 vs. NYY) and Terry Tiffee (April 4, 2004 vs. KC)...Recorded first career three-hit game, including a double and home run, June 19 vs. New York-AL...Hit nine doubles in June, tied for second most in the AL...Recorded first career two-homer game July 2 vs. Texas, and set Twins rookie record with seven RBI in one game...Hit eight home runs with 23 RBI in 25 July games; tied for first in the AL for the month in home runs and second in RBI...Went 4-for-6 with three home runs and six RBI August 1 at Cleveland, becoming fifth player in club history with a three-homer game, joining Bob Allison (May 17, 1963 at Cleveland), Harmon Killebrew (September 21, 1963 at Boston), Tony Oliva (July 3, 1973 at Kansas City) and Justin Morneau (July 6, 2007 at Chicago-AL)...became first rookie in Twins history with two games of six-plus RBI in one season...was second rookie in baseball in 2016 with three-homer game, joining Corey Seager (June 3 vs. ATL)...his 13 total bases were tied with C.J. Cron for third most in baseball in 2016, trailing Kris Bryant (16) and Yasmani Grandal (14); also most total bases for a rookie since Andrew McCutchen had 13 in 2009...tied Tim Teufel (September 16, 1983 vs. TOR) for most total bases for rookie in Twins history...according to Elias, he became the first European-born player in baseball history to homer three times in a game...Named Co-AL Player of the Week with teammate Joe Mauer August 8...hit .370 (10-for-27) with nine runs scored, four home runs, 11 RBI, six walks and two stolen bases in seven games...ranked first in the AL in runs scored and RBI, tied for first in walks, tied for second in home runs and stolen bases, tied for fourth in total bases (22), fifth in slugging percentage (.815) and eighth in on-base percentage (.471)...became the fourth Twins rookie to ever win this award, joining Danny Santana (2014), Carlos Gomez (2008) and Marty Cordova (1995). Hit five home runs and recorded 21 RBI in 28 August games; the RBI were tied for first among rookies during the month, while homers were tied for second...Finished with 17 home runs, ninth most among rookies in club history; finished with 63 RBI, 10th most among rookies in club history...Ranked third on club in home runs (17) and RBI (63), fourth in runs (52), and fifth in walks (42)...Led all AL rookies in walks, second in RBI, third in home runs, fourth in games (113), and fifth in hits (93)...Given 2016 Bill Boni Award for Twins Rookie of the Year, as voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA.
2015
Participated in second career Twins spring training and was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga roster March 15...Optioned again to Single-A Ft. Myers where he started the season and played in six games before being promoted to Chattanooga April 20.... Named Twins minor league Player of the Week and Southern League Player of the Week May 25, hitting .500 (12-for-24) with three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, four walks and a .571 on-base percentage in seven games...Named Southern League Player of the Week again June 22, hitting .636 (14-for-22) with four triples, four RBI, four walks, six runs scored and a .704 on-base percentage in six games....Named Twins minor league Player of the Month for June, hitting .364 (32-for-88) with six doubles, five triples, one home run, 17 RBI and 18 walks in 25 games.... Placed on 7-day disabled list from July 9-16 with left shoulder inflammation.... Selected to World Team for SiriusXM Futures Game but did not play due to shoulder injury.... Named Southern League Mid- and Postseason All-Star.... Reached base safely in 41 of 42 games from June 5-August 1, including 25 straight June 5-July 5.... Named Twins minor league Player of the Month for July, hitting .306 (22-for-72) with five doubles, two triples, three home runs, 15 RBI and 13 walks in 20 games.... Recorded 20 RBI and walked 19 times in 28 August games.... Named Southern League Most Valuable Player, hitting .322 (131-for-407) with 32 doubles, 13 triples, nine home runs, 71 RBI, 76 runs scored and 67 walks in 112 games for the Lookouts.... Hit three home runs (1 grand slam) in the five-game Southern League Championship against Biloxi, helping guide the Lookouts to Southern League Championship.... Named to Baseball America's Minor League Baseball All-Star team... Recalled from Chattanooga September 22....Made major league debut September 27 at Detroit, striking out in pinch-hit appearance.... Recorded first major league hit October 4 vs. Kansas City, singling off Johnny Cueto... Recipient of Sherry Robertson Award for Twins minor league Player of the Year. ...Named an outfielder on MiLB.com Twins organizational All-Star team....Ranked sixth best prospect in Southern League by Baseball America... Ranked third best prospect and best strike-zone discipline in Twins system by Baseball America, entering 2016.
2014
Participated in first career Twins spring training and was optioned to Single-A Ft. Myers March 9 and spent entire season there...Hit second career grand slam April 27 vs. Palm Beach...Placed on 7-day disabled list June 4 with a left forearm strain; reinstated June 19...Placed on 7-day disabled list July 21 with a right thumb contusion; reinstated July 29...Recorded season-high eight-game hitting streak August 3-12, hitting .355 (11-for-31) during the streak...Hit third career grand slam, second of season August 21 at Bradenton...Hit .314 (33-for-105) with nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 16 RBI and 15 runs scored in 29 August games...Played 61 games in centerfield, 18 in rightfield, 12 at first base and eight in left field...Played for Salt River in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .307 (23-for-75) with four doubles, three triples, seven RBI and 13 runs scored in 18 games...Named 12th best prospect in Twins system by Baseball America entering 2015.
2013
Spent the season with Single-A Cedar Rapids...Set season-high with four hits (5 at-bats) July 5 vs. Wisconsin...Homered in consecutive games twice -- June 25-26 and August 16-17...Recorded 12 RBI in final 10 games August 15-September 2...Played in the Arizona Fall League with Glendale Desert Dogs, hitting .234 (15-for-64) with five doubles, four RBI, eight runs scored and seven walks in 18 games...Added to Twins 40-man roster November 20.
2012
Spent second season with Rookie Elizabethon...named Twins minor league Player of the Month for July, hitting .333 (32-for-96) with seven doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBI and 19 runs scored...earned Appalachian League Topps/Minor League Baseball Player of the Year award...named Appalachian League Postseason All-Star...named Baseball America Rookie All-Star...ranked seventh best prospect in Appalachian League by Baseball America...ranked eighth best prospect in Twins organization by Baseball America entering the 2013 season.
2011
Spent entire season with Rookie Elizabethton...hit first professional home run July 14 vs. Pulaski...hit .351 (13-for-37) off left-handed pitching and .240 (37-for-154) off right-handers...played 43 games in left field...ranked 20th best prospect in Twins organization by Baseball America entering 2012.
2010
Spent first professional season with the GCL Twins...finished fifth on team in hits (40)...ninth ranked prospect in Gulf Coast League and 11th best in the Twins organization by Baseball America entering 2011.
2009
Ranked 10th best prospect in the Twins organization by Baseball America entering 2010.
