There’s a gloomy shadow hovering over the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse at the moment. The three straight losses to the Houston Astros aren’t the only reason. There is also a serious problem that their $10 million star has brought to light. What started as a story of hope and reinvention has turned into a tale of doubt and disappointment, as his spot in the lineup hangs in the balance. 

The 32-year-old outfielder, Max Kepler, was signed by the Phillies in December 2024 due to a need for stability in the outfield. The reason, though, is quite obvious. The Phillies had a talented group of players, but J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, and Alec Bohm fell far short of expectations. As a result, the lineup needed a powerful right-hander. Ultimately, they had to seek Kepler, who is a left-hander. However, in an interesting turn of events, Kepler made a surprising revelation about being misled by the Phillies.

Kepler, once assured of an everyday job, found himself watching from the dugout as the Phillies shuffled their outfield in search of the perfect fit. “The biggest challenge for me is not playing routinely. That’s the biggest challenge.” Kepler further added, via The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, “I was told I was going to be the starting left fielder.” 

Kepler sat for two straight games before this week, first against the Athletics in May and then against the Pirates at the beginning of June. Following his exclusion, Kepler was called up to start nine games in a row, from June 11 to June 21. And guess what? He was 8-for-35 with an OPS of .814, and the majority of his production was front-loaded.

So far this season, Kepler has hit .209 with nine home runs, 27 RBIs, along with a .683 OPS. There’s nothing extraordinary about it. But yes, he did start for 60 games out of the first 81 games, facing left-handed pitchers only three times. As a result, he has been sitting in the dugout for the past few days when the Phillies have faced lefties.

More concerning, however, was his ability to run the bases. Kepler was running slowly towards the bag. Naturally, when the Astros converted a 4-6-3 double play, the Phillies thought he could have performed better. Now, Kepler is finding it difficult to secure a permanent spot in the team.

However, it is important to note that the Phillies do not yet have a solution to their outfield problem. Therefore, Kepler may soon get another chance to show his mettle. However, his tenure with the Phillies could end abruptly if he fails to meet expectations.

Disappointing season for Phillies $10 million star

Max Kepler’s season doesn’t seem to be going that well. He ranks third on the team in walks (28) and has only a .300 OBP. For a hitter like him, that is possibly one of the worst OPS marks of the season. Not to forget that he has also hit only nine home runs, tying with Bryce Harper and Trea Turner for second.

The Phillies gave him few chances, but he was unable to establish himself as a strong hitter. Given his recent difficulties against left-handed pitchers, his position in the starting lineup may also be in doubt. Fortunately, Kepler will likely have more opportunities to start in the coming weeks when the Phillies face the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Neither team has a strong left starter available to face the Phillies. This may be a good opportunity for him to prove himself.

It will be interesting to see how Kepler performs if the Phillies give him a few starts against the lefties. If he can improve his performance and provide quality at-bats, he could earn a permanent spot in the lineup. This is especially important as the Phillies require a significant offensive upgrade in the outfield.

Do you think Kepler can live up to expectations?