Kaelen Culpepper, one of the top shortstop prospects, made his return to the lineup for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on Sunday after a stint on the injured list. Sidelined since June 16 due to a left hip strain, Culpepper stepped in as the designated hitter, though he went hitless in four at-bats as the Saints fell to Louisville, 3-0.
Before his injury, Culpepper, at just 23 years old, was turning heads with a solid performance this season. He boasted a .273/.377/.498 slash line, which is quite impressive when you factor in his 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases over 61 games. His offensive prowess, reflected in a 124 wRC+, was making a strong case for a call-up to the majors, which might have happened if not for his injury, leaving the door open for Kyler Fedko to get the nod instead.
Meanwhile, the Twins have discovered a diamond in the rough with Ryan Kreidler at shortstop. Kreidler has been delivering at the plate, hitting .290/.365/.527 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 101 plate appearances.
His defensive metrics are equally impressive, with +1 Defensive Run Saved and +1 Out Above Average over 108 1/3 innings at shortstop. Given Kreidler's performance, the Twins are under no pressure to rush Culpepper back into the shortstop position.
There's even a hint that the team might be considering a shift for Culpepper to second base, especially as Luke Keaschall sees more action in the outfield.
On the pitching side, right-hander Bailey Ober took the mound for a rehab start with High-A Cedar Rapids, marking his return from the injured list where he had been since May 31 due to a right flexor strain in his elbow. Ober's outing saw him give up three earned runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings, with no walks and one strikeout, across 57 pitches.
The Twins are eagerly awaiting Ober's return to bolster their rotation, especially with Mick Abel expected to be out longer than anticipated. The team has been piecing together their pitching staff, relying heavily on Mike Paredes in bullpen games to fill the gap left by Ober.
Prior to his injury, Ober had shown flashes of brilliance, despite a tough last outing against the Pirates where he allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Before that game, he was sporting a respectable 3.92 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 17 walks over 62 innings in 11 starts, indicating his potential to be a key contributor once he fully recovers.
In Other News...
Twins Lose One Of Their Few Bullpen Answers At Worst Time
Anthony Banda had become one of the more dependable arms the Twins could lean on out of the bullpen, which is what made his exit in Colorado sting even before the club had to sort out the roster move. Minnesota is already piecing together relief innings from a group that has been too inconsistent for comfort, so losing one of the few pitchers who had provided real stability only narrows the margin for error.
Cody Laweryson was summoned from Triple-A St. Paul to take Bandas spot, giving the Twins another look at a depth option as they try to navigate a bullpen that has been under pressure for weeks. With a tough stretch ahead, the bigger question is how Minnesota covers the innings Banda had been handling and whether the current relief mix can hold up long enough for help to emerge. [Read more 🡒]
Former Twins Arm Chris Paddack Gets Another Shot With A Contender
Chris Paddacks season has already turned into a tour of attrition, and the latest stop is another reminder of how quickly a veteran arm can become a depth solution in July. After time with the Marlins, Tigers and Reds, the former Twins right-hander is now working toward his next opportunity after Cincinnati moved on, leaving him looking for a way back into a rotation and a chance to stabilize a career that has been interrupted by injuries and uneven results.
The appeal for his new club is straightforward: there is a need for innings, and Paddack still has enough track record to be considered for a starting role. Injuries and recovery timelines have thinned the pitching staff, so the door is open for him to step into meaningful starts if the contract gets finalized and the fit holds up. [Read more 🡒]
The Next Five Weeks Could Define This Twins Season
Midway through a season that has felt equal parts promising and precarious, the Twins have put themselves within striking distance of the final American League Wild Card spot while still leaving plenty of doubt about whether they belong in the race for the long haul. Their offense and starting pitching have given them enough of a foundation to stay relevant, but a 39-45 record and a spot 2.5 games back also make the margin for error awfully thin as the calendar turns toward August.
With the trade deadline set for Aug. 3, the next five weeks are shaping up as a test of conviction as much as performance. Minnesota has to decide whether this is a team worth reinforcing for a push or one that needs to consider a different path, especially with the bullpen still unstable, injuries clouding the pitching staff and the club not yet looking fully settled enough to call itself a true contender. [Read more 🡒]