Twins Select Kaelen Culpepper at #21 in the 2024 MLB Draft

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Minnesota Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper at number 21 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft. Culpepper is a middle infielder from Kansas State.

Image courtesy of © Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

Kaelen Culpepper is an exceptional athlete who has shifted defensively from 2B/3B to SS in his junior season at Kansas State.

With a strong offensive performance in 2024, Culpepper skyrocketed to the top of the college shortstop demographic.

At the plate, Culpepper has a strong overall skill set. He generates good bat speed, although a flatter bat path hasn't yet produced much loft. Additionally, he has good contact skills and solid plate discipline, although he does sometimes expand the zone a little too much.

Culpepper batted .328/.419/.574 in 2024. He hit 11 home runs and stole 17 bases. He walked 35 times and struck out 41 times.

Defensively, it's a plus arm, with good defensive actions and athleticism. Whether Culpepper sticks at SS as a pro or slides over to 2B or 3B, it should be an above-average defensive profile. If Culpepper continues his solid power output from the early part of the season, he'll be soaring up draft boards this spring.

While there may seem to be a lot of similar-ish type players in the system, the Twins have a type and Culpepper fits that mold. It's an offensive profile and they'll figure out the defense in time.

What do you think of the Twins selecting Kaelen Culpepper at #21 overall? Which of the Twins picks from day one of the draft are you most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments.

View full article

[Linus]

Typical Twins pick. Best of luck to the kid. I really wanted a college pitcher but the Twins don’t invest high picks or money on pitching. 

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

Another SS..... great.

[DJL44]

Hopefully he comes in a little below slot

[Heistyman]

Kaelen seems to be a guy that rises to the occasion and works hard.  Sounds like he is a SS for the long haul with a cannon.  The Twins may need to hone the approach to put the bat in the right counts.  I like what I've seen so far.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The best athletes are going to play shortstop and can almost always play anywhere else. He might be a better fit at 3B or 2B. 

[purplesoldier4u]

13 minutes ago, Linus said:

Typical Twins pick. Best of luck to the kid. I really wanted a college pitcher but the Twins don’t invest high picks or money on pitching. 

A bigger Nick Gordon?

[2wins87]

My reservations on Culpepper were that he seems like he could end up kind of in between.  He'll get a shot to play short but probably moves off, and then there will be more pressure on the bat, which is no sure thing  either.

Not like there are really any sure SS left in the draft at this point though (hardly any to begin with).  Have to let the development system cook and see where he ends up.

[sftwinsfan]

Guess I don't get to be excited about the 1st round pick every year. Not as easy picking outside the top 10. Hopefully he'll pan out to be a solid player. Maybe they think they can change his swing and get more power, but not a very big guy and doesn't seem to have much plus other than a good arm or a definitive defensive home. Doesn't seem to be a ton of upside either, but never know, I guess. 

[chpettit19]

Seems to fit their mold. Good contact skills and they'll try to add a little loft to his swing to get to more power. Good athletes who have good contact skills is as good a place as any to start from when drafting later in the first. 

[sftwinsfan]

3 minutes ago, purplesoldier4u said:

A bigger Nick Gordon?

That thought entered my mind. Maybe the most upset I've ever been at a draft pick at the time. He had those bloodlines though! 

[Paul Walerius]

But is he related to Daunte?

[Cap'n Piranha]

26 minutes ago, Linus said:

Typical Twins pick. Best of luck to the kid. I really wanted a college pitcher but the Twins don’t invest high picks or money on pitching. 

The Twins spent 3 of their top 6 picks on pitchers last year, mere months after trading the reigning batting champ for a pitcher they subsequently extended at $20M+ per season.

[Hubie29]

That must be 26 SS drafted in the last 5 years.  Camaniti would have been my pick. 

[BH67]

I surmise that the Twins are loading up on elite OPS production via players that are both average or better defensive players and capable of playing multiple positions, including the outfield even if they are primarily infielders. Maximizing OPS is the constant in their overall batting strategy.

[Old Twins Hat]

Hoping for a late bloom.  Not everybody is prime at 18 or 20.

[DaveW44]

We need more middle infielders for sure. 

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, Hubie29 said:

That must be 26 SS drafted in the last 5 years.  Camaniti would have been my pick. 

High school pitchers rarely work. Like, very rarely. 

Not surprised with this pick. Good luck to him!

[JesusisLord7]

I don't like the pick at all. Maybe he'll work out but you have Cam Caminiti a left handed pitcher who is the clear top kid on the board and we pass. Aren't we really shallow on LP in our system? Son of an MLB player. This pick gave me the same vibe as when we passed on Corbin Carroll for Keoni Cavaca. Look how that one turn out. We bypass the obvious move. Passed on Mike Trout back in the day and we passed on Aaron Judge. I'm so onboard for what the Wild, T-wolves and Vikes are doing but not liking this at all. 

 

[JesusisLord7]

Caminiti is the son of Ken Caminiti former Astro player. I'm in Arizona. He is polished. Really good outfielder as well. Sometimes you need to role with the bloodlines. 

 

[Twins33]

It doesn’t bother me that he’s another SS. He’s not the guy I wanted, but the guy I wanted was already gone. 
 

With who was available, I was hoping they’d go with Caminiti. I wish KC luck and hope he ends up great

[chpettit19]

6 minutes ago, JesusisLord7 said:

Caminiti is the son of Ken Caminiti former Astro player. I'm in Arizona. He is polished. Really good outfielder as well. Sometimes you need to role with the bloodlines. 

 

No he isn't. He's the cousin of Ken Caminiti.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd have taken one of the top catchers in round one. This system has none, imo. 

[Cap'n Piranha]

1 hour ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

Another SS..... great.

The only smaller problem than too many shortstops is too many pitchers.  Surplus shortstops are easily tradeable for bats at any other position, and except maybe catcher.

[Fatbat]

In 3 years, we will have SS’s playing in 6 of 9 positions in the field 

[PseudoSABR]

15 minutes ago, JesusisLord7 said:

Caminiti is the son of Ken Caminiti former Astro player. I'm in Arizona. He is polished. Really good outfielder as well. Sometimes you need to role with the bloodlines. 

 

Mod: Can user names not be used for propaganda.  Come on.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Fatbat said:

In 3 years, we will have SS’s playing in 6 of 9 positions in the field 

If we're that lucky they all turned out, it would be impressive

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd have taken one of the top catchers in round one. This system has none, imo. 

I don't mind the Culpepper pick, but I was hoping for 1 of the catchers at one of these first 2 picks. 

[Brandon]

The Twins are really good at manufacturing 2B.  Why not add another to our huge list of 2B in the system.  I definitely see lots of trades in our future.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

48 minutes ago, Paul Walerius said:

But is he related to Daunte?