BREAKING: Twins Calling Up Top Prospect Kaelen Culpepper

[LastOnePicked]

How long have we waited for this organization to use their best players in situations like this? Jenkins is also needed up here. They may stumble, but it's better than losing the WC hunt with the likes of Gray and Roden.

[HarmonK03]

2 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I wouldn't go that far. Kriedler has a viable MLB role - he is the classic UTL IF who can also play CF, Perfect 12th/13th guy on the on the field roster IF he can hit even .225 with occasional power. Jury's out on the bat. Weave seen great hitting of 2 months and horrible hitting for the last 6 weeks. He's got that job for the rest of 2026 and probably for 2027 unless Ben Ross takes it from him. i see him starting 1- games a week to give guys rest playing SS, 2B, and 3B, with an occasional start in CF.      

If they call up Jenkins they have enough guys to cover CF.  I think what we have seen from Kreidler the last 6 weeks is more of who he is.  He came in with a career .133 batting average.  I would shoot for something higher or more upside for next year.  

[nicksaviking]

41 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I am not ready to replace Martin with Roden.  Roden has done even less than Martin.  

 

40 minutes ago, Chris Hove said:

Jenkins for Martin and Roden plays like once a week, maybe a PH here and there. If they kept Martin for Roden, that would be fine too, but I think they would want another lefty off the bench depending on who's playing at the time.

I'd be willing to split the difference with you two and call up the left handed Hendry Mendez instead.

[USAFChief]

27 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

He kept getting injured and prior to 2 of the last 3 games his bat has been pretty rusty.   I was curious to see how they would handle the Rookies not on the 40 man.  To me it appeared they would be conservative.  It does not appear they will be.   They can still manipulate service time if they wish, but I agree its doubtful if he is playing well.   

I think they still want to get the PPI award,  I think they are of the opinion Jenkins has the better chance.  It seems odd they are bringing up Culpepper but not Jenkins.  If you are going to rip off the bandaid,  rip it off on both with Buxton injured.  

I hope to hell they're not making roster decisions based on the remote possibility of an extra draft pick in 2028.

That'd be incredibly stupid 

 

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I wouldn't go that far. Kriedler has a viable MLB role - he is the classic UTL IF who can also play CF, Perfect 12th/13th guy on the on the field roster IF he can hit even .225 with occasional power. Jury's out on the bat. Weave seen great hitting of 2 months and horrible hitting for the last 6 weeks. He's got that job for the rest of 2026 and probably for 2027 unless Ben Ross takes it from him. i see him starting 1- games a week to give guys rest playing SS, 2B, and 3B, with an occasional start in CF.      

370 career MLB plate appearances and he’s hitting .184. He’s only been able to hit .238 in AAA. I’m guessing he’s a .200 hitter, true talent. .200/.260/.340

[DJL44]

How much leeway will the fans give Culpepper? If he is 0 for 10 this weekend I expect to see people here calling for Marek Houston.

[bean5302]

Exciting to see the call up for Culpepper. He was definitely rusty in his first few games back with the Saints, but he's had some good games lately. Looks like the Twins front office is convinced the rust has worked its way out and he's ready enough for MLB action.

Culpepper's overall performance is good rather than great, but it's just so hard to gauge AAA right now. The pitching is so lousy in the International League it robs players of their ability to showcase their talent. Any AA caliber hitter can also hit at AAA.

Here's hoping Culpepper's skills translate as directly as possible to MLB.

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The question is... Will Culpepper stick at SS, or will they move him around between 2B, 3B, and SS? I hope it's the former.

Assuming Gray is the other side of this move Kreidler is the only other option at SS…….he’s hitting in the .160’s since July 1. Not a difficult choice for the SS, 5 of every 6 games.

Team has an everyday 3B & 2-3 options at 2B…..,no reason to move him around. ……. He may pinch hit for Clemens at some point & if it makes sense to keep Kreidler in the line-up, he may go to 2B for a couple innings. ….. Cannot imagine “needing” Kriedler in the line-up though.

[JD-TWINS]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

How much leeway will the fans give Culpepper? If he is 0 for 10 this weekend I expect to see people here calling for Marek Houston.

Only the knuckleheads will call for Houston after just 3 games in Milwaukee. His runway is the rest of the season unless he hits under .150 for 3 weeks & then Kreidler may play more but Culpepper is here to stay.

[jmlease1]

2 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Only the knuckleheads will call for Houston after just 3 games in Milwaukee. His runway is the rest of the season unless he hits under .150 for 3 weeks & then Kreidler may play more but Culpepper is here to stay.

You would hope, but there have been people pushing Houston like crazy this season because he's had an excellent half year. Houston is a 2027 player (and I say that as someone who likes him) but you'll never convince some people.

I'm excited to have Culpepper up. It's the right move, and he's got real skills and potential. Hopefully people won't immediately quit on him if he doesn't light world up his first week. 

That said, here's hoping he crushes it out the gate! Wouldn't that be fun?

[LA Vikes Fan]

19 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

370 career MLB plate appearances and he’s hitting .184. He’s only been able to hit .238 in AAA. I’m guessing he’s a .200 hitter, true talent. .200/.260/.340

You may be right. Do you think Ben Ross could fill the same role and hit more? He might be the alternative. 

[PuckettPond]

Is his call up to improve the Twins or to open a spot for Houston in St. Paul who is the future Twins SS. Houston is the the most talented player the Twins drafted since they were Senators. Next year the most popular Houston will be in Minnesota not Texas.

[chpettit19]

27 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Only the knuckleheads will call for Houston after just 3 games in Milwaukee. His runway is the rest of the season unless he hits under .150 for 3 weeks & then Kreidler may play more but Culpepper is here to stay.

Him just blindly being here to stay would be just as big of a knucklehead move as wanting to dump him after 3 games. If he comes up and is clearly overwhelmed and not helping, he should absolutely go back down. If Kreidler is taking his playing time while AAA is still in season, send Culpepper back to AAA. If he can't outperform Ryan Kreidler, he's not helping the team and should be back where he can develop more.

[S Bart]

3 hours ago, Patzky said:

No options so losing him vs sending down Roden makes Roden likely. (Martin?);

I would rather it be Roden. Not sure what will happen with the catching duties next year. I doubt that the Twins will be able to sign Jeffers. CARATINI NOT THE ANSWER.

[chpettit19]

6 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

Is his call up to improve the Twins or to open a spot for Houston in St. Paul who is the future Twins SS. Houston is the the most talented player the Twins drafted since they were Senators. Next year the most popular Houston will be in Minnesota not Texas.

Welcome to Twins Daily! I hope you're right about Houston. He's certainly proven my concerns about his bat to be misplaced.

[mnfireman]

6 minutes ago, PuckettPond said:

Houston is the the most talented player the Twins drafted since they were Senators. 

Ummmm, that would be a NO.....

[Linus]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

I believe revocable waivers are a thing of the past.

Correct. Went away along with waiver trades after the deadline. 

[DJL44]

47 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Only the knuckleheads will call for Houston after just 3 games in Milwaukee. His runway is the rest of the season unless he hits under .150 for 3 weeks & then Kreidler may play more but Culpepper is here to stay.

So only a few dozen posts a day

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 hour ago, HarmonK03 said:

Why would you keep Jackson over Martin, we can find another backup catcher in the offseason.  I want the team to be better this year.  And Martin offers to the team than Jackson this year.

We can say that about any position. Keeping Jackson is worth 3-5 million in trying to find another backup catcher.