Max Kepler
A Berlin-born trailblazer who smashed the MLB home run record for German players, proving European talent can thrive in America's pastime.
Born 1993 (age 33)·German baseball player·Birthday: February 10·Millennials
Biography
Max Kepler's story is one of cross-cultural athletic excellence. Born in Berlin to a ballet-dancing mother and a choreographer father, his path to baseball was unconventional in a football-mad nation. His raw talent was spotted early, leading him to the Regensburg academy, Germany's premier baseball program. The Minnesota Twins saw his potential, signing him as a 16-year-old for a then-record bonus for a European prospect. His climb through the minors was a test of adaptation, but Kepler's smooth left-handed swing and graceful outfield play eventually earned him a permanent spot. In 2019, he had a breakout year, launching 36 home runs and solidifying his place as a regular. Beyond his power, he became known for his disciplined approach and defensive versatility, carving out a nearly decade-long career as a respected big-league regular and a standard-bearer for German baseball.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Max was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Max Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Max's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the all-time home run leader among German-born MLB players, surpassing previous records.
- Hit a career-high 36 home runs for the Minnesota Twins during the 2019 season.
- Signed with the Minnesota Twins at age 16 for a then-record $800,000 bonus for a European player.
- Played a key role for the Twins teams that won American League Central division titles in 2019 and 2020.
Did You Know?
His full surname is Kepler-Różycki, reflecting his Polish ancestry through his paternal grandfather.
Both of his parents were professional ballet dancers with the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
He is fluent in German, English, and Polish.
He was a talented junior tennis player before focusing exclusively on baseball.
“I always had a dream to play in the big leagues. It was a dream I shared with my dad.”
