May 2, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (17) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
In the sixth inning of Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals, Max Kepler faced off against lefty reliever Jose A. Ferrer.
It didn't go well, as he struck out with runners on the corners in a key spot in what would eventually be a Phillies loss.
The strikeout didn't sit well with him. So, he had an idea.
"I felt weird visually in there," Kepler said. "So, today I told (hitting coach) Kevin (Long) I want to hit some BP off him and I told him to ramp it up and chuck it in there and make it kind of like a real at bat to lock me in because I felt like my whole positioning was off. That was the first lefty I saw in I don't know how long."
Several hours later, in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday, Kepler had another chance to face a lefty reliever. This time, it was Jose Castillo.
And this time, Kepler didn't feel weird. Not. One. Iota.
Max Kepler swats a no-doubt homer for a @Phillies lead! pic.twitter.com/D7RzfQmxwJ
So, what does that mean going forward?
"I'm going to continue to take BP off of Kevin," Kepler said, of his left-handed throwing hitting coach. "I need to see a lefty arm from time to time if I'm going to face lefties in the eighth and ninth. They're the guys throwing 95-plus with sink and cut and I'm going to have to lock it in."
Prior to Friday, Kepler was hitting just .174 against lefties (4-for-23) with only one extra base hit (a double).
It's a small sample size, but it's not a whole heck of a lot better in his 11-year career.
Kepler had slashed .220/.290/.359 for a .649 OPS in 991 career at bats off of lefties before homering off Castillo.
He's adamant that he can hit lefties if given a more regular chance to do so. He said that from his first interview after the Phillies signed him. He said it again after the game Friday. But will he get those opportunities?
"I think both (Bryson) Stott and him have a chance to hit lefties," manager Rob Thomson said. "We face (lefthander Eduardo) Rodriguez on Sunday. I'll probably play (Weston) Wilson. But that doesn't mean I don't have confidence in Kepler."
Kepler will just keep working at improving against lefties. If that means more time facing off against Long in the cage, then so be it. Kepler said he prefers that instead of trying to hit off the Trajekt pitching machine, which replicates every major league pitchers delivery and pitches.
"I'm old school," Kepler said. "I like to see an arm."
The work paid off.
"I see him in there all the time talking to the hitting coaches and doing drills," said Kyle Schwarber, who also homered in the Phillies 3-2 on Friday. "It was cool today because he put in the work and he got a result. He got the pitch he wanted and didn't miss it."
Where would this team be without Kyle Schwarber pic.twitter.com/tv7tuCdGQ6
Kepler's homer travelled 422 feet. It was the third furthest of the 28 homers he's hit off of lefties in his career.
Kepler improved his numbers this season for the Phillies to .255/.339/.441 for a .780 OPS. That'll play in the middle third of the lineup if he can maintain it - especially against lefties, if given the opportunity.
"I look at the guy and if he can stay healthy, I feel like it's just going to be such a big year for him," Schwarber said.
