Kaelen Culpepper Heads To Injured List With Return Possible

[Steve Drumwright]

Whether or not he returns this season, the Minnesota Twins know they have something good in Kaelen Culpepper.

The rookie shortstop was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday by the Twins due to a strained left hamstring. Fellow rookie shortstop Ben Ross was called up from Triple-A St. Paul.

Culpepper left Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the New York Yankees in the sixth inning after trying to beat out a double-play grounder and feeling something in his left hamstring. Twins Daily's No. 3 prospect was slashing .275/.333/.404 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his first 31 games. Manager Derek Shelton said the Twins would like to have Culpepper back for the final two games of the regular season, but also know the rookie's season could be over.

Ross came up when rosters expanded Sept. 1 (he was to be Rule 5-eligible this offseason anyways). He only played in three games, going 0-for-4. Ross was slashing .273/.379/.500 with 20 homers and 71 RBIs in the minors this season.

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[DocBauer]

Bad news for K-Pepper. But at least it's not serious. And he's already flashed enough ability to know he's for real.

We also have a pretty good idea what Kreidler is capable of. Time.to let Ross play a bunch and see if you actually have something in him. He's younger than Kreidler and has some actual upside. They also both play just about every position on the field, though Kreidler might be a better glove. But it should be Ross Time over the next couple of weeks as much as possible, IMO.