Twins Minor League Report (3/27): Kaelen Culpepper and Alan Roden Lead Saints to Win in their Saints Debuts

Since the Saints are the only affiliate playing until next week, we’ll treat the minor league report as if it was a Twins Game Recap. We’ll include notes on the other affiliates as news breaks. In other words, this will be a bit more than just a regular summary and hopefully more detailed to give you more information.

As you know, the daily minor-league reports are a staple at Twins Daily. You’ve come to expect it and we sure enjoy writing it, even in the middle of the summer when all six affiliates have a game and a couple of them are doubleheaders. There is a great group of commenters who read the report daily, discuss fun topics (or not-so-fun topics), and ask questions. We really do appreciate you, and your input. Here’s to another fun-filled, exciting 2026 season! 

If you have any questions or comments, let us know in the comments or DM me. What are your favorite parts of it, and are there parts that seem unnecessary? We welcome your suggestions and look to continue making it a Must Read for fans. 

TRANSACTIONS
On Thursday, the Saints announced their Opening Day roster. That included playing Kendry Rojas, Julian Merryweather and Cory Lewis on the Injured List. 

Catcher Patrick Winkel, who has played with the Saints the past two seasons, has been released. A plus-defensive backstop, he could be a successful coach or manager if he chooses that direction when his playing career is done. At just 26, he could continue to play for several yeas with his knowledge of the game and defensive chops. 

RHPs Matt Bowman and John Brebbia have been added to the Saints roster. Bowman was a non-roster invite to big-league spring training. When told he wasn’t going to make the Opening Day roster, he elected free agency, likely hoping for a big-league opportunity. Not seeing one, he re-signed with the Twins. Brebbia has spent big-league time with five organizations over parts of eight seasons going back to his debut in 2017. After the 2025 season, he became a free agent and quickly signed with the Colorado Rockies on a minor-league contract. He remained in their spring camp until the last day. Like Bowman, he looked around and after not seeing a big-league job, chose to sign with the Twins.  

SAINTS SENTINEL
St. Paul 4, Indianapolis 2
Box Score
Fast Start in the First
The Saints started the season with a strong first inning off of former Twins and Saints pitcher Noah Davis. Right 28-year-old right-hander pitched five innings over four appearances with the Twins last year and posted a 16.20 ERA. He posted a 3.78 ERA over 14 games and 16 2/3 innings. To be fair, he also earned a World Series ring because he pitched in five games for the Dodgers earlier in the season and in six innings posted a 19.50 ERA.

After Walker Jenkins led off with a pop out, Gabriel Gonzalez was hit by a pitch. Kaelen Culpepper singled to left in his first Triple-A at-bat. Emmanuel Rodriguez followed with a walk to load the bases. Alan Roden came to the plate and lined a single to center that drove in the game’s and season’s first two runs. After Orlando Arcia struck out, Eric Wagaman singled to right field to drive in Rodriguez with the third run of the inning. 

Slow Start, Quick Turnaround
Connor Prielipp was given the Opening Day nod for the Saints. In a game that started at 42 degrees and after a long top of the first, it took the lefty a little while to find himself. In Connor vs Konnor: Part 1, the game’s top prospect (Konnor Griffin) walked. Prielipp followed with a strikeout, and Griffin stole second. The Password (Jhostynxon Garcia) followed with a walk, and Endy Rodriguez singled to drive in Griffin to make it a 3-1 game. 

At that point, Saints pitching coach Carlos Hernandez came to the mound to chat with his starter. Whatever the former big-league southpaw said, Prielipp listened. He recorded a strikeout and got a ground out to end the first inning. 

The Saints co-pitching coach, Ryan Ricci, said after the game, “We both just emphasized how efficiency is important for him, and how his stuff is too good to fall behind guys and let them run up his pitch count.” 

In the second frame, Prielipp got a ground out and two pop outs in the infield. In Connor vs Konnor: Part 2, the game’s top prospect checked his swing on a pitch, but too late. He made contact with the ball and it went out to second base for the ground out. Kind of a nice, easy out, except Griffin’s speed made it very close. The next two batters struck out. 

In the fourth inning, he got a grounder back to the mound, a ground out to third base, and followed it up with a strikeout.   

So again, after the Hernandez mound visit, Prielipp bore down and retired the next 11 batters he faced. Staying true to their plan with the talented lefty the past couple of years, his day was done after four innings, at 61 pitches. 

Ricci added, “He did a great job of adjusting the last three innings and thought it was awesome to see him get through four (innings) on his pitch count after being at 27 after the first.” 

Looking at his pitch-mix in the season opener, Prielipp threw 25 four-seam fastballs (41%), 18 sliders (30%), and 10 curveballs (16%). He added five changeups and three sinkers as well. His fastball averaged 95.4 mph and topped out at 97.0 mph. He averaged 95.6 mph in the first inning and 93.6 mph in the fourth inning. It’s also interesting to note that in 31 pitches against left-handers, he threw 16 fastballs (52%) while in 30 pitches against right-handers, he threw just nine fastballs (30%). 

Ricci noted, “His key to success was the command of his fastball and slider in the later innings, to get ahead, and getting back in the zone. I think he was able to execute some change ups late that also kept hitters off balance and kept them guessing.” 

Another Twins Tally Thanks to Top Picks
The Saints had more opportunities, but their only other run came in the top of the fifth inning when Kaelen Culpepper lined a single to right field to drive in Walker Jenkins to make it 4-1 Saints.   

The Bullpen Got the Job Done
Brian Dinkelman turned to the Twins minor-league veterans to close out the rest of the game. It started with Raul Brito who tossed two scoreless innings before giving up a run in the seventh inning when he gave up three hits including one to Griffin who scored Indianapolis’s second run. He walked the leadoff man in the bottom of the seventh, but Hernandez made another mound visit. Brito got an infield pop out and a strikeout. Grant Hartwig came on to face Griffin (representing the game-tying run) and struck him out to end the inning. 

Hartwig threw Griffin six pitches. One was a 94 mph sinker. He mixed that with five sweepers including the final pitch, his lone whiff. 

Dan Altavilla came on for the eighth inning. Many Twins fans were surprised one of the stars for Team Italy in the WBC did not make the team’s Opening Day roster. Instead, he is with the Saints. He struck out the first two batters he faced before a fly out ended the inning. 

He threw just 14 pitches. Nine were fastballs and averaged 96.4 mph. He hit 97.8 mph with one pitch. His primary pitch is his changeup, which he only threw four of them. He also threw one slider. He had just two whiffs, both by blowing fastballs past hitters. 

Still clinging to a 4-2 lead going to the bottom of the ninth, Dinkelman turned to another veteran, Matt Bowman, to close the door. Bowman got a ground out to second base, a fly out to center, and ended the game with a knee-buckling called third strike. 

Of those veterans, Ricci noted, "(It's) always good to have veterans like those guys around. Great for some young bullpen arms like (Marco) Raya and (Trent) Baker among others to learn from them and their experiences. They go about their business the right way, and it feeds off on the other guys for sure." 

Jenkins Replaced in the 8th Inning
With two on and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Jenkins was due up to face former Twins minor leaguer, lefty Evan Sisk. Dinkelman called on Kyler Fedko to pinch hit for Jenkins. Normally that move is going to raise some eyebrows. 

However, when you consider that Jenkins’ spring training was shortened by a hamstring injury, and that he’s had similar injuries in the past, it may be wise to start him on this type of program for the first few weeks. They did that with Kaelen Culpepper in Cedar Rapids at the start of last season when he began his season after injuring his hamstring last spring. In addition, the game-time temperature was just 42 degrees, so certainly it was much cooler than that later in the game.

New Role, but Dinkelman Wins His Second Triple-A debut
For those of you who don't remember, Brian Dinkelman was drafted by the Twins in the eighth round of the 2006 draft out of McKendree University in his home state of Illinois.  He steadily climbed up the Twins organizational ladder. On Opening Day in 2010, Dinkelman played his first Triple-A game. Of course, the Twins Triple-A affiliate back then was the Rochester Red Wings. He batted ninth and played right field.  

Take a look at the box score and all the fun names from Twins 2000s History to make you smile, including on the Red Sox affiliate on the other side of the diamond. Dinkelman went 1-for-4 in the game. In the second inning, he flew out to left fielder Daniel Nava off of #OldFriend Boof Bonser. With two outs in the fourth inning and Danny Valencia on first base, Dinkelman singled to right field. Valencia advanced to third. The crowd rejoiced!  The Sox brought lefty Alan Embree into start the top of the sixth inning. Embree won that matchup by coaxing a ground out. In his final at-bat of his playing-days Triple-A debut, Dinkelman came to the plate with no one on base and two outs. He grounded out to MLB Network Radio's Kevin Frandsen who tossed the ball across the diamond to Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates for the out. 

So, I'm sure, in some small, quiet way, Brian Dinkelman is excited to get his first Triple-A win as a manager in his first Triple-A game as a manager. 

If we are talking about revenge, which we're not, but research is fun. 11 days later, The Woo Sox were in Rochester. In the fifth inning, Dinkelman hit his first Triple-A home run. It came against Chad Paronto. 

PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Hitter of the Day  
Alan Roden (St. Paul): 1-for-1, 4 BB, 2 RBI. 

Pitcher of the Day 
Connor Prielipp (St. Paul): 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 61 pitches, 36 strikes (59.0%)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did today.

#1 - OF Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - 1-for-4, R, K (played CF, batted 1st)
#2 - SS Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul) - 3-for-5, R, RBI, 2 K (played SS, batted 3rd)
#3 - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 0-for-5, 2 K, (played RF, batted 4th)
#4 - C Eduardo Tait (TBD) - DNP
#5 - LHP Connor Prielipp (St.Paul) - 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. 61 pitches, 36 strikes (59.0%)
#6 - LHP Dasan Hill (TBD) - DNP
#7 - OF Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-for-3, R, BB, K (DHd, batted 2nd)
#8 - LHP Kendry Rojas (St. Paul) - Injured List (hamstring)
#9 - SS Marek Houston (TBD) - DNP
#10 - RHP Charlee Soto (TBD) - Injured List
#11 - RHP Riley Quick (TBD) - DNP
#12 - RHP Andrew Morris (St. Paul) - DNP
#13 - 3B/CF Brandon Winokur (TBD) - DNP
#14 - 3B/SS Quentin Young (TBD) - DNP
#15 - RHP Marco Raya (St. Paul) - DNP
#16 - OF Hendry Mendez (TBD) - DNP
#17 - 2B/OF Kyle DeBarge (TBD) - DNP
#18 - RHP C.J. Culpepper (TBD) - DNP
#19 - C/OF Khadim Diaw (TBD) - DNP
#20 - RHP James Ellwanger (TBD) - DNP

WEEKEND PROBABLES
Saturday:
St. Paul @ Indianapolis (3:05 pm CT) - RHP Zebby Matthews
Sunday:
St. Paul @ Indianapolis (12:35 pm CT) - RHP Andrew Morris 

CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 0-1
St. Paul Saints: 1-0

Please feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today’s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related!

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!