Twins manager Rocco Baldelli noted after Thursday's 4-1 win over the Royals that X-rays on Kepler's right leg came back negative, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler managed to finish his at-bat after the foul ball, but he didn't take the field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Twins have a scheduled day off Friday, which gives the team an extra day to see how Kepler feels ahead of Saturday's contest. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts before exiting Thursday.

Kepler was removed from Thursday's game against the Royals after fouling a ball off his right leg, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler initially remained in the game to finish his at-bat after getting checked out by trainers, but he was replaced once the Twins took the field in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Twins will take a look at the 31-year-old outfielder and should have more information in the near future.

Kepler (pectoral) will start in right field and bat sixth in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler missed a few days due a pectoral issue, and the Twins were concerned enough to order an MRI. However, nothing serious turned up, and Kepler's relatively quick return to action indicates he's in the clear for Opening Day. Despite persistent trade rumors over the last year or so, Kepler remains in Minnesota and projects to start against most opposing right-handers to begin 2024.

Kepler, who was scratched from Wednesday's spring training game due to left pectoral tightness, had an MRI that didn't reveal any major issues, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "It seems like [Kepler] is in a pretty good spot," said manager Rocco Baldelli. "We got some imaging done. We didn't find anything concerning on the imaging, which is great."

EDGE Analysis

While it's a relief he's not facing a significant issue, it's a little worrisome that his sore pectoral warranted an MRI. Kepler will likely play sparingly in spring action the next week but sounds like he'll be ready for Opening Day.

Kepler was scratched from the Twins' Grapefruit League lineup Wednesday because of left pectoral tightness, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's not clear when or how Kepler suffered the injury, but it was clearly enough of an issue that he didn't feel well enough to give it a go Wednesday. Consider the outfielder day-to-day for the time being. Gabriel Gonzalez took Kepler's spot in right field.

Kepler went 1-for-3 with his first home run of the spring in Sunday's Grapefruit League tie with Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler has gotten off to a somewhat slow start, as even with the homer he's still just 2-for-12 this spring, but the veteran doesn't need to worry about his job security. After another offseason of trade rumors, Kepler enters the spring as the Twins' starting right fielder. He could see fewer at-bats against left-handed pitching with the Twins signing right-handed-hitting Manuel Margot, but Kepler's .751 OPS against lefties last season continued a recent improvement against southpaws.

The Twins exercised Kepler's $10 million club option for 2024 on Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coming off his best statistical season since 2019, Kepler will officially remain with the Twins for one more year as the team looks to repeat as AL Central champions. The 30-year-old outfielder slashed .260/.332/.484 with 24 homers and 66 RBI, and he will likely reprise his role as Minnesota's primary right fielder in 2024.

Kepler is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler had started the previous three contests but will begin Thursday's afternoon tilt on the bench. Trevor Larnach is in right field for the Twins.

Kepler went 4-for-4 and scored a run in Wednesday's 6-4 victory versus Oakland.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler knocked four singles in the win, giving him his first four-hit performance of the season. He's been hitting well of late, collecting five multi-hit efforts over his past 13 games and batting .340 (17-for-50) with two homers, six RBI, 13 runs and a stolen base over that span. The late-season surge has lifted his batting average to .258 on the campaign, which is on pace to be a career-best mark.

Kepler went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Sunday's win over the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

Kepler mashed a two-run shot to right-center field in the seventh to give the Twins some breathing room by putting them up 6-3. Sunday was his third multi-hit effort in the last seven games but just his second home run in September. The 30-year-old leads the team with 23 long balls on the year and is now slashing .253/.324/.475 with 62 RBI, 67 runs and a 42:103 BB:K in 472 plate appearances.