The St. Paul Saints have built their 46-34 start through 80 games on more than talent and power. They’ve built it on a clubhouse that keeps pulling in the same direction, even as the roster keeps changing around them.
That matters in a place like Triple-A, where turnover is constant and the next phone call can send a player to the majors at any moment. The Saints have already had five players from their active roster called up by the Twins, and several more are close.
Still, the group has held together, and the result has been one of the most dangerous lineups in pro baseball. Going into Wednesday night’s game, St.
Paul had launched 142 home runs.
Baseball America ranked the Saints as the most talented team in Minor League Baseball entering 2026, and the production has backed that up. Even with injuries, promotions, and veterans opting out of deals, the offense has stayed loaded. Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins, who is part of that core, said the makeup of the team has been a major reason for the success.
“I don’t think people get how many good ballplayers and good men are on this team,” said Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins. “I think that’s one reason that we’ve been finding success, even without me here; they’re just a great group of guys that the clubhouse here is about as good as I’ve been in one since I’ve been in professional baseball.”
Jenkins, along with Kaelen Culpepper, Hendry Mendez, and Gabby Gonzalez, has helped drive the offense. So have players with major-league experience or proximity to it, including Matt Wallner and Alan Roden. And then there are the names that have quietly added depth and production: Ben Ross, Kala’i Rosario, Aaron Sabato, and Tanner Schobel.
For Saints shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, the tone in the clubhouse has stayed steady from level to level.
“Every level I’ve been at, I feel like the vibe is always the same,” said shortstop Kaelen Culpepper.
“Always positive, always good, you can get along with everybody, but I think that’s something that also has to do with the org, too. I mean, everybody in the org is the same way.
Everyone is chill: how they recruit, how they sign, how they watch guys. I think they do a really good job of picking out a really good group of guys, and it shows, especially at this level.”
That kind of environment can be tough to sustain in Triple-A, where players are essentially one step away from the big leagues and every roster move can change the room. But Saints manager Brian Dinkelman said the group has handled that reality the right way.
“We just have a lot of really good guys in there who encourage each other,” Dinkelman said. “Even if one of them isn’t having the playing time they want, you see them keep pulling for everybody and trying to keep everyone going well.”
Tanner Schobel said that energy makes a real difference day to day.
“People enjoy showing up to work every day, so that definitely plays a part in it,” said Saints infielder Tanner Schobel. “When times are tough, it’s not the most fun showing up to work every day, so that can kind of kill a clubhouse a little bit, but times are good right now. So people are enjoying coming into the clubhouse.”
That easygoing atmosphere extends beyond the field. The Saints still have a Bible study group that started last season and continues this year.
Players have also found ways to give back during homestands, including volunteering at Feed My Starving Children during the current one. After Sunday home games, some of them get together for cookouts before heading out to travel.
Schobel said that kind of connection carries over even when the uniform comes off.
“Even when we’re not here, we’re all hanging out together outside the clubhouse, outside the field,” said Schobel. “So I think there’s a correlation there.”
Jenkins said the relationships go well beyond baseball.
“I think it’s more than just baseball sometimes, and I think that’s one of those things when you’re here,” Jenkins said. “I mean, I spend more time with these guys than I do my wife. They’re your brothers, so it’s like having guys around that you enjoy spending time with and encourage one another is incredible.”
In Other News...
Walker Jenkins Made His Return Feel Bigger Than Just Baseball
Walker Jenkins return to CHS Field on Friday carried a little more weight than a routine rehab assignment. After nearly two months away, the Twins top prospect was back in St. Paul and back in the kind of setting where every at-bat gets watched a little closer, especially after a stretch that tested both his timing and his patience.
Jenkins made the night count once the game started, collecting three hits in five trips to the plate and looking every bit like a player trying to reestablish his rhythm. For Minnesota, the encouraging part is not just the production, but the way he handled the moment around it, with a return that felt bigger than the box score and a reminder that his presence can change the feel of a game before he even swings. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans May Need More Patience With Walker Jenkins Than Expected
Walker Jenkins has done plenty to reinforce why he remains the Twins top prospect, but the path from standout minor leaguer to big-league regular is still looking a lot longer than many fans hoped. Minnesota has not rushed him, and there are good reasons for that, starting with the way injuries have interrupted his development and the fact that the major-league outfield is already crowded enough to let the club be patient.
Jenkins also is not on the 40-man roster yet, which gives the Twins more runway before any decision becomes urgent. Add in the uncertainty around the next Collective Bargaining Agreement and the possibility of an offseason lockout, and the organization has even more incentive to avoid forcing the issue. For now, the focus remains on keeping Jenkins healthy and letting his talent keep doing the talking. [Read more 🡒]