Kaelen Culpepper News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/kaelen-culpepper/ Minnesota sports, but different Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:14:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Kaelen Culpepper News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/kaelen-culpepper/ 32 32 Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Rankings (2026 Edition) https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/top-15-prospects-rankings-2026/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:15:00 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=78998 It’s only a month until pitchers and catchers are reporting to Fort Myers, FL in mid-February for Minnesota Twins Spring Training, which will look a bit different in 2026, as multiple Minnesota Twins players leave early for the World Baseball Classic.

Thus, it’ll be incumbent on new manager Derek Shelton to maximize the weeks he does have during Grapefruit League play, in order to get his team ready for what the team is selling as a new era of Twins baseball.

Shelton is coming into a clubhouse that’s already undergone significant changes over the past 12 months (and still has plenty of questions that remain unanswered).

Beyond their (still) incomplete roster, Minnesota will also have to adjust to Major League Baseball’s latest groundbreaking rule change, as the ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) challenge system gets set for its big league debut in 2026.

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects – 2026

Minnesota Twins prospect, Marek Houston
Credit: Andrew West / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

But the above preamble is not what you came here for. This article is about the prospects coming up through the organization, most of whom have been using the ABS challenge system since it was first implemented in the minors (2019), long before most of these kids ever turned pro.

According to FanGraphs, the Minnesota Twins ended 2025 with the 12th best farm system in baseball. Not only that, but there is a real opportunity for some of their top prospects to come up and fill gaps this season.

Compared to where they stood this time last year, the Twins are much better positioned as an organization, to lean on call-up talent early at the big league level this season.

Now… with that out of the way, let’s talk about some of the youngsters coming up through the system, as we inch closer to Spring. Here are my top 15 Minnesota Twins prospects for 2026.

15. Andrew Morris | RHP | 24 y/o

A former fourth-round pick out of Texas Tech, Morris is expected to make his major league debut this season. While his ceiling likely tops out as a back-end starter, his floor appears to be similar. He looked like the next man up last year and could get an early opportunity if rotation openings arise.

In his first full season at Triple-A, Morris posted a 4.09 ERA across 94 2/3 innings. He dealt with a few minor injuries, but his 89/28 K/BB ratio was respectable. He’s not a dominant power arm, though he’s far from a soft tosser.

14. Charlee Soto | RHP | 20 y/o

There’s a case to be made that Soto should be ranked higher—and another argument that he shouldn’t be in the top 15 at all. The young fireballer can touch triple digits and posted a 1.38 ERA with a 15/4 K/BB ratio at High-A Cedar Rapids across three starts. Unfortunately, he required surgery to repair a detached bone spur and logged just 13 innings.

Minnesota hopes Soto will be ready for Spring Training. Assuming a normal ramp-up, he’ll return to High-A Cedar Rapids to begin the season. The ceiling for the former first-round pick is immense, though few prospects are more volatile than prep pitchers.

13. Quentin Young | SS | 18 y/o

The Twins selected Young in the second round of last summer’s MLB Draft. The nephew of Dmitri Young and former Twins outfielder Delmon Young, Quentin oozes projectable traits. He’s a gifted athlete and will be an exciting player to watch during his first full professional season.

Young skipped the Complex League and appeared in five games for Fort Myers last season, going 2-for-17 with a 9/2 K/BB ratio. The sample size tells us very little. He’ll begin this season in the Florida State League.

12. Brandon Winokur | SS | 21 y/o

Winokur, a third-round pick in 2023, entered pro ball with true five-tool potential. He was raw and needed refinement across the board, and while it hasn’t fully clicked yet, there have been steady glimpses.

He played 122 games at High-A last season, slashing .226/.304/.388. His 17 home runs marked an increase from 14 in 2024, and he stole 26 bases in 30 attempts. Likely not a long-term shortstop, the Twins experimented with him at third base and in center field. Winokur hit just .192 in 21 Arizona Fall League games, but the experience was invaluable.

Minnesota could give him the full year at Double-A. If things click, he has the upside to move firmly into the top 10.

11. Kyle DeBarge | 2B | 22 y/o

The Twins selected DeBarge with the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 draft. He debuted quickly and spent his first full professional season at High-A Cedar Rapids.

A shortstop in college, DeBarge moved around the diamond last season, seeing most of his time at second base while also logging innings at shortstop and in the outfield. After adjusting his approach to generate more power late in college, that change began to surface.

Across 121 games with the Kernels, DeBarge hit .237/.347/.362 with eight home runs. He was electric on the basepaths, stealing 66 bases while being caught just eight times, and he earned a minor league Gold Glove. He should open 2026 at Double-A Wichita.

10. Riley Quick | RHP | 21 y/o

Quick is one of two former Alabama pitchers in the Twins’ top 10, joining Connor Prielipp as Crimson Tide representatives. Selected 36th overall last summer, Quick offers legitimate top-of-the-rotation upside.

Minnesota held him out of professional action last season after he posted a 3.92 ERA in 14 starts (62 innings) for Alabama, along with a 70/24 K/BB ratio. His 6’6″, 255-pound frame generates plenty of velocity. Starting him at Low-A Fort Myers makes sense, though a move to Cedar Rapids wouldn’t be surprising.

9. Dasan Hill | LHP | 20 y/o

The Twins’ system is loaded with left-handed pitching, and Hill is the third southpaw in the top 10, and the youngest. He spent most of the season at Fort Myers before finishing with Cedar Rapids.

In 16 starts for the Mighty Mussels, Hill posted a 2.77 ERA with an 11.8 K/9. He struggled during his brief High-A stint, allowing six runs in 10 innings. Control remains a work in progress, as evidenced by 40 walks in 62 total innings, but the arrow is pointing up as he heads to Cedar Rapids.

8. Connor Prielipp | LHP | 25 y/o

The Twins have long envisioned what Prielipp could become, but injuries have delayed his ascent. Last season, he logged 82 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, roughly four times more than any season since high school.

He finished the year with 21 innings at Triple-A St. Paul and struck out 98 batters overall. Prielipp is a popular candidate to contribute out of the big-league bullpen this season. If he can stay healthy as a starter, he has No. 1 or No. 2 upside; if moved to relief, a high-leverage role seems likely.

7. Gabriel Gonzalez | OF | 22 y/o

When the Twins sent Jorge Polanco to Seattle, Gonzalez was the prospect with the most long-term value. After a rocky organizational debut, he rebounded in a big way last season.

Gonzalez posted a .909 OPS across 123 games at three levels. In 34 Triple-A games, he slashed .316/.358/.504 and hit six of his 15 total home runs. While he won’t break camp with the Twins, he should be among the first call-ups.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Gonzalez outproduces Kody Clemens, or even Trevor Larnach, at the big-league level this year.

6. Marek Houston | SS | 21 y/o

Selected 16th overall in last summer’s draft, Houston is another highly talented shortstop in the system. How his hit tool translates will be the key storyline in his first full pro season. He added power at Wake Forest, hitting 15 home runs while batting .354.

Houston played 12 games at Low-A Fort Myers and 12 at High-A Cedar Rapids, collecting 27 hits in his first 100 at-bats. Only six went for extra bases, but the glove is legit and should keep him at shortstop. He’ll open the season in Cedar Rapids.

5. Kendry Rojas | LHP | 23 y/o

Acquired in the controversial Louie Varland trade with Toronto, Rojas was the pitching prospect that convinced Minnesota to move the hometown product. Already at Triple-A when acquired, he should be knocking on the door.

His initial numbers with St. Paul were rough: a 6.59 ERA with 25 runs (20 earned) allowed in 27 1/3 innings. Control was the main issue, as he walked 23 batters. If that gets corrected, Rojas has a strong chance to bounce back.

Another lefty with upside, settling in with the Twins organization should help. He’ll be counted on at some point this season.

4. Eduardo Tait | C | 19 y/o

Tait arrived alongside Mick Abel from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade and was the centerpiece of the deal. A consensus top-100 prospect, he remains raw but immensely talented.

In 30 games at Cedar Rapids, Tait hit .250/.286/.408 with 10 doubles and three home runs. Overall, he posted an .842 OPS across his first 80 stateside games last year. Offensive upside from the catcher position makes him particularly intriguing.

3. Kaelen Culpepper | SS | 23 y/o

Minnesota’s 21st overall pick in 2024, Culpepper broke out in his first pro season. A late slump prevented a Triple-A finish, but he was close.

Across 113 games, he hit .289/.375/.469 with 16 doubles, three triples, and 20 home runs. The power surge was unexpected but welcome. Culpepper should begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul and could earn a second-half promotion.

Orlando Arcia was signed as a backup shortstop, but Culpepper could be working alongside Brooks Lee sooner rather than later.

2. Emmanuel Rodriguez | OF | 22 y/o

Culpepper has a strong case here, but I remain bullish on Rodriguez. He finished 2024 at Triple-A and began 2025 there, though injuries again slowed him.

In 52 games for St. Paul, Rodriguez hit .258/.429/.423 with seven doubles and six home runs. His patience stands out—he owns a career .424 OBP—but a 31.8% strikeout rate could be problematic at the next level.

Rodriguez will get a chance to earn an Opening Day roster spot. He had a strong showing in the Dominican Winter League that can maybe vault him forward. With Larnach and Matt Wallner still in the mix, it’s unlikely, but he will see big-league time this season.

1. Walker Jenkins | OF | 20 y/o

There’s no surprise at the top. Jenkins is the Twins’ premier prospect and among the best in baseball. He reached Triple-A last season after just 52 games at Double-A Wichita.

The left-handed hitter has a silky smooth swing and excels in all facets of the game. Across 84 minor league games last season, he hit .286/.399/.451 with 17 doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs. He also stole 17 bases and played excellent center field.

Like Rodriguez, Jenkins will be given a legitimate path to an Opening Day roster spot. Even if he starts in Triple-A, his arrival could be special. He’s a strong Rookie of the Year candidate, and a future superstar.

]]> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:14:16 +0000 Minnesota Twins Initial MN Twins 2026 ZiPS Projections Revealed https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/zips-projections-2026-uninspiring-average/ Wed, 17 Dec 2025 01:19:43 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=75627 Every offseason, before games and reality take over in the spring, Major League Baseball runs on algorithms built to predict the future. No projection system is perfect, but they’re not meant to be.

Nonetheless, some models trend more accurately than others — just like some tend to like the Derek Falvey-operated Minnesota Twins teams more than others.

2026 ZiPS Projections: Minnesota Twins

Dan Szymborski, now of FanGraphs, built his ZiPS algorithm over 20 years ago. In the decades since, it has become one of the most trusted and followed offseason models across the baseball world.

Last season the Minnesota Twins finished with an ugly 70-92 record. They aren’t expected to add significantly to the payroll, but no longer plan to continue the roster deconstruction process that went into overdrive before the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline.

ZiPS has hope for Twins offense

With the addition of 1B/DH Josh Bell, how do the Twins project for the upcoming season, according to the initial 2026 ZiPS model? With a bullpen yet to be rebuilt, Minnesota is currently projected to finish next season with 78-84 wins — right around .500.

There’s no doubting, however, that over at FanGraphs… Szymborski has a quiet optimism about him, when breaking down what his algorithm has to say about the MN Twins early this offseason.

The easiest thing for people to do is set this past season as a baseline and understand that this team isn’t going to be much better in 2026. But using last season’s record as a baseline is generally a poor idea, as there’s a good argument that a lot of the 2025 Twins underperformed their actual ability.

It’s the same kind of shortcut reasoning that caused people to underrate the Blue Jays going into this season, assuming that the Jays had to build up from their actual 74-win total in 2024 rather than from something closer to 81-83 wins, which was about Toronto’s true talent level.

The 2025 Twins were better than a 70-92 team, but they do have some problems with their offense that they may or may not address between now and next season. If the season started today, the Twins look like a roughly .500 team, with their expected win total somewhere in the 78-84 range, but they’re close enough to good that if they were to hit their upside scenario, they could be an interesting contender. 

Dan Szymborski – Fangraphs

There is plenty of offseason left, and while we shouldn’t be expecting earth-shattering moves from the Minnesota Twins, they will certainly do more. Thankfully, this front office has a history of assembling cheap bullpens on the fly. Over the next few months, that reputation will be put to the test.

The lineup is in a weird spot. There is a glut of left fielders, most of which are left-handed. ZiPS is not at all high on Brooks Lee (0.5 fWAR projection) seeing him as a less valuable asset in 2026 than a lineup tweener like Kody Clemens, or even backup catcher Alex Jackson.

Lee’s 79 OPS+ and .236/.285/.370 slash line last season pushed his value down across the league, algorithms included. Unfortunately, the former first round pick will have to prove ZiPS wrong because the Twins can’t afford to go out and sign a better shortstop.

On the flip side, Szymborski’s 2026 algorithm loves some of Minnesota’s up-and-coming prospects, projecting both Kaelen Culpepper (1.9 fWAR) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (1.3 fWAR) to have breakout big league seasons.

Depending on how they look, come Spring, it’s possible we could see either the young shortstop and/or outfielder sooner than later. If you trust ZiPS, then that’ll certainly be the expectation when the Minnesota Twins assemble in Fort Myers, come February.

Algorithm loves 2026 MN Twins starting pitching

Keeping Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez was a non-negotiable, if the Twins wanted to enter 2026 in the pretender or contender conversation. Unsurprisingly, ZiPS loves Minnesota’s starting one-two punch. It doesn’t hate the arms behind their aces, either.

Zebby Matthews is projected as the MN Twins’ third-best starter in 2026 — touting a future 3.93 ERA. Also of note, ZiPS has David Festa falling out of the rotation, which would facilitate a move to the bullpen, which desperately needs help.

Keeping Ryan and López, if that’s what the Twins actually plan to do, is a pretty big deal. With those two at the top, Minnesota would have a legitimate playoff-caliber rotation. Bailey Ober’s history is better than his 2025 performance, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to see him as a fine mid-rotation starter, and ZiPS has always been stanning for Zebby Matthews. Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, and Mick Abel all get highly useful projections from ZiPS, and the computer really likes the organization’s minor league depth.

Dan Szymborski – FanGraphs

While uninspiring, the MN Twins are not so far from relevance. A couple of shrewd additions will push the needle forward. Major League Baseball seasons are a journey, not a race.

The reality is that most every team (sorry Chicago) will win 60 games and lose 60 games. It’s what happens with the other 60 that determines your fate. Can the Minnesota Twins surprise the league an fair better in those 42 “up-in-the-air” games?

If it makes you feel better, ZiPS thinks they have a chance…

]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:06:22 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Unveil MiLB Players of the Year https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/kaelen-culpepper-connor-prielipp-milb-player-of-the-year-texas-league-all-star/ Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:30:19 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=68769 Each year the Minnesota Twins look to compete at the major league level. They didn’t do a great job of that this season and are going to lose 90-plus games for the first time since 2016. That has also translated into a 25-year low attendance figure.

While competing at the highest level is always the goal, the lifeblood of an organization is the farm system. Right now Minnesota has one of the best in baseball. They relied on some of that depth too early this year, but there are pieces waiting in the wings to contribute.

When the Twins host their annual Diamond Awards event each winter, two of the awards handed out are for Minor League Pitcher and Hitter of the Year. Now we know the recipients.

Culpepper and Prielipp lands MN Twins MiLB Awards

The Minnesota Twins came into this season with plenty of exciting pitching depth. Many of those prospects will close in on the big league level next season. On the hitting side, top prospects Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins were expected to lead the way. Both had stellar seasons and one of them lands an award.

Culpepper was the Twins 1st round pick (21st overall) in the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft. He made the All-Star Futures Game this season and earned a promotion from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita.

Across 113 games, split almost evenly between the two stops, Culpepper batter .289/.375/.469. He recorded 16 doubles, launched 20 homers, and stole 25-of-29 bases. The entire profile is one to dream on as things have developed better than expected.

Culpepper looks like he can stick at shortstop, and even if he moves to third base, the power has played much more than anticipated. There was a chance for him to earn a Triple-A promotion, but it’s likely he starts there, or winds up in St. Paul quickly next season.

On the mound Connor Prielipp had his breakout season. A second round pick in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft, Prielipp was a highly-regarded, hard-throwing lefty from Alabama. He came with injury concerns and those slowed his professional career out of the gate.

Healthy this season, Prielipp pitched 82 2/3 innings between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. He owned a 3.65 ERA and 10.7 K/9 in 61 2/3 innings with the Wind Surge. Prielipp threw 21 innings with the Saints, and while he 5.14 ERA and 13 walks leave something to be desired, he held onto the 10.7 K/9.

Minnesota handled Prielipp cautiously this season given his injury history. He was on tight pitch counts and didn’t go deep in games. That could change next year as he looks to crack the big league rotation, or he could be utilized in shorter stints as a high-ceiling option to supplement a barren bullpen.

Both players are key parts of Minnesota’s future at the big league level. Each of them put up highly-deserving seasons.

Four MN Twins prospects named Double-A All-Stars

It wasn’t just the Twins organization putting out notable prospect awards today. The Texas League, Double-A home of Wichita, named their 2025 All-Star Team as well. Four Minnesota Twins prospects made the cut.

Kala’i Rosario, Kyler Fedko, Kaelen Culpepper, and Pierson Ohl all represent the Twins system among the recipients. Fedko and Ohl both made their way to St. Paul, with the latter pitching this season with Minnesota. Culpepper gets the Twins MiLB Hitter of the Year award, and Rosario parlayed his second trip through the Arizona Fall League into his best professional season.

Fedko certainly could have been in consideration for hitter of the year honors as well. The former 12th round pick (2021) batted .258/.367/.487 between Double and Triple-A. After hitting 19 homers over the past three seasons, he launched 28 this year. He also swiped 38 bags (in 46 attempts) and added another 25 doubles.

The standout season for Rosario culminated in a .256/.358/.487 slash line with 25 home runs and 35 steals (in 42 attempts). He added the speed after seeing others work that into their game during Fall League action.

Minnesota has a six-game road trip to conclude the major league season. Instructs have begun down in Fort Myers. The Arizona Fall League will kick off in October. Then it’s all eyes towards Spring Training 2026.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 13:44:46 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Avoids Serious Injury https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/walker-jenkins-hit-by-pitch-avoids-injury/ Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:35:14 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66728 If the Minnesota Twins haven’t kneecapped themselves by tearing down the roster, they have seen it happen due to unfortunate injuries. That hasn’t been exclusive to the big league roster either.

On Friday it was reported young pitching prospect Charlee Soto is officially done for the season. I guess maybe that’s the trade off for fellow star pitching prospect Connor Prielipp earning a promotion to Triple-A.

No one on the farm though, which is now ranked among the best in baseball, has been hotter than Double-A hitters Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper. The former was plunked on the hand Thursday and left the game.

Walker Jenkins ok after beanball

Playing against the Springfield Cardinals, Jenkins stepped in for his second at bat of the evening. Immediately following Culpepper’s ninth Double-A blast, and 18th of the year, Jenkins took a pitch up and in that got him on the hand.

After checking in on the status of his injury, it sounds like he won’t be slowed for long. Wichita plays Springfield again on Friday, and Jenkins won’t be in the lineup. He could miss just a single game though with a couple being the likely maximum.

Checked out postgame, it was revealed that Jenkins avoided any fractures or structural issues. That’s obviously great news for a guy who started behind after a hamstring injury.

In 46 Double-A games this season, the Minnesota Twins top prospect has batted .304/.411/.480 with ten doubles, a triple, and six home runs. He has continued to show a strong level of plate discipline despite the level up, owning a 38/28 K/BB.

Jenkins owns a .916 OPS since July 1 (34 G), and a 1.023 OPS across his last 23. As mentioned, he and Culpepper (38 G .906 OPS) are tearing up the opposition for Wichita. The more they can remain in the lineup, the better.

Promotions for MN Twins top prospects not unexpected

Not only is it great that Jenkins avoided injury for himself personally, but Minnesota Twins fans could soon see both he and Culpepper at Triple-A St. Paul. It would be an aggressive promotion strategy, but both have shown to be better than the competition thus far.

Like their parent big league club, the Saints and Wind Surge aren’t going to make the postseason. However, the Triple-A season is marginally longer and would be the final step prior to a major league call up.

Related: MN Twins Promote Star Pitching Prospect

At this point, it would take an unfortunate development for both Culpepper and Jenkins not to debut with the MN Twins next season. The sooner they get to Triple-A and acclimate, the further that potential timeline moves forward.

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 19:35:17 +0000 Minnesota Twins Update Reveals New MN Twins Top 100 Prospect; Others Tumble Down List… https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/mlb-pipeline-top-100-prospects-update-post-trade-deadline-2025/ Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:07:27 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=66455 There are a few different places where you can check in on the best minor leaguers in the Minnesota Twins system. If you’re looking for MLB prospect rankings, most fans and media members reference Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, the latter of which is owned and operated by the league.

Some prospect rankings update more often than others. The MLB Pipeline list receives a major update following the MLB Draft and MLB trade deadline. And after the MN Twins’ historic 2025 midseason sell-off, there were a lot of reasons to keep an eye out for this year’s deadline update.

Minnesota Twins prospect rankings update – post MLB trade deadline

On Monday, when the MLB Pipeline’s post deadline prospect update went through, the Twins debuted a whopping 11 new faces in their top 30 organizational rankings.

In total, Minnesota landed five youngsters on the updated top 100 prospect rankings. Only one of those five were acquired before the deadline a couple weeks ago — 18 y/o catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 54), who was sent to the Twins by Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran deal.

The other four — Walker Jenkins (No. 14), Luke Keaschall (No. 64), Emmanuel Rodriguez (No. 72) and Kaelen Culpepper (No. 77) — were already in the organization entering the season.

Emmanuel Rodriguez tumbles down MLB top 100 rankings

For the better part of the last two years, the Minnesota Twins top two prospects have been 20-year-old OF Walker Jenkins and 22-year-old OF Emmanuel Rodriguez, in that order. That is no longer the case, however.

After reaching as high as 37th at MLB Pipeline coming into the season, and top 20 at both Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus, Rodriguez dropped all the way to 72 in the latest Pipeline update. The problem for E-Rod hasn’t been his skillset… but instead, his availability.

Rodriguez was on the injured list with a right hip issue from June 2 through July 8th. He returned for just 10 days before landing back on the IL with a right oblique strain (July 18th). In total, Emmanuel Rodriguez has played just 43 games for St. Paul this season. And those are only the beginning of his minor league injury woes.

Related: Insider Compares MN Twins Rookie to MVP Candidate

Rodriguez has been largely the same prospect, when available. His .254/.411/.428 slash line could be better, but he has been more aggressive and willing to attack earlier in counts, something the Minnesota Twins have been asking him to do. It’s his inability to remain on the field that is hurting his prospect stock, though.

MN Twins’ top prospects are getting close…

Walker Jenkins — who has had his own health issues since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2023 — has been great at Double-A (.315/.421/.500 at Double-A), which makes his drop from 3rd overall prior to the season a bit odd.

He and Wichita teammate, Kaelen Culpepper, should both be ticketed for St. Paul by year’s end, if healthy and playing at a high level. Culpepper has been tearing up Double-A too, slashing .338/.402/.541. He earned his first top 100 ranking at MLB Pipeline pre-All-Star Game.

Eduardo Tait was the top piece acquired by the Twins during the trade deadline, and one of the highest rated prospects across the league to be dealt before July 31. Only Leo De Vries (No. 3), who was traded to the Athletics, is ranked higher.

Rounding out the group is Luke Keaschall, who will likely exhaust rookie status by the end of the season. He returned from the injured list after suffering a broken forearm. He immediately homered, then walked off the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Deadline acquisitions litter Twins top 30 prospects list

With the draft and trade deadline in the rearview mirror, the Minnesota Twins farm system has seen an influx of new faces. As mentioned earlier, 11 of the players acquired over the past month are now considered top 30 organizational prospects, per MLB Pipeline.

Related: Former GM Admits MN Twins Can’t Keep Top Tier Talent

Top pick Marek Houston, who is considered an already above-average major league defender at shortstop, makes his debut as the 8th prospect. The Duran return from the Phillies shows up as the top acquisitions, which also makes sense.

Minnesota crushed Louie Varland by sending him to the Blue Jays. Derek Falvey insists Kendry Rojas was worth it, and MLB Pipeline has the new lefty starting prospect at 7th. Riley Quick, the Alabama product, slots in just behind fellow former Crimson Tide pitcher Connor Prielipp.

Ryan Gallagher (Cubs trade for Willi Castro) and Enrique Jimenez (Tigers trade for Chris Paddack) were the only other deadline additions to make the cut. Adding a bunch of draft prospects to the system is always a positive reflection of scouting as well.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 08:07:31 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Have a New MLB Top 100 Prospect https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/top-100-mlb-prospect-debut-kaelen-culpepper/ Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:35:33 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=64547 For the past handful of cycles, the Minnesota Twins’ top prospect has been 2023 No. 5 overall pick Walker Jenkins. In that time, the Twins’ farm system has been lead by three prospects, Walker, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall.

Had Keaschall not broken his arm shortly after arriving in the big leagues earlier this season, he may have graduated from most prospect lists by now. But this week, a new young Minnesota Twins slugger has entered the top 100 fray.

Kaelen Culpepper hits top 100 for MN Twins in MLB Pipeline update

The Minnesota Twins used their 2024 first round pick (No. 21 overall) on shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, out of Kansas State. And since arriving in the Twins organization, the 21-year-old has done nothing but impress, already climbing the minor league ladder to Double-A Wichita.

This week, Culpepper was rewarded for the hot start to his professional career. Not only was he named to the All-Star Futures Game on Monday, but the very next day, he made his debut in the MLB.com top 100 prospects list, at No. 96.

Courtesy: MLB Pipeline

Culpepper entered pro ball with a reputation as having a very disciplined hit-over-power approach, and he lived up to it during his stop with Single-A Fort Myers. He makes a ton of contact and uses the entire field with outstanding bat speed.

He looked better at short than many expected, and the Twins already consider him one of the better at the position in their system. But some think he may not have the quickness and range to stay there long-term. He could be a Gold Glover at third, though that will put more pressure on his bat, and the Twins plan to expose him a little to the hot corner as well as second and even the outfield as he progresses, just to expand his defensive arsenal.

MLB Pipeline

Despite his selection to the Futures Game, and early promotion to Double-A, MLB Pipeline still has Culpepper’s big league debut projected all the way out to 2027. Given how quickly he is climbing up the organization, however, he could wind up making a mockery of that MLB timeline.

Culpepper’s hot start has Twins excited about his future

Prior to his Double-A promotion, Culpepper posted a .293/.385/.479 slash line in 54 games at High-A Cedar Rapids this season. In his first eight games at Double-A Wichita, he has gone 11-for-37 (.297) with two home runs and a .854 OPS.

Related: Twins Top Prospect Set for All-Star Appearance

The Twins have to feel good about how well Culpepper has controlled the zone. As a pro he has a 63/42 K/BB while flashing early power with 13 doubles, three triples, and 14 home runs. At 20-of-23 in stolen base attempts, his speed and instincts stand out, as well.

Culpepper has played 74 of his 79 professional games with the Minnesota Twins at shortstop, calming concerns over whether he can stick there, in the long-term. It’s still possible the Twins start to experiment with him at other positions more often, if he continues his speedy rise through the system.

In all likelihood, Carlos Correa will be this team’s shortstop for at least another season or two. No matter where he plays once he reaches the big leagues, Kaelen Culpepper’s early meteoric rise has given the MN Twins yet another top 100 prospect to get excited about.

]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2025 08:35:36 +0000 Minnesota Twins Twins Top Prospect Set for All-Star Appearance https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/kaelen-culpepper-all-star-futures-game-atlanta/ Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:32:12 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=64510 Despite the strong season for Byron Buxton fan voting was not kind to the Minnesota Twins centerfielder. Despite a 40-44 record, Buxton has been every bit the healthy superstar this franchise has always dreamed on. He’s likely headed to the All-Star Game in some capacity, but that will need to play out.

The All-Star Game is not the only event that will take place during the time off in Atlanta, Georgia during July. The Home Run Derby is also a highlight, and the All-Star Futures Game showcases the talent of tomorrow.

While the Twins may not find themselves heavily represented in the All-Star Game itself, they will put their best foot forward when it comes to the talent of tomorrow.

Kaelen Culpepper headed to Futures game for Minnesota Twins

Walker Jenkins is back for the Wichita Wind Surge, and he has been joined by fellow top prospect Kaelen Culpepper. The 2024 first round pick was promoted in late June and now he’s headed to the All-Star Game as well.

The Futures Game showcases the best talent of tomorrow, and Culpepper certainly fits the bill. The former Kansas State product was left off multiple top 100 prospect lists this spring, but that won’t be the case next year.

Across 54 games at High-A Cedar Rapids Culpepper hit .293/.385/.479. It earned him a promotion to Double-A Wichita and he has gone 9-for-33 in his first eight games. Culpepper already has two home runs for the Wind Surge.

The Minnesota Twins drafted Culpepper as a shortstop. At Double-A he has played seven games at shortstop with the 8th coming at second base. In High-A this season Culpepper played 46 games at shortstop with seven coming at designated hitter and one being at second base.

It seems likely that Culpepper could stick at shortstop for the Minnesota Twins as he ascends the system. He probably isn’t going to hit for immense power, but he has elite contact skills and can certainly find the gap. His speed also translates and he owns a 20/3 SB/CS rate on the farm.

Late first round picks are hardly a given. Minnesota took Culpepper 21st overall and have to be more than satisfied with the early results. An opportunity to showcase his talent on a grand stage is something exciting for Culpepper as well.

Related: Twins Cut Bait With Infielder, Prepare Royce Lewis’ Return

The 2025 All-Star Futures Game is scheduled for July 12th at 3:00 pm. It will be broadcast on MLB.tv and MLB Network.

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:32:16 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Provide Updates on Injured Pitchers https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/justin-topa-zebby-matthews-injury-updates-culpepper-eeles/ Thu, 13 Mar 2025 22:24:45 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=61355 The Minnesota Twins are now less than two weeks away from Opening Day when they head to St. Louis. Through Grapefruit League action thus far, they have remained relatively healthy. They own a 7-9 record through a pretty normal spring training as of now. Last season saw a myriad of injuries pop up just as Rocco Baldelli’s team was leaving Fort Myers, so let’s hope they leave a little more healthy this time around.

Thankfully, as we speak, Minnesota hasn’t seen any issues with their star trio of Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Royce Lewis. A couple of pitchers have experienced setbacks, but it appears none of them should be long term.

Minnesota knocked off the Pittsburgh Pirates in a big way on Thursday at Lee Health Sports Complex. The 15-3 drubbing featured 14 runs combined between the fifth and sixth innings. We received some injury updates yesterday, as well.

MN Twins Pitchers Escape Serious Issues

The starting rotation appears set to go for game 1. The Minnesota Twins will trot out Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack, and Simeon Woods Richardson. They also have nice depth at Triple-A, and which means the. St. Paul Saints should have a good year, too. The depth took a hit when Zebby Matthews exited his last start with hip discomfort, however.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sale Has Officially Hit a Snag

Fortunately he is no worse for wear, and returned to the mound on Wednesday night against the Boston Red Sox. Minnesota’s breakout candidate threw three scoreless innings. He didn’t allow a hit, struck out five, and walked just one. Matthews has now thrown 9 1/3 scoreless innings this spring.

“He probably had the sharpest outing that we’ve seen all spring. He looked fantastic. He threw some pitches I didn’t even know what they were. I think he threw a 94-mph cutter, which I didn’t even know he did.”

Rocco Baldelli on Zebby Matthews

Beyond just getting Matthews back on the mound, Minnesota received good news on Justin Topa. The reliever, projected as a middle-inning option, experienced shoulder soreness in his last appearance. He took some time to let it calm down and has returned to bullpen work. It appears the soreness isn’t something that should hold him back.

“It was more precautionary than anything. I was joking, fortunately or unfortunately, I know what elbow injuries feel like. I’ve never had any shoulder stuff. I was like, OK, maybe a ‘it’s not loose’ type situation. I threw a couple more, and it was still there. At that point, it was like, all right, I’m feeling it pretty much every pitch. Let’s get out of here and take a look at it. Thankfully, it was a pretty quick down time.”

Justin Topa to the Star Tribune

Last season, Topa began the year on the injured list due to a knee issue. He worked his way back to throw just 2 ⅓ innings, and was a complete non-factor for the Twins bullpen. The Minnesota Twins are hoping the guy that threw 69 innings with a 2.61 ERA for Seattle in 2023 returns this season.

If Topa can remain healthy he’ll be a key cog in the MN Twins bullpen. There isn’t much question regarding the leverage arms, but he can help bolster the middle relief group. Baldelli’s group is projected to be one of the best in baseball, and if that is going to happen, they will need to have their key contributors healthy.

Given both arms exited before they were expected to, the updates couldn’t be more positive. Topa is scheduled to return to game action on Friday.

Prospect injuries continue for Minnesota Twins

Earlier this spring the Minnesota Twins announced a couple of injuries for their top prospects. Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Jenkins are both behind schedule due to ankle issues. And this week it was revealed they aren’t alone when it comes to minor league talent remaining off the field.

Saturday the Twins will head up to Dunedin for a Spring Breakout game against the Toronto Blue Jays. 2024 first round pick Kaelen Culpepper was originally on the roster, but won’t play due a hamstring issue. The Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale reports that the injury isn’t expected to impact the start of his minor league season, though.

Related: Unfortunately for Brooks Lee, the Twins 2B Competition is Fixed

Culpepper played in 26 games during his pro debut season. He finished the year at High-A Cedar Rapids. Across 122 plate appearances the former Kansas State Wildcats shortstop slashed .242/.330/.394 with three home runs.

Joining Culpepper on the sidelines is prospect Payton Eeles. The former indy ball signee went from Low-A Fort Myers all the way to Triple-A St. Paul last season. He owned a .307/.435/.497 line across his first 111 pro ball games, and he looks like a legitimate big league depth piece.

Eeles has offseason knee surgery to address a cartilage issue and he will open the season on the injured list for St. Paul. If he can recover quickly and get back on the diamond, Eeles a player that should push for an opportunity on the 40-man roster.

]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:53:46 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins Twins Getting Aggressive With Top Pick Kaelen Culpepper https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-aggressively-promoting-prospect-kaelen-culpepper/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:42:15 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=53952 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.

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.

Related: Some Twins Fans Should Seek Therapy Over Their Rocco Baldelli Hatred

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.

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.

Related: MLB Pipeline Ranks the Minnesota Twins How High After Recent Update?!

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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