The Minnesota Twins are bringing up one of their top young infielders, and Kaelen Culpepper looks set for a quick spotlight.
According to JD Cameron of Just Baseball Media, Minnesota has selected the contract of the 23-year-old shortstop from Triple-A St. Paul. Culpepper, the Twins’ No. 2 prospect on MLB Pipeline, is expected to make his major league debut in the upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Culpepper arrives with the kind of offensive profile that can turn heads fast. The 2024 first-round pick out of Kansas State put together a .271/.367/.478 line with 14 home runs across 343 plate appearances. He also added another layer to his game on the bases, going 17-for-20 in stolen base attempts.
His path through the infield has been flexible from the start. Culpepper opened his Kansas State career at third base before moving over to shortstop, and MLB Pipeline’s scouting report says the long-term fit is still not fully settled.
“The jury is still out over where Culpepper’s ultimate defensive home will be. He plays a solid shortstop with plenty of arm for the premium position, but his lack of first-step quickness or range could mean a move in the future,” Culpepper's MLB Pipeline bio reads.
“He did get a little time at third and second in 2025, and there likely will be more of that as he hits the upper levels full time.”
For Minnesota, it’s a notable roster move at a time when the club is trying to keep pace in the AL Central. The Twins enter Friday’s game against the Brewers three games behind the Chicago White Sox in the division standings.
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