Twins Getting Aggressive With Top Pick Kaelen Culpepper
The Minnesota Twins drafted shortstop Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft, out of Kansas State. It took a bit for him to sign, but at 22-years-old, that was never really in doubt.
Even when drafting college guys, there’s never a guarantee that first round picks will meet their evaluations and expectations. There are too many variables involved. Early returns on Culpepper, however, are extremely positive.
Minnesota Twins already promoting Kaelen Culpepper
In just nine games with Low-A Fort Myers, Culpepper has posted a .906 OPS with five extra base hits and two home runs. Culpepper powered just 11 baseballs over the fence last season, at Kansas State, so power isn’t exactly what he is known for.
Kaelen Culpepper takes flight with this 103.5 MPH bomb 🚀
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 17, 2024
This is the second HR in 8 games for our first round pick…a day after he registered his first three hit game as a pro🌟#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/ZvOvFcFab4
Following Sunday night’s contest with the Mighty Mussels, reports trickled in that Kaelen was been promoted to High-A, Cedar Rapids. There, Culpepper will join top Twins prospect Walker Jenkins. A season ago, after being selected fifth overall, Jenkins made the jump to Low-A Fort Myers after 14 Complex League games.
Playoff push for Minnesota Twins prospect Kaelen Culpepper
Part of the reason behind promoting Culpepper and Jenkins is to boost the Cedar Rapids lineup. The Kernels are 4.5 games back in the West. Fortunately for them, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers already own one of the playoff positions available.
That was awarded to them when they finished the first half of the season atop of the division. So while they are nearly a handful of games back in the West, the Kernels only need to chase down the 2nd place River Bandits, who they trail by just a single game.
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The experience will be invaluable for Culpepper, and he’ll get to make the push alongside Walker Jenkins. The 19-year-old brought an advanced approach from Low-A and has begun to heat up 16 games in for Cedar Rapids.
Kaelen Culpepper, our first pick in this years 2024 draft, reached base three times yesterday in his pro debut…including a ground-rule double in his first professional plate appearance🌟
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 10, 2024
2-for-4
2B
BB
R
The @KStateBSB alum had three balls in play hit 94+ mph 🚀#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/imqSBEIDWm
Culpepper has experienced the Big 12 in college, as well as playing on The Cape Cod League. At 22-years-old, he can help to impart wisdom on Jenkins as well. Minnesota will get a chance to see what the aggressive promotion results in from Culpepper.
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He should start the 2025 season at Cedar Rapids again, but could conceivably see Double-A Wichita at some point next summer. It’s possible Culpepper winds up on top 100 lists to start out next season. A strong start to a 1st rounder’s minor league career will do that. Let’s get that Kaelen Culpepper hype train rolling!.
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