Minor League Report (9/15): C.J. Culpepper Delivers a Win to End Wichita's Season

[Matt Braun]

Now, only the Saints stand in the way of the off-season's unstoppable pull. 

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of CJ Culpepper)

TRANSACTIONS
No moves were made on Sunday.

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 2, Columbus 5
Box Score
Randy Dobnak: 5 ⅔ IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
HR: Payton Eeles (6)
Multi-hit games: Jair Camargo (2-for-4, RBI)

The Saints fell in their final road game of 2024. 

Fortune sure looked to favor St. Paul early. Payton Eeles surveyed the first pitch of the game, determined it to be ideal, and slashed the offering deep the other way, sending the ball clanking into the stands as the Columbus crowd sat stunned at what they saw.

And they didn’t stop there. Attacking in the 2nd, Carson McCusker singled, Diego A. Castillo walked, and Jair Camargo fought one off the other way, plating the second run in the young game—with more seemingly on the horizon. 

Only, those runs never came; the St. Paul rally subsided, and a Saints runner would only reach 2nd base three more times, with one of those adventures ending in a dashing Austin Martin running into an out at home (neither team tweeted about the play, but I can only imagine it rivaled Lord of the Rings in its excitement, detail, and heroic development.) St. Paul never scored again. 

The Clippers did, though, as Johnathan Rodriguez shot a Randy Dobnak sinker just over the right field wall for a three-run homer, soiling what was otherwise a pretty solid start from the righty. Myles Straw tacked on two runs with a 7th inning single off Giovanny Gallegos. 

James Karinchak—the Ricky Vaughn of the minors—ended the game with a scoreless 9th, striking out two. 

Triston McKenzie fired 2 ⅔ empty frames against the Saints on Sunday. You may remember him as yet another hurler in the Great Cleveland Pitching Machine, but his dreadful play with the Guardians in 2024 earned him a bus ticket to Columbus, where he’s pitched since June. 

The Clippers’ 2nd baseman, Juan Brito, ranks as the 9th-best prospect in Cleveland’s system. He singled and walked in four plate appearances.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
Wichita 4, Tulsa 2
Box Score
C.J. Culpepper: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
HR: Alex Isola (2)
Multi-hit games: Ben Ross (2-for-4, 2B, R, BB), Walker Jenkins (2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI), Alex Isola (3-for-4, HR, R, 2 RBI)

The Wind Surge concluded their season with a win on Sunday.

Sometimes, it may be a good idea to go gently into that good night: Wichita’s 2024 campaign has been dreadful, with their 80 losses only being bested by one team in the Texas League. They couldn’t hit and were only mediocre at pitching. Down years happen to every minor league squad—the oscillation of talent often leaves teams high and dry—so the offseason respite appeared especially tantalizing to Minnesota’s Kansas-based affiliate.

But, before that could happen, C.J. Culpepper had one last gem in him. With hay-colored hair flowing in the wind, he took the mound and dominated, scattering a trio of hits across five frames of work while striking out five. He even helped his cause by knocking down a liner and finishing the play for an out.

If Andrew Van Ginkel ever goes down, I think the Vikings could just send Culpepper out there; under a helmet, the two would probably look identical. 

Wichita’s bats had their hurler’s back, even if it did take them a few innings to wake up. Walker Jenkins blasted a double in the 5th to notch his first Double-A RBI before Alex Isola demolished a solo homer the next inning, giving the Wind Surge a 2-0 advantage.

Aaron Sabato walked following the homer and later scored on a Dalton Shuffield single. Isola then iced the game with his second RBI of the game, scooting a single beyond Tulsa’s shortstop (#OldFriend Noah Miller) to plate a fourth Wind Surge run.

Jarret Whorff placed the finishing touches on the season with a breezy 9th, striking out Bubba Alleyne on a dastardly changeup to end the year.

The Drillers are an affiliate of the Dodgers—and while L.A. is known for their tremendous farm systems—not a single member of their top 30 prospects played in Sunday’s game.  

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – C.J. Culpepper 
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Alex Isola

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:
#1– Walker Jenkins (Wichita) - 2-5, 2B, R, RBI
#2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) - 2-4, 3B, 5 RBI, K
#6 - David Festa (Minnesota) -  3 ⅔ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
#15 - Kala’i Rosario (Wichita) - 0-4, 2 K
#17 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 0-3, BB
#19 - C.J. Culpepper (Wichita) - 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Indianapolis @ St. Paul (6:37 PM) - RHP Caleb Boushley

View full article

[FlyingFinn]

Culpepper had a couple great games to the end on injury-plagued season. He's my prediction for big mover next year, helping out the Twins by September.

[Doctor Wu]

I Hope you are right about Culpepper. His last games were impressive. 

[jmlease1]

Dang, I kind of forgot about Culpepper! I expect he'll start back in AA, but if he stays healthy he'll be Saint Paul next season as the pitching pipeline continues to roll on.

Wish Walker Jenkins had more time to get acclimated to AA before the end of the season. Really wonder if they'll send him to the AFL since he missed a big chunk of time at the start of the season or if they'll just let him have an offseason. He might not have immediately set Wichita on fire, but I think he's probably ready for it next season. What a talent.

[LambchoP]

I think Eeles, McCusker and if healthy, E Rodriguez will all factor into the major leagues at some point next year. Lower down the pipeline, Jenkins and Culpeper could be moving up fast if they continue hitting and pitching so we'll. Will be fun to see how many of these young guys pan out as big leaguers. They're crushing it in the minors, just need to take that last final step to the show. I just hope all this supposed depth isn't used as an excuse for not signing anyone of value in the off-season. Big league club needs pitching help. One starter and at least one legit lefty for the pen. Wouldn't mind Santana coming back to man first base either, if we can't get anyone better.

[DocBauer]

14 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Culpepper had a couple great games to the end on injury-plagued season. He's my prediction for big mover next year, helping out the Twins by September.

Not disagreeing with you. The only way he doesn't get a half season at AAA is if he's blocked by other healthy arms producing.

But my $ is on Cory Lewis. I think he'd be in the same conversations we've had in regard to Matthews and Morris if he had been 100% to start the season.

[DJL44]

20 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

But my $ is on Cory Lewis.

Lewis and Raya promoted to the Saints

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

But my $ is on Cory Lewis. I think he'd be in the same conversations we've had in regard to Matthews and Morris if he had been 100% to start the season.

Oh, I agree. I just think he's ahead of Culpepper and will start at AAA. People expect his rebound after last year. Culpepper is flying under the radar right now.

[jmlease1]

59 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Lewis and Raya promoted to the Saints

I think there's a decent chance that both start back in AA, just because of the crowd in Saint Paul. I'm expecting Varland to graduate into the bullpen and SWR has done enough to earn a presumption for MLB rotation in 2025, but Ryan and Paddack are going to be back so that would mean Festa, Matthews, Morris, Adams, and Nowlin might make up the initial AAA crop. That would keep Raya, Lewis, and Culpepper in AA to start.

but regardless of how it shuffles out, I'm pretty excited to have that many starting pitching prospects in the high minors for 2025.

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

That would keep Raya, Lewis, and Culpepper in AA to start.

Interesting transactions today - both Raya and Lewis moved to AAA for at least one shot there this year. I do predict Lewis will be in AAA at the start of next year. If Raya is up as well, think of the rotation - Matthews, Lewis, Raya, Morris, Varland, and probably a veteran (I've got Festa and SWR in the majors).