Maximilian Kepler-Różycki Bio
Maximilian Kepler-Różycki is a German-American professional baseball outfielder who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Born in Berlin, Germany, on February 10, 1993, Kepler has established himself as one of the most accomplished German-born players in baseball history. He holds the record for the most career home runs by a German-born player and set the single-season MLB record for home runs by a European-born player in 2019. Kepler debuted in MLB in 2015 and has continued to impact the sport with his offensive production and defensive capabilities across his decade-long professional career.
Early Life and Background
Maximilian Kepler-Różycki was born in Berlin, Germany, to parents Kathy Kepler and Marek Różycki, who were both professional ballet dancers. His mother hails from San Antonio, Texas, while his father is originally from Poland. The family resided in Berlin, where his parents performed in the same ballet company. He has one sister, Emma Różycki, who was a former golf prodigy.
At the age of six, Kepler began playing baseball at the Little League level through the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin. Although he received a scholarship at age seven to the Steffi Graf Tennis Foundation, he ultimately decided to pursue baseball instead. During his youth, Kepler also played association football with Hertha BSC before focusing primarily on baseball.
Kepler attended the John F. Kennedy School and later enrolled at the St. Emmeram Academy in Regensburg in 2008, where he had the opportunity to train in baseball more intensively than the average American teenager. He played baseball for Buchbinder Legionäre Regensburg of the Bundesliga, which is the highest baseball league in Germany.
Path to Professional Baseball
Andy Johnson, an international scout for the Minnesota Twins, first noticed Kepler when he played in a junior national tournament at the age of 14. Impressed by his talent, the Twins signed Kepler at age 16 in 2009 for $800,000, which was at the time the largest signing bonus ever given by an MLB franchise to a European-born player.
Following the signing, Kepler made his American debut in 2010 with the Gulf Coast League Twins in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He was promoted to the Elizabethton Twins of the Rookie-Advanced Appalachian League in 2011 and remained with the team through the 2012 season. An elbow injury delayed the start of his 2013 season, when he was assigned to the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single-A Midwest League. After that regular season, the Twins assigned Kepler to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League for additional development.
Maximilian Kepler-Różycki Career
Minnesota Twins (2015–2024)
After the 2013 season, the Twins added Kepler to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and he received an invitation to spring training. Kepler played for the Fort Myers Miracle of the High-A Florida State League in 2014, and he opened the 2015 season with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A Southern League. He was selected to represent the Twins at the 2015 All-Star Futures Game, though a sore left shoulder prevented him from participating. Kepler finished the 2015 season with a .327 batting average, nine home runs, and 18 stolen bases, earning him the Southern League Player of the Year award.
The Twins promoted Kepler to the major leagues on September 21, 2015. He became the second German-developed player to play in modern MLB after Donald Lutz. Kepler made his major league debut on September 27, 2015, and recorded his first hit on October 4, 2015, finishing the season with one single in seven at-bats.
Kepler began the 2016 season with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League. After playing just two games for Rochester, the Twins promoted him to the major leagues on April 10 to replace the injured Danny Santana. He was optioned back to Rochester fifteen days later but was recalled on June 1 to replace the injured Miguel Sanó, where he began receiving regular starts in right field. His first multi-hit game came on June 2 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kepler hit his first major league home run as a walk-off blast against Matt Barnes. He became the first European-born major league player to hit three home runs in a game on August 1 against the Cleveland Indians, joining Bob Allison, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, and Justin Morneau as the fifth Twins player to accomplish this feat. He earned co-American League Player of the Week honors on August 8 and finished the season with a .235 batting average, 17 home runs, and 63 runs batted in across 113 games.
Kepler was an Opening Day starter for the first time in 2017, collecting a hit in his first at-bat against the Kansas City Royals. He became the second player in Twins history to have a walk-off hit by the pitch in a game against the Chicago White Sox on August 31. He batted .243 with 19 home runs and 69 runs batted in across 147 games, helping the Twins reach the postseason for the first time since 2010.
On April 11, 2018, Kepler hit a walk-off home run against Brad Peacock of the defending champion Houston Astros. He finished the season with a .224 batting average, 20 home runs, and 58 runs batted in. On February 14, 2019, Kepler signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Twins, which also included a team option for the 2024 season.
Philadelphia Phillies (2025)
On December 20, 2024, Kepler signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 127 appearances for Philadelphia during the 2025 campaign, batting .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs and 52 runs batted in. He became a free agent after the 2025 season.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2026–Present)
On January 9, 2026, Kepler received an 80-game suspension from MLB after testing positive for epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the Major League Baseball drug policy. On June 7, 2026, he signed a one-year major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was activated for his season debut on June 25.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kepler is a left-handed batter and thrower who has demonstrated power hitting ability throughout his career. His ability to hit for extra bases and drive in runs has been a consistent element of his offensive game. He has shown the capacity to deliver in high-pressure situations, with multiple walk-off hits and dramatic home runs to his credit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most notable achievements, Kepler became the first European-born player to hit three home runs in a single game, a feat he accomplished on August 1, 2016, against the Cleveland Indians. In 2019, he set the single-season MLB record for home runs by a European-born player with 36 homers, surpassing Bobby Thomson’s record of 32 from 1951. He also became the first batter in Major League history to home run in five consecutive at-bats against the same pitcher during a single season, doing so against Trevor Bauer of the Cincinnati Reds.
Maximilian Kepler-Różycki Career Statistics
Throughout his MLB career spanning from 2015 through the 2026 season, Kepler has accumulated impressive statistics across multiple teams. He has been a consistent power threat and run producer throughout his career.
Major League Baseball Highlights
Through June 26, 2026, Kepler has recorded a career batting average of .235 with 179 home runs and 560 runs batted in. His 2019 season stands out as his most productive, as he hit 36 home runs and drove in 90 runs while helping the Twins capture the American League Central title. His 2023 bounce-back season saw him lead the Twins with 24 home runs while batting .260, including a stellar second half where he hit .306 after the All-Star break.
Career Milestones
Kepler broke the Target Field home run record on June 14, 2024, against the Oakland Athletics, adding a walk-off single in the same game. He also delivered another walk-off single on July 24, 2024, against the Philadelphia Phillies, which became the 11th walk-off plate appearance of his career and tied a franchise record. His career began with a successful minor league career that included being named Southern League Player of the Year in 2015.
| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Batting Average | .235 |
| Home Runs | 179 |
| Runs Batted In | 560 |
| Seasons Played | 2015–2026 |
Family
Family Background
Maximilian Kepler-Różycki comes from a distinguished artistic background. His father, Marek Różycki, is a professional ballet dancer originally from Poland, while his mother, Kathy Kepler, is a professional ballet dancer from San Antonio, Texas. The two met while performing in the same ballet company in Berlin, Germany. His sister, Emma Różycki, was a former golf prodigy.
Personal Life
Kepler was born and raised in Berlin, Germany, before moving to the United States to pursue his baseball career. He attended John F. Kennedy School in Berlin and the St. Emmeram Academy in Regensburg, Germany, during his teenage years. He has dual nationality, holding German citizenship while also having American heritage through his mother. Kepler began his professional baseball journey at age 16 when he signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2009, moving to the United States to pursue his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter in Maximilian Kepler-Różycki’s career as he joined the Philadelphia Phillies on a one-year, $10 million contract. Kepler appeared in 127 games for Philadelphia, demonstrating his ability to contribute at the major league level despite the transition to a new team and league. He posted a batting line of .216/.300/.391 with 18 home runs and 52 runs batted in, providing the Phillies with power from the outfield position. His ability to get on base and drive in runs remained a valuable asset for the Phillies throughout the season. Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Kepler became a free agent, opening the door for his subsequent signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026.