Max Kepler had his biggest game of the season on May 23 against the Tigers at Target Field, putting the Twins up 4-0 with a first-inning grand slam and then, after Detroit tied the game at 4-4 late, drawing a leadoff walk in a lefty-on-lefty matchup to lead off the ninth inning and coming around to score the game-winning run. It’s not often that a grand slam takes a backseat to a free pass, but afterward in the Twins clubhouse manager Rocco Baldelli and several of Kepler’s teammates were full of praise, more for the 90-foot walk than the 408-foot homer. It jump-started the Twins’ game-winning rally and was emblematic of the improved approach Kepler has had at the plate this season. Despite being slowed recently by a strained quadriceps, Kepler had another big game Tuesday, in the first half of a doubleheader in Detroit, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs in an 8-2 victory. It was his third game with three or more hits already this season, after doing so a total of just four times last year. Kepler is showing undeniable progress at the plate, at age 29. MAX KEPLER. GRAND SLAM. HR NO. 1,000 AT…
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Max Kepler's new approach, Twins' new clubhouse vibe combine for big impact
