Kaelen Culpepper Is Quickly Proving the Twins Got It Right

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of David Malamut (photo of Kaelen Culpepper)

When the Minnesota Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the reaction from fans was… tepid. Another shortstop? Limited power? It didn’t exactly scream “impact pick” for a team that already had a glut of middle infielders. But just a couple months into his first full professional season, Culpepper is already proving the doubters wrong.

Through 177 plate appearances with High-A Cedar Rapids, Culpepper is slashing .289/.390/.467 with an .857 OPS, six home runs, and 22 RBI. That production is quickly changing the narrative, especially for a player who was knocked for his lack of pop coming out of Kansas State.

Culpepper’s junior year at K-State saw him hit 11 homers and 15 doubles in 291 plate appearances. Scouts loved his bat-to-ball skills but questioned whether his flat swing would ever generate enough lift to tap into more power. The Twins clearly saw something they could work with. Fast forward to 2025, and Culpepper has already racked up 14 extra-base hits in just 38 games. The results suggest the adjustments are working. Additionally, the swing looks violent. Culpepper is attacking the ball and creating lift required for big-league power.

 

It’s not just the power that’s standing out, but his approach at the plate that is mature beyond where many prospects find themselves at his age. Culpepper is walking at an impressive 18% clip while striking out only 12% of the time. He’s also making an impact on the basepaths, swiping 11 bases and getting caught just once. That’s a dynamic offensive profile at any level, and one that’s starting to garner national attention.

Keith Law recently updated his top 50 prospects list and slotted Culpepper at No. 45. “He’s an above-average shortstop who might get a little better with more consistency,” Law wrote. “And I might have undersold his bat a little on draft day.”

That kind of recognition speaks volumes. Prospects are inherently volatile, and Culpepper still has plenty to prove, but this looks like a pick that’s aging very well. The Twins bet on a high-contact hitter with elite athleticism and strong makeup, trusting their development system to unlock the rest. So far, that bet is paying off.

Defensively, Culpepper has held his own at shortstop, though some scouts project a move to third base. Initially, that raised eyebrows, could he hit enough to justify the move? But with the power starting to show up and his overall offensive game rounding out nicely, the concerns are fading. He may still have the bat to profile at the hot corner. And if he is able to hold his own at shortstop and stick there, we could be looking at a potentially special player.

The draft is a minefield, especially when picking toward the back half of the first round. So far, the Twins look like they made a savvy play, identifying a talented player with room to grow and helping him tap into that upside quickly. There is still a lot of room for things to go wrong and for his game to fade, but for now the Twins front office should be applauded for the draft pick.

What do you think of Kaelen Culpepper’s breakout season? Is it too early to call this pick a win, or are you ready to buy in? Let us know in the comments.

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[Linus]

KC is having a great season. I’m excited that he is hitting with power as the bat can play at third if need be - it takes a special player to be a good SS in the big leagues. One note of caution is that good college players should excel at A ball so it’s too early to proclaim anything about the pick. We will get to see him in AA soon I suspect. 

[Mahoning]

It's silly to demand that a third baseman hit for power. Wade Boggs? If a guy can hit for average, run the bases, and play third, is there no place for him in baseball?

[dxpavelka]

Speaking of underselling his bat, you posted this article 24 hours AFTER he hit home runs leading off BOTH games of a doubleheader giving him 8 for the season rather than 6.......

[Whitey333]

Yes it's way too early to get excited.  I hope he does well and has a great career.  Fact is prospects are a dime a dozen and are suspects until proven otherwise.  The Twins hype these up and almost all of them flame out.

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, Mahoning said:

It's silly to demand that a third baseman hit for power. Wade Boggs? If a guy can hit for average, run the bases, and play third, is there no place for him in baseball?

You don't have to be a slugger, but you also can't be an empty singles hitter, either. Boggs in his prime was also a doubles machine and hit more than 40 of them in 7 straight seasons, and his first 10 seasons had a SLG% under .400 exactly never. Boggs also took walks like crazy: led the league in OBP 6 times and finished his career with an OBP of .415. Hitting for average is great, but you can't swing at everything and not take your walks. You also have to show you can do some damage if the pitcher hangs one. doesn't have to always be a homer, but it shouldn't always just be slapping another single. That said, Wade Boggs is a first-ballot Hall of Famer for a reason!

But I'm hoping that Culpepper can stick at SS. He's looking like a quality defender there, even if it's not elite, and matched with his bat could be a real asset if Correa is looking to move off SS in the next 3-4 seasons. I'm guessing the same people who have been predicting a move to 3B or 2B were the same ones saying Brooks Lee wouldn't play SS in MLB too...

Culpepper is doing everything right so far: making plenty of contact, getting on base, and showing good pop in his bat, while also looking comfortable in the field. I suspect he'll get a promotion to AA in the next month unless he picks up another knock or a massive slump.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Culpepper is ahead of the curve.  The initial analysis was a bat first with limited power, and questions on his defensive position.   What this article has really undersold was the defensive expectations.  The report on him was a player that likely couldn't stick at short and would have to be a 3rd or 2nd baseman.  Meaning whatever bat skills he had would be going against better offensive players than shortstops.   There is 1 line - Keith Law stating he can now be an above average shortstop.  That completely changes Culpeppers profile and how good the bat needs to be.   If he is getting positive WAR on the defensive side of the ball at short stop,  his improved power and bat to ball skills will really start to stand out.   Its why Law moved him into his top 50, even with the improved bat his profile is likely still a top 150 prospect if he is a 3rd baseman,  but solidifying himself as a SS has really increased his value.  .   I agree we will know more when he moves to AA, but this is looking promising.  

[Mike Sixel]

It's definitely been much, much, better than expected! Hoping he's in AA soon. Like, days ago....

[LambchoP]

The true test will be once he gets to AA. Let's just KEEP HIM HEALTHY! It's the one thing Twins prospects can't seem to do. Keep him on the field and he may end up the heir apparent to Correa at SS. Possible IF in a few years?

Lewis at first

Keaschal at 2nd 

Culpeper at SS

Correa at third. 

Eeles, Winokur or DeBarge at utility 

[Mike Sixel]

33 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

The true test will be once he gets to AA. Let's just KEEP HIM HEALTHY! It's the one thing Twins prospects can't seem to do. Keep him on the field and he may end up the heir apparent to Correa at SS. Possible IF in a few years?

Lewis at first

Keaschal at 2nd 

Culpeper at SS

Correa at third. 

Eeles, Winokur or DeBarge at utility 

Lee is much more likely the utility. 

[thelanges5]

He could follow the same track as Keaschall and we could see him at Target Field sometime in 2026!

[DJL44]

34 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

He could follow the same track as Keaschall and we could see him at Target Field sometime in 2026!

I really hope Culpepper doesn't miss a half season with ligament replacement surgery and then months the following season due to a broken arm.

[Jocko87]

Was kinda wondering if moving Schobel to AAA opened a AA spot for him. Soon enough, I guess. 

[amjgt]

I like articles like this. It's why I come to TD. Given what TwinsDaily generally is (a collection of aspiring sports writers, or people who have other professions but also like to write about sports), I also hope people don't mind when I give a little feedback. 

Article structure isn't my department. Maybe it's good. Maybe it's bad. I don't know. What I DO know is that one of the things I was hoping to see when I opened this article was a little discussion about the few players that were picked around him. 

I love seeing what Culpepper is up to in the minors, what people think about him and how that's changed even in the last year, but especially since the title of this article is "Kaelen Culpepper Is Quickly Proving Minnesota Twins Got It Right in 2024 Draft" I was hoping there would be some additional information provided around who the Twins maybe just missed out on or who they passed on. 

[Bodie]

7 hours ago, Mahoning said:

It's silly to demand that a third baseman hit for power. Wade Boggs? If a guy can hit for average, run the bases, and play third, is there no place for him in baseball?

You haven't got the message?  There is now one official way to skin the cat.  And it means HOFer Boggs sucked because he didn't homer or K enough.  Gold Glove be damned!  Batting titles are for old fogies, and idiots. 

Personally, I ignored said memo and regularly cite him as an example of the idiocy of reliance on analytics.  

How many of his "Boggs hole" singles would have never made it to the outfield wall if left alone??? He didn't care if it was a bullet or a dying quail as long as it hit the field before leather.

[Bodie]

The only thing "proved" in Cedar Rapids is that hog processing facilities stink decades after they are gone...

(Cedar Rapids resident 1989-94)

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, Bodie said:

You haven't got the message?  There is now one official way to skin the cat.  And it means HOFer Boggs sucked because he didn't homer or K enough.  Gold Glove be damned!  Batting titles are for old fogies, and idiots. 

Personally, I ignored said memo and regularly cite him as an example of the idiocy of reliance on analytics.  

How many of his "Boggs hole" singles would have never made it to the outfield wall if left alone??? He didn't care if it was a bullet or a dying quail as long as it hit the field before leather.

nm. Not worth the time.

[AceWrigley]

9 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

Yes it's way too early to get excited.  I hope he does well and has a great career.  Fact is prospects are a dime a dozen and are suspects until proven otherwise.  The Twins hype these up and almost all of them flame out.

Wow, that's some serious Debbie Downer shite right there. Nobody is saying he's Major League ready or anything. I think its exciting when a draft pick can start his pro career playing well enough to push the organization to promote him. Not sure you can ask for more than that.

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, Bodie said:

You haven't got the message?  There is now one official way to skin the cat.  And it means HOFer Boggs sucked because he didn't homer or K enough.  Gold Glove be damned!  Batting titles are for old fogies, and idiots. 

Personally, I ignored said memo and regularly cite him as an example of the idiocy of reliance on analytics.  

How many of his "Boggs hole" singles would have never made it to the outfield wall if left alone??? He didn't care if it was a bullet or a dying quail as long as it hit the field before leather.

There's literally no one saying Boggs sucked as a player. Modern analytics looks at Wade Boggs and tells people that he was actually underrated in his time: Boggs was a worthy MVP candidate 5 times and never won one, and only finished in the top 5 once. Citing Wade Boggs as an argument against analytics is positively silly: the analytics LOVE Boggs.

Kaelen Culpepper probably ain't Wade Boggs, though (awesome as that would be) because Boggs is a first ballot Hall of Famer and those don't come around too often. But not because anyone in the Twins organization is saying "don't play like Wade Boggs". 

[Fatbat]

49 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

There's literally no one saying Boggs sucked as a player. Modern analytics looks at Wade Boggs and tells people that he was actually underrated in his time: Boggs was a worthy MVP candidate 5 times and never won one, and only finished in the top 5 once. Citing Wade Boggs as an argument against analytics is positively silly: the analytics LOVE Boggs.

Kaelen Culpepper probably ain't Wade Boggs, though (awesome as that would be) because Boggs is a first ballot Hall of Famer and those don't come around too often. But not because anyone in the Twins organization is saying "don't play like Wade Boggs". 

Twins should look for a wade boggs type in every draft. Twice.

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Twins should look for a wade boggs type in every draft. Twice.

I'm sure they are. Hard to find hof players though. 

[Fatbat]

With analytics, building a player profile with AI and feeding information into a program. Projecting should be much more scientific. Its the looking for that profile thats important. Wont guarantee results. 

[DocBauer]

I wasn't a big fan of Culpepper initially because I was uncertain of the upside. I saw hit potential, some power, and decent speed. He didn't play SS full time until 2024, IIRC, as a solid upperclassman had the job initially. But I read that the tools were there to potentially stick.

I just thought there were enough question marks that I wasn't completely sold on him.

Good thing I'm just a fan and not a scout, LOL. Getting a chance to be a full time SS now means he's doing nothing but grow in to the role. And he seems to have all the athleticism needed to stay there. He's lowered the chase rate that somewhat of a concern. While he may or may not ever have 20 HR power, he clearly has some HR power in addition to obvious DOUBLES ability. And whether or not he's got 20SB ability is YTB, he's clearly got the ability to run the bases and make a couple plays with his legs. 

I think he's at AA really soon. End of this month at latest. And I think DeBarge is just behind him. In fact, we really should be talking more about him and what he's been doing this season as well. He's also ready for AA, or really close.

Am I the only one pleasantly surprised by how well Schobel has done? He deserved his promotion to AAA and has already announced himself with a HR. 

All 3 of these guys have a ladder yet to climb. They aren't MLB ready yet. But between starting jobs and utility roles, isn't it exciting to look at Keaschall, Schobel, Culpepper, and DeBarge all 4 as Twins options by 2026 at some point? We focus on top young pitching prospects and young OF prospects a lot, but the INF has some really good looking, versatile young athletes ready...in the case of Keaschall...and a handful of others that might be ready within a year or so from now. And not to dismiss them, but there's a handful of others a little further down that have potential as well. I'm really excited about the INF over the next few years.

[twinstalker]

Kaelen Culpepper should be in AA, so if he weren't hitting well, he'd be a failed pick.  As is, he's a wait and see.

[jmlease1]

19 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

Kaelen Culpepper should be in AA, so if he weren't hitting well, he'd be a failed pick.  As is, he's a wait and see.

I don't get this kind of take. He's in his first full year as a professional and is thriving at high A and in line for a promotion to AA by July. Why would there even be any conversation about him being a "failed" pick, whether he's hitting this well or not? People are too willing to write-off prospects if they don't succeed immediately or get bumped a level as soon as they have a couple of good months.

[dxpavelka]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:55 AM, Whitey333 said:

Yes it's way too early to get excited.  I hope he does well and has a great career.  Fact is prospects are a dime a dozen and are suspects until proven otherwise.  The Twins hype these up and almost all of them flame out.

ALL teams hype their prospects and most flame out.  A story as old as the game itself.  

[Ruven]

On 6/6/2025 at 6:34 AM, Mahoning said:

It's silly to demand that a third baseman hit for power. Wade Boggs? If a guy can hit for average, run the bases, and play third, is there no place for him in baseball?

TL;DR — Culpepper with some power and a solid obp will be much more valuable at short than at third. 
______________________________
Regarding Boggs: context. In Fenway other positions can be looked to for power. In 1984, to pick one season early in Boggs’ career, the Red Sox catcher, all three outfielders, and their majority DH all hit 20+ HRs. and other guys hit double digit HRs. The 80s Red Sox could “afford” a low-power obp machine at third.

Is it a requirement that 3B be a slugger? No. Not in Fenway, or in lineups that get power from non-traditional contributors, like the Twins had when Dozier was homering tons from second base  

Now, most teams would be better off with a near .400 obp guy (Arraez, Mauer) taking up a power position instead of some lesser slugger because “power position”. And if the Twins had an obp guy like that (Julien, for a minute) and would not play him we’d all be irate.

But note! Playing a Boggs-like hitter at a power position means the lineup will [probably] need to compensate for that lack of power from a traditional source by getting it elsewhere. Home runs matter. We’ve witnessed in this first third of the Twins season the negative impact to an offense when little or no power is generated by the traditional power positions (C, 1B, 3B, LF, RF, DH). Jeffers, Vázquez, France, Miranda, Bride, Lee, Lewis, Bader, Kiersey, Wallner et al have all underperformed in the power numbers, for various reasons — approach, health, talent, whatever. And other than Larnach and Buxton, and Castro lately, no one has hit for power. And the Twins have too often struggled to score.

[Greglw3]

I have a pretty strong feeling that Culpepper is gonna make his journey to the major leagues quickly.