3 position players with rebound potential the Pirates should pursue

Max Kepler

Max Kepler was coming off a career year with the Minnesota Twins after the 2023 campaign. During that season, he hit .260/.332/.484 with a .348 wOBA and 123 wRC+. Kepler mashed 23 home runs in 491 plate appearances with a .224 isolated slugging percentage. He struck out just 21.6% of the time with a 9.2% walk rate. Kepler was in the 85th percentile or higher of multiple important underlying numbers, like xwOBA (.362), xSLG% (.503), and exit velocity (91.9 MPH), while also putting up a decent 12.2% barrel rate (79th percentile).

Unfortunately, 2024 did not go according to plan for Kepler. He was limited to just 399 plate appearances and batted .253/.302/.380 with a .298 wOBA and 94 wRC+. Although Kepler continued to keep a low K% at just 20.1%, his walk rate plummeted to a career-low 5.5% rate. The power Kepler showed in 2023 did not reappear in 2024, as he only had a .128 isolated slugging percentage while putting up an 88.9 MPH exit velocity and 6.2% barrel rate.

Kepler had multiple injuries in 2024. He first missed part of April because of a right knee contusion. He then missed nearly all of September because of patellar tendonitis in his left knee. One of the few positives to come out of Kepler’s season was that he was still a decent defensive outfielder. He had zero defensive runs saved but +4 outs above average, was in the 68th percentile of arm strength, and was above average in terms of jump.

The Pirates still need help in right field, and Kepler could make a good platoon option. He has a career .243/.326/.458 slashline against right-handed pitching, but when he has to face same-handed pitchers, he has hit just .221/.292/.363. There is a difference of 123 points in OPS between facing right-handers and left-handers for Kepler.

When healthy, Kepler is a power-hitting right fielder with good defense. The Pirates can (hopefully) mitigate some of his injury issues by making him a part-time platoon player. The Pirates have internal options who can face lefties like Billy Cook and Nick Yorke. Alternatively, they can sign another platoon free agent outfielder like Randal Grichuk or Austin Hays.