Diamondbacks’ Max Kepler playing catch-up, focusing on daily process after missing first half

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Max Kepler is facing an uncommon midseason challenge: catching up to big-league pitching on the fly without the benefit of a spring training ramp-up.

Kepler joined the Diamondbacks in June after serving an 80-game suspension and discussed his process, fitting in with a new clubhouse and accepting his unique role down the stretch.

“To me, it’s a day-to-day process throughout the whole season,” Kepler said on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta. “Given my unique situation this year, I did have to kind of give myself more leeway and patience to come into my swing, and especially just seeing the ball and timing and all that. But I think I’m close to where I want to be. I’m taking the swings I want to take on pitches that I can hit.”

The 33-year-old veteran outfielder signed with Arizona on June 7 before making his major-league debut later in the month. After missing the entire first half of the regular season, Kepler has had to readjust to game-speed pitching while navigating limited reps.

Despite the initial statistical hurdles, Kepler feels the quality of his at-bats is trending in the right direction.

“Regardless of results or not, I think I’m having quality at-bats and I think chipping away day by day, I’m slowly starting to put things together in my opinion,” Kepler said. “But to me, I also say it’s a never-ending project and it goes up and down. You can do everything right, hit the ball in the screws and not get a reward for it. So to me, it’s just staying with my plan and not being thrown off by the adversity that the game throws at you day to day.”

Working alongside the D-backs’ coaching staff has helped Kepler settle in, though he acknowledges the reality of the condensed timeline.

“Doing the work with the staff we have behind the scenes is what I buy into and that’s what gets me right,” Kepler said. “So, I feel like I’ve been in a decent place. But I kind of have to be patient with myself and at the same time I’m playing catch-up, with the little two months left in this season. So it’s good to have a good group of guys surrounding me and that makes things easier.”

Transitioning to a new organization midway through a season can present its own off-field hurdles, particularly for a player adjusting to new surroundings and teammates. Kepler admitted to some initial anxiety about stepping into an established clubhouse.

“Talking to my support team, my family, my agents prior to signing with the Diamondbacks, one of the things that was most intimidating to me was being, I’d say, more reserved and at times a shy person,” Kepler said.

“It was building relationships with a group of 30 to 40 men that would take time. It takes time when you join a team in spring training.

“So knowing that, I was a little intimidated, but then meeting the guys on Day 1, I felt like I’d been there for weeks, almost months, only really knowing (Ildemaro) Vargas from playing against him in the past. It was really surprising in a pleasant way, and everyone welcomed me and took me in like one of their own.”

Because MLB rules prohibit players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs during the regular season from participating in the postseason, Kepler will not be eligible to play in October should Arizona secure a playoff spot.

For Kepler, however, the focus remains entirely on helping the Diamondbacks reach that postseason stage.

“It goes back to just being present and staying within the challenge we have at hand right now,” Kepler said. “I know I’m not going to be a part of the playoff run when the time comes and that’s unfortunate, but all I can do right now is contribute to what we have going on here and help make that push so that the team can actually get there.

“And that’s all I can really do. That’s all I can control.”

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