C.J. Culpepper Has Nothing Left to Prove at Double-A

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Photo of C.J. Culpepper)

The Minnesota Twins have quietly built a reputation for uncovering intriguing pitching talent outside the early rounds of the draft, and C.J. Culpepper fits that mold perfectly. Selected in the 13th round of the 2022 draft, Culpepper is part of a class that continues to pay dividends for the organization, alongside names like Connor Prielipp, Andrew Morris, Zebby Matthews, and Cory Lewis.

A product of Cal Baptist, the 6-foot-3 right-hander has taken a steady, if occasionally interrupted, path through the system. Injuries have played a significant role in shaping his development, limiting his workload to 86, 58 1/3, and 59 1/3 innings across his three full professional seasons. A forearm strain in 2024 and a nerve issue in his finger that delayed his 2025 season both contributed to the stop-and-start nature of his progression.

Even with those interruptions, Culpepper has been effective when on the mound. He owns a 3.21 career ERA and has allowed just 11 home runs across 852 plate appearances, a strong indicator of his ability to limit damage. There have also been stretches where everything has come together, including a strong finish at Double-A Wichita last season when he posted a 2.56 ERA over the final two months. While it has not always fully clicked, he has consistently shown enough to remain on the radar, moving from A ball in 2023 to Double-A in 2024 and holding that level again in 2025.

Now in 2026, Culpepper is making his case louder than ever. Through five starts in Wichita, he owns a 2.75 ERA with a 28.2% strikeout rate and a 10.6% walk rate while holding opposing hitters to a .213 batting average. The improvements are notable. His strikeout rate has jumped by roughly 7%, while his walk rate has ticked down by nearly 2%. Perhaps more impressively, he is producing these results while facing older competition more than half the time, a sign that his performance is not simply a product of being advanced for the level. 

The underlying profile helps explain the success. Culpepper is not a traditional overpowering arm, but he features a deep arsenal that allows him to attack hitters in different ways. His fastball typically sits in the mid-90s and has previously reached as high as 97 to 98 mph, though that top-end velocity was less consistent last season as he dealt with the lingering effects of injury. A return to full health could unlock that extra gear again.

His best swing-and-miss offering is a low-80s sweeper that generates plenty of whiffs, and he complements it with a cutter in the upper 80s to low 90s. He will also mix in a curveball and changeup, though his most effective approach may come from leaning into a combination of his two-seamer, sweeper, and cutter to generate both strikeouts and ground balls.

There are still questions to answer. Durability remains the biggest concern, as he has yet to eclipse 60 innings in either of the last two seasons. His control can waver at times, which could affect his long-term viability as a starter. Those factors, combined with a lack of experience at Triple-A, left him unselected in last year’s Rule 5 Draft. 

At the same time, the Twins are approaching a decision point. The Triple-A rotation already features several arms, including Zebby Matthews, Kendry Rojas, John Klein, Trent Baker, Aaron Rozek, and Cory Lewis, which creates a logjam for innings at the next level.

But at some point, performance has to matter. Culpepper has shown he can handle Double-A hitters, and his early 2026 results suggest he is beginning to take a step forward rather than simply holding serve. Whether his long-term future is in the rotation or in a bullpen role built around his sinker and sweeper combination, the next step in answering those questions cannot happen in Wichita.

There are plenty of more highly touted names in the system drawing attention, but Culpepper is making it increasingly difficult to ignore him. He may not have the pedigree or the headline-grabbing velocity, but right now, he has something just as important. Results. And at Double-A, there is not much left for him to prove.

What stands out about Culpepper? Can he stick as a starting pitcher? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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