Twins Minor League Report (8/7): Kendry Rojas Debuts, James Outman Goes Deep

Outman also whiffed at 5 sliders down and in. Wasn’t even close. There is a reason he had a K rate around 40% in the majors.

Rojas has talent, but also has a fair amount of work to do. The multiple errors are going to make his ERA look better, but the reality is he still yielded the double and the dinger. Kind of feels like he's in AAA on scholarship a bit and looks more like a AA pitcher to me right now. Hopefully he has a strong finish to the season, but 2027 looks more likely than 2026 for his arrival in MLB.

Culpepper is really having a great season, Pretty impressive for his first full professional season; he doesn't seem to be wearing down at all in the grind of a long season. You can see exactly why the Twins liked him so much in the draft and he should be looked at as a Top 100 prospect now...is he top 50? I'm sure there are evaluators who prefer 18=19 year old kids at low-A with theoretical higher ceilings, but I'm in on Culpepper. He looks nicely lined up to start next season in Saint Paul and potentially debut in 2026.

Would love to know more about how Tait looked behind the plate. I can see why people are into his bat, and if he can stick at catcher, then he's a prospect to be excited about. Happy to have him in high A when he hasn't even turned 19 quite yet.

23 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Culpepper is really having a great season, Pretty impressive for his first full professional season; he doesn't seem to be wearing down at all in the grind of a long season. You can see exactly why the Twins liked him so much in the draft and he should be looked at as a Top 100 prospect now...is he top 50? I'm sure there are evaluators who prefer 18=19 year old kids at low-A with theoretical higher ceilings, but I'm in on Culpepper. He looks nicely lined up to start next season in Saint Paul and potentially debut in 2026.

Culpepper has been fantastic. He has been the leader of the Wichita team. The concern, from me, was his tendency to chase on occasions. There are times when Kaelen takes some wild swings. I'm seeing enough physical and mental talent that I'm hoping Culpepper can be the Twins shortstop next season. That may be aggressive but he raises the bar for defense, base-running, and is a dangerous bat as well. 

13 minutes ago, Tom Froemming said:

Either way, he should definitely continue to develop at catcher, in my opinion. Stay on that path for now and see where it leads.

If that path leads to 1B, they need that as well.

1 hour ago, Tom Froemming said:

Not sure on the scholarship part, since if anything the Twins sent a lot of their trade acquisitions to a level lower than I would have guessed. Rojas is certainly the exception, though. I agree it seems more like he should be in Double A. I know he made one start there with Toronto, but he's also barely pitched above High A, and I'd say the Twins are typically on the less aggressive side in terms of promoting guys. But, Rojas didn't look out of place last night. His arm talent is evident, he needs to throw more strikes.

I didn't get to watch a ton of that Cedar Rapids game, but Tait had a passed ball and base stealers were 3-for-3 against him. Well, him and Langenberg, who I don't think is quick to the plate. Based on the looks I've had at Tait behind the plate, I think you have to use your imagination. You have to begin every analysis with "well, he's still only 18, so ..." That being said, I've seen some other reports that are complimentary of his work back there, so maybe I've just seen his bad days or am looking at the glass half empty. Either way, he should definitely continue to develop at catcher, in my opinion. Stay on that path for now and see where it leads.

well, that's why I said he's in Saint Paul on scholarship: he hasn't really earned his way up there based on performance, but on arm talent and projection of what he can be. Considering how little AA time he's had, it feels a little like PR to drop him in AAA right now ("we know you're pissed about Varland going out, but this super-talented prospect guy is close to the majors, we swear!").

So hard to evaluate catchers, especially in the low minors. They don't exactly get much help from the pitchers in controlling the running game (which is one of the reasons you have to pump the brakes on players with gaudy steal numbers at that level too) so I don't know that I'm that worried about Tait's ability there yet. I've heard he's got enough arm at least? (and did throw out 32% of guys in Low-A this season) Hopefully he looks comfortable back there, sets up a decent target, and passes the basic eye test for now. Would love to keep hearing more about how he looks back there, because if he can be solid defensively it would be a big win.

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Culpepper has been fantastic. He has been the leader of the Wichita team. The concern, from me, was his tendency to chase on occasions. There are times when Kaelen takes some wild swings. I'm seeing enough physical and mental talent that I'm hoping Culpepper can be the Twins shortstop next season. That may be aggressive but he raises the bar for defense, base-running, and is a dangerous bat as well. 

And for goodness sakes, let's get him to St. Paul now and avoid the Christmas rush!

14 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

And for goodness sakes, let's get him to St. Paul now and avoid the Christmas rush!

Think he is just as well off playing in Wichita. The difference is minimal and I'm afraid he he doesn't play every day for St. Paul.

54 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Think he is just as well off playing in Wichita. The difference is minimal and I'm afraid he he doesn't play every day for St. Paul.

I think this is right. Didn't really hold back Keaschall to not play in AAA last season. If Culpepper can replicate his development track (without the injuries) that would be spectacular.

It's going great for Culpepper right now. Love to see it. Going to be fun seeing prospect evaluators change their tune on him.

5 hours ago, Dman said:

I think others have mentioned this, but Houston's swing looks great for covering most all the zones of the plate, but I don't see much power there at all.  I Guess it makes sense to stick with what you do well in your debut and he is getting hits.  It is early, but I do wonder just how much power he is going to get to with that stroke.  I can see why other scouts had concerns now.

Why does everyone have to talk about power, or lack thereof, for most players.  The Twins just drafted what was reported to be the best defensive shortstop in the draft.  He begins play in A-ball and proceeds to hit well over .300 average.  Add he also has reasonable speed.  The Twins should be ecstatic if that is who he would be when he reaches the majors.  I know I sure would. 

Question.  Does steal #57 give DeBarge the most steals of any Twins minor leaguer, ever?  And there is what, about a month of season remaining?

20 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Think he is just as well off playing in Wichita. The difference is minimal and I'm afraid he he doesn't play every day for St. Paul.

I hear you, but the Twins rarely jump a guy two levels and if he is moved to St. Paul, he has to play since he is our best bet at SS

21 hours ago, Dman said:

Bottom line, I think mainly because it is really hard to get hits at the major league level.  With the game on the line would you rather have two doubles or two singles? Or one single or one home run?  the singles don't net you anything.  So when you hit the ball you want it to count and thus power rules the baseball world.

Want more examples.  No one even really seems to care who the batting champ is anymore.  They are far more interested in who has the highest OPS and the players that make the big bucks are players with power Otani, Judge, Soto to name a few.

Want further evidence and you could look at Arraez versus Kody Clemens. Arraez has the higher batting average.  He walks more than he strikes out granted he only walks at a 4% clip but K's at 2.5% clip which is just unreal.  Probably the best contact hitter out there. Clemens hits for a lessor average. Strikes out more than he walks, but he hits for much more power. 12HR's to Arraez's 6 in fewer at bat's.

Arraez's OPS is .723 and Clemens is .777. Don't like OPS try WAR.  Arraez has .6 WAR and Clemens 1.2 and he has played in half the amount of Games as Arraez. Want to go strictly offense with WRC+ Arraez is 106 and Clemens is 112.  By almost any measure of advanced stats Clemens comes out better than Arraez except for batting average. 

The conclusion: without power even a journeyman player can be seen as more valuable than a player with a high batting average that just hits singles and gets on base.  I'm not saying a player like Arraez has no value. Just less value than someone who can hit with power and hit more home runs. Getting on base and not making outs is important, but baseball has statistically proven that power is the most valuable tool as it helps you score more runs.  That is why everyone cares about power potential.

Don't often disagree Dman.  But my frustration is with everyone talking about power, power, power.  I don't disagree that power isn't important.  It is.  And much of what you say above is true.  But there is more to winning games than just power.  Let's not write off players just because they aren't a power guy.  A winning team needs some of both.  Otherwise you have a team of Wallner like players.  It wasn't long ago that he had something like 12 home runs and what was it, 19 rbi? 

Yes power is important.  And some fast players get a lot of doubles because they stretch that single.  Or they get a single and steal second.  Just think about DeBarge.  How many of his singles became doubles one or two pitches later?

Yes, power is important.  But it isn't the only thing.  At least for me. 

On 8/8/2025 at 11:25 PM, DocBauer said:

Prielipp is at AA, healthy, throwing hard, getting K's, extending the number of pitches per game, and has already surpassed his career IP from college and professional ball. The talent is there and the health finally seems to be there. So I'm not going to worry about much of anything right now.

But that BABIP is unreal. Even if he's been a little wild and thrown some mistakes, he simply has to be suffering at least partially from just bad luck.

Good points. And as the article stated:

I suppose the biggest thing is it’s August and Connor Prielipp is still pitching.

That alone is huge. He's healthy and pitching more innings. I still have faith that he will be able to contribute in the majors very soon. 

On 8/9/2025 at 1:31 PM, Dman said:

I totally agree.  Just not making outs and getting on base is important. There is a place for all kinds of talent.  It's just that power rules.  There is a lot to like about Houston and I think he is going to be a good hitter because he seems to cover the plate really well. 

The only potential issue I have is that in the draft there are only only so many players that have star potential.  Power is a big part of star potential and when you are picking at 16 you want to try and find a guy with traits that will make him better than the average MLB player.  Without power Houston might end up a utility player and I would want more than that at pick 16.  Other teams have shortstops that can hit for power and play short so if the Twins want to win they have to find players that will be better than other teams players.  Otherwise it's a losing battle.

There is lot's of time left for Houston to develop more power and given what has been said about him I believe he will.  We won't know much until the end of next year as to the likelihood of that happening. It took Spencer Steer three years to get there. Martin is still trying to get there  As I mentioned above power is such an important part of the game they will have him working on it. right now they just want him to get comfortable and do what he does which appears to be getting on base at a healthy clip.

If you want the Twins to be winners then you should want them to try and develop power in all their players as it will help them win more games and increase their chances at a world series title.

I don't know what type of power Houston will, or will not develop.  There is a chance, and in his case a real chance, that he could become a star player even if he doesn't develop that power.  Shortstop is one of, if not the most important position defensively on the field.  If he is as good with his glove as they say, he could be that special player who becomes a star with an average bat or good bat with minimal power.  

Was a long time ago, but I don't remember Ozzie Smith hitting many home runs.  Yet he was a star, a real star.  Is he in the Hall, or didn't he make it?  Anyway, a shortstop who is one of the league's best doesn't have to hit all that much to be invaluable to any team.  But then I value defense and speed much more than a lot of folks.