Twins Call Up No. 2 Prospect Kaelen Culpepper With Team 3 Games Back in AL Central
Updated
Updated · MLB.com · Aug 7
Twins Call Up No. 2 Prospect Kaelen Culpepper With Team 3 Games Back in AL Central
3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Aug 7
Summary
Kaelen Culpepper is joining Minnesota for a key series in Milwaukee, with the Twins seeking offense while sitting three games behind the AL Central lead and a half-game out of a Wild Card spot.
The 2024 first-round pick reached the majors after only 11 Triple-A games post-injury, but he went 7-for-17 with four extra-base hits over his last four and appears to be regaining form.
Culpepper still brings the profile that made him the Twins' No. 2 prospect: a 17.4% strikeout rate during a 20-homer, 25-steal 2025 season, then 14 homers and 17 steals this year despite missing a month with a glute strain.
His immediate test will be big league pitch selection—he crushes fastballs and rarely misses in the zone, but his 38% chase rate on breaking and offspeed pitches could shape how quickly he sticks.
Minnesota also gets defensive flexibility, as Culpepper can handle shortstop, third or second while trying to give a playoff push an energy lift as much as an offensive one.