Kaelen Culpepper Heads To Injured List With Return Possible

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.