Luke Keaschall has taken the baseball world by storm since being recalled to the Major Leagues by the Minnesota Twins on August 5, hitting two home runs and recording 14 RBIs, six stolen bases, and a slash line of .343/.429/.522 in 67 MLB at-bats.
He was originally called up to make his MLB debut on April 18, but it was short-lived due a non-displaced right forearm fracture he suffered on April 25, less than a year after he underwent Tommy John Surgery in August 2024.
Keaschall has had to deal with a lot of adversity since being drafted by the Twins in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft, but learned mental toughness as a wrestler in high school.
He has a wrestling background thanks to his father, Karl, who wrestled at the University of Nebraska, and the toughness that Luke Keaschall developed on the mat at Aptos High School in California, where he was was one win short of qualifying for the California State Wrestling Championship his senior year, has helped him battle through hard times on the baseball diamond.
“I love wrestling, it’s a big part of who I am,” Keaschall told World Baseball Network before the Twins’ game against the Yankees on August 12 at Yankee Stadium. “The mental toughness aspect has really helped me on the baseball field.”
Keaschall found himself in a wrestler’s paradise in Iowa when he was called up to the Twins High-A affiliate, the Cedar Rapids Twins, on Aug. 28, 2023. Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette spoke to Keaschall about his wrestling background in September of 2023.
“They are much different sports, but the mentality you bring to the field every day is the same,” he said. “Wrestling is a tough thing; wrestlers can survive in anything. They’re tough as nails. There are 162 games in baseball; it’s a long year. You’re keeping the same head on: not getting too high or too low. It’s trusting yourself, working really hard. I’m super grateful I got to wrestle. I loved it.,” Keaschall told Johnson.
Keaschall was born in Watsonville, California and went to school in San Francisco for two years then played his final season as a Junior at Arizona State.
He also played for the Orleans Summerbirds in the Cape Cod League in 2022 and was named an All-Star. At Arizona State, he was named to the All-Pac-12 team in 2023.
His signature moment came against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field with a walk-off home run in the 11th against Carlos Estevez on August 10.
“It was a great time, but let’s focus on today now,” Keaschall said, seeming to play on the level, not getting caught up in being too high or low despite the early success in his MLB career. He is “Just trying to stay confident, trusting in what I do, being myself out there, and not trying to do too much.”
Keaschall rotated around the infield in college and played every position besides first base. In the minor leagues, he also played 20 games in the outfield.
“Since I got Tommy John, I’ve only gotten the opportunity to play second base,” Keaschall told World Baseball Network. “So just kind’ve focused on that right now, and we’ll see where the future takes us.”
Photo: Luke Keaschall (15) reacts after hitting a single against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. The Tigers won 8-5. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
