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

[Richie the Rally Goat]

8 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

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

 

[Dman]

It's a solid pick.  He has a plus hit tool and a lot of positional flexibility. I was concerned with the chase rate out of the zone, but he is one of the better hitters in this class.  Pretty sure the Twins will work to get him to at least average power if not more, but we'll have to wait and see. No one liked the Keaschall pick either until he started flying through the system.

The Twins are big on high character guys and I heard there might be questions about Camaniti in that regard.  He was heavily connected to SF and they didn't take him.  Lot's of the top teams had their chance.  I think there were reasons he fell down boards.

[DocBauer]

I see Culpepper ad a better defensive version of Keaschall. Both have hit and contact ability and good control of the zone. They've noth got good speed. But Culpepper has the better hands, better overall athleticism, and stronger arm. That's why he's considered a true SS. My problem is if he can't stick at SS, will he have enough power/offense to warrant a move to 3B? I guess it's safe to day he could play 2B pretty easily. 

He was a safe pick, while still having upside as well. I just don't know if I would have gone this direction. I think I would have gone with Slade Caldwell as a future CF with hit ability and speed to drive the opposition crazy. If they really wanted a SS, why not someone like young with potential like Wyatt Sanford to groom from 18yo to being the team's SS in about 4 years?

Again, nothing wrong with Culpepper. We might all be in love with him a year from now and be celebrating. And at the 21st spot this year, you could have gone a lot of directions. He's a fine choice. I just think I would have gone a different direction.

[arby58]

2 hours ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

Another SS..... great.

That's where the best non-pitcher athletes generally are - what is wrong with drafting that? They may end up anywhere else on the field, but you know a player who didn't play shortstop probably won't have as much positional flexibility.

[Dman]

7 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I see Culpepper ad a better defensive version of Keaschall. Both have hit and contact ability and good control of the zone. They've noth got good speed. But Culpepper has the better hands, better overall athleticism, and stronger arm. That's why he's considered a true SS. My problem is if he can't stick at SS, will he have enough power/offense to warrant a move to 3B? I guess it's safe to day he could play 2B pretty easily. 

He was a safe pick, while still having upside as well. I just don't know if I would have gone this direction. I think I would have gone with Slade Caldwell as a future CF with hit ability and speed to drive the opposition crazy. If they really wanted a SS, why not someone like young with potential like Wyatt Sanford to groom from 18yo to being the team's SS in about 4 years?

Again, nothing wrong with Culpepper. We might all be in love with him a year from now and be celebrating. And at the 21st spot this year, you could have gone a lot of directions. He's a fine choice. I just think I would have gone a different direction.

Yeah I don't know why the Twins fell off of Caldwell. He was the only prep player left on the board with a plus hit tool.  I liked Waldschmidt there too although his weak arm did give me some pause the hitting skills plus power seemed elite to me.  Still he fell pretty far down the board so other teams didn't like something there either. I have to think they really believed in Culpepper.  It took them a long time to pick at 21.  There must have been a lot of debate over who to take there.

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, KnoblauchWasFramed said:

Another SS..... great.

Just recent history for the Twins, Dozier, Sano, Polanco, Arraez, Miranda, Castro, and Lewis were all SS originally. And I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

[bjorks]

Twins walk away with SS/SS/3B/HSP and must believe in their "late round pitching development". They must be extremely high on this Hill kid (LHP). Point being Caminiti is there and they draft the same type of player back-to-back when the system is void of a legit LH starter (in true MN fandom, I'm hoping-but-not-expecting much from Priellip). I too am in AZ and saw Caminiti throw 3x and despite his age, he is POLISHED for being 17. 

I do get the HS pitching was down a bit and college bats/arms were better, but Caminiti has a much higher ceiling than Festa in my opinion and I'd rather draft the "best" HS arm in the draft and walk away with Culpepper or DeBarge at #33. Amick could be steal of the night.

[Jocko87]

5 hours ago, Hubie29 said:

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

If they draft anything other than a SS or pitcher/catcher/CF I will have questions.  The SS all fill at other spots, even if they change names.

Draft up the middle, the corners will take care of themselves.

[madtowntwin]

I've heard Tim Anderson comparisons....Wouldn't that be nice!!

[Doctor Wu]

50 minutes ago, madtowntwin said:

I've heard Tim Anderson comparisons....Wouldn't that be nice!!

IF he can hit like Anderson does --- or rather, did (Miami just released him after his disappointing start to the  season) ---that would indeed be nice. 

[Doctor Gast]

To be honest, I wasn't too excited about this draft. I like Culpepper's work ethic  & character. I also like that the Twins have gotten away from the big bat type & went after a line-drive hitter. Was Culpepper an underslot to where they could get an advantage down the line?

The Twins' organization is full of pseudo SSs, where very few will stick at SS & be acceptable at the position & none will be exceptional. 

 

[Doctor Wu]

9 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

To be honest, I wasn't too excited about this draft. I like Culpepper's work ethic  & character. I also like that the Twins have gotten away from the big bat type & went after a line-drive hitter. Was Culpepper an underslot to where they could get an advantage down the line?

The Twins' organization is full of pseudo SSs, where very few will stick at SS & be acceptable at the position & none will be exceptional. 

 

You are right; not an exciting draft. But also like you noted, if we are able to target those players with a real good work ethic and strong character, combined with the necessary patience and development, then maybe we will be smiling at the results a few years down the road. Always gotta hope!

[Doctor Gast]

8 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Just recent history for the Twins, Dozier, Sano, Polanco, Arraez, Miranda, Castro, and Lewis were all SS originally. And I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

Cuddyer & Gordon were others in the 1st round out of HS.

[Doctor Gast]

10 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

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

I was hoping the same to begin '24 because many said this was a good crop of catchers. But as I looked closer none of them interested me. It's a case of too little too late. Last year's top college catchers Teal & Carrigg were potential elite catchers. None of these prospect's arms, athletism & bat impresses me. IMO few will stick at catcher. Since last year I see our only hope is to find a very good defensive young MLB-ready or a very soon-to-be catcher to trade for. I hear no talk so I'm not holding my breath.

[Trov]

11 hours ago, Hubie29 said:

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

SS are generally the most athletic guys on a team.  Most high school SS never pan out at majors, and the few of the college guys do as well, however, if they can play SS they can play just about anywhere else.  If they can play only 1B they have limited options if they suck there.  SS is a hard position to fill, so having plenty that can fill in is helpful too.  Also, they have increased trade value if they can actually stick there. 

In terms of Camaniti, from what I read he is LSU commit and was expected to go much higher, meaning he most likely will be looking for above slot deal.  Atlanta may be able to get it done, but sometimes guys slide in drafts for a reason.  HS pitchers are so volatile as well. He may just decide to go to LSU and in 3 years hope to be much higher pick. 

[Otaknam]

11 hours ago, Paul Walerius said:

But is he related to Daunte?

He’s too thin to be related to Dante! No common DNA there. 

[HrbieFan]

12 hours ago, Jeremy Nygaard said:

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. 

The best college SS defensively and projects to play SS long term

[DJL44]

10 hours ago, Dman said:

The Twins are big on high character guys and I heard there might be questions about Camaniti in that regard.  He was heavily connected to SF and they didn't take him.  Lot's of the top teams had their chance.  I think there were reasons he fell down boards.

He's a high school pitcher. That's plenty enough reason for him to fall down the draft boards. I'm not a fan of the rumor mill attacking the character of a teenager. The overwhelming majority of teenagers have some growing up to do. I assume Caminiti is no different from most teenagers.

[bighat]

Looks like a future outfielder. Looking forward to seeing how this guy hits! 

[KBJ1]

The only pick I like is the LH pitcher, IF they can sign him. Passing on other top pitchers and a catcher (which we have none of) not to mention OF is a big mistake!

[Dman]

28 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

He's a high school pitcher. That's plenty enough reason for him to fall down the draft boards. I'm not a fan of the rumor mill attacking the character of a teenager. The overwhelming majority of teenagers have some growing up to do. I assume Caminiti is no different from most teenagers.

Not trying to assassinate anyone's character and I just mentioned it "might" be a reason.  He was highly connected to Detroit and San Fran. The Giants didn't take Yesavage either so they weren't in on pitching like everyone thought so likely nothing to do with Camaniti. I agree HS pitchers come with tons of risk.  He could have just fallen based on that.  It was just something I read on just one site and it made me wonder if it might have contributed to his fall, but there are plenty of other reasons.

[jmlease1]

I thought KLaw's analysis of Culpepper was interesting.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5638783/2024/07/15/mlb-draft-2024-analysis-first-round/

Quote

KLaw: "If you’re into drafting athletes with good swings who play up the middle, though, this is your guy."

Seems like he's got the defensive chops to stick at SS and the kind of swing that will get a lot of hits, and if the Twins can work on getting him to be more selective on what he offers at, they'll have a real player. A reasonable choice at 21.

Janek might have been an interesting pick in a weak catching class, Caminiti is a higher-risk, higher reward player, but Culpepper looks to fit a lot of what the Twins try to do and has a lot of potential. I never mind drafting position guys at SS, C, or even CF; where they finally land defensively works itself out and I don't know that you can ever have too many options in the system at those spots.

[DJL44]

So, where does he rank? Is he top 10? He's definitely not top 5 with Jenkins, Lee, Rodriguez, Keaschall and Festa ahead of him.

[nicksaviking]

13 hours ago, purplesoldier4u said:

A bigger Nick Gordon?

A bigger (stronger) Nick Gordon probably would have been a pretty good player though.

I know some people wanted Brecht and others wanted Honeycutt, but the Twins have been pretty reliable about doubling down on what is currently working, and running far away from the things that aren't working. They have steered clear of pitchers with command issues for a few years now and hitters with strikeout issues since leading the league in that category last year.

On the other hand, middle infielders with good bat-to-ball skills? They've been doing well there at all levels, so this is no surprise.

[BSLinPA]

21 hours ago, PseudoSABR said:

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

Mod: Be sure to run all User Names through P-Sab.  He is clearly the authority on determining what User Names are acceptable.  How dare fellow Twins fans be permitted to identify themselves as they wish?? 

P-Sab, You've told us everything we need to know about you ........ let's stick to baseball.

[twinstalker]

Huh.  At this point not thrilled with any.  I thought the Kentucky OF would have been good at 33 but he went right before.  I guess we'll see on all.

[Unwinder]

On 7/14/2024 at 9:14 PM, PseudoSABR said:

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

Re-evaluating my opinion of Jesus based on this guy's username.

[Shaitan]

On 7/14/2024 at 8:57 PM, 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. 

 

The steroid user? If you're going to cite bloodlines, you have to mention the rest...

[Shaitan]

On 7/14/2024 at 11:14 PM, DocBauer said:

Just recent history for the Twins, Dozier, Sano, Polanco, Arraez, Miranda, Castro, and Lewis were all SS originally. And I'm sure I'm forgetting someone.

Knoblauch (okay, not recent, but since it's in the OP's user name)