[youtube TF6CgK_LFRE 520]
Getting called up to the big leagues on Tuesday; Germany’s Max Kepler needed to wait until Sunday to make his debut in Major League Baseball. The 22-year-old Berlin, Germany native pinch hit in the top of the ninth inning of his Minnesota Twins’ win over the Detroit Tigers. He then went on to play right field in the bottom half of the frame. He struck out against left-hander Tom Gorzelanny.
Kepler signed with the Twins in 2009 and moved through their farm system since. He has been on the 40-man roster for nearly two years and celebrated a breakout season in 2015. He won the Southern League with his Chattanooga Lookouts, was named league MVP and the Minnesota Twins Minor League Player of the year.
Kepler is the second German player in the big leagues after Donald Lutz and the third player in the MLB from the MLB European Elite Camp after Lutz and Alex Liddi.