The Twins have a shortstop problem, but it’s the kind every organization wants to have.
Minnesota has spent years trying to build from within, and that work is starting to pay off. Kaelen Culpepper took a meaningful step forward in 2026, and now another first-round pick is pushing his way into the picture: Marek Houston.
Houston, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, was drafted with his glove carrying the loudest buzz. He was viewed as one of the best defensive shortstops in the class, and the real question was whether his bat would come around enough to make him an everyday big leaguer.
In 2026, he started answering that question.
Across High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita, Houston hit .312/.392/.455 with an .847 OPS and 12 home runs. For a player whose offense was supposed to be the secondary tool, that kind of production turned heads. MLB Pipeline now ranks him among Minnesota’s top prospects.
That creates a very real logjam because Culpepper is already here.
Minnesota took Culpepper with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, and he moved quickly enough to debut in August 2026. In 33 games, he hit .274/.328/.393 with a .721 OPS. He handled shortstop for all 281 innings of his time in the field, posting a .969 fielding percentage with just three errors.
Those are solid first impressions, and they’ve earned him a real chance to become part of the Twins’ future. But the longer this plays out, the more the fit at shortstop comes into question.
The difference may come down to range.
Culpepper has a strong arm, but scouts have wondered whether his range is enough to keep him at shortstop long term. Houston, meanwhile, gets consistent praise for his defense at the position. Baseball America has suggested Houston is a natural shortstop, while Culpepper might fit better at second or third base.
None of that means Minnesota has to make a move right now. Houston still has development ahead of him and isn’t expected to reach the majors until 2028. Culpepper has time to keep proving himself, too.
For now, the Twins can simply enjoy the fact that they’ve got two young infielders worth believing in. Houston has the chance to grow into an everyday major league hitter, and his glove could make him the shortstop of the future. That, in turn, could push Culpepper to another spot on the dirt - unless he sharpens his defense enough to make the decision even tougher.
There’s a long way to go, and plenty can change fast. Health will matter. Performance will matter even more.
But the big picture is clear: Minnesota may not need to go shopping for an everyday infielder. They might already be developing two of them.
In Other News...
Miguel Sans Latest Season Says A Lot About His Post-Twins Future
Miguel Sans 2026 season in Japan offered a familiar mix of power and inconsistency, the kind of profile that still keeps him on the radar even far from the Twins old clubhouse. With the Chunichi Dragons, he got into 95 games and supplied the long ball that has always been his calling card, while also dealing with the kind of interruptions that have followed him in recent years.
San missed time because of injury and even spent a seven-game stretch on rehab with Chunichis minor-league affiliate, a reminder that durability remains part of the conversation around his career. The Dragons fell short of the NPB playoffs, but his season was strong enough to suggest his next move could come in Japan again, where the fit appears more realistic than a return to MLB. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Reunion With A Familiar Ace May Come Down To One Thing
The Twins already have several starting pitchers under team control for next season, but that does not mean they can afford to sit still with the rotation. Pitching depth is always part of the conversation in Minnesota, especially with the injury risk that comes with leaning too heavily on a staff over the course of a long year, and that is why a familiar name has surfaced again as a possible fit.
Sonny Gray, who previously thrived in Minnesota, is suddenly in play as a target if the Twins decide they want to add a proven arm rather than trust only internal options. The appeal is obvious, but so is the question hanging over any reunion: how far the Twins are willing to go to bring him back, and whether the price tag on a deal would make sense for a club trying to balance immediate rotation help with longer-term flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Be Betting Too Much On Three Unproven Rookies
The Twins spent the back half of 2026 getting a closer look at three of their most important young hitters, and the early read suggests the next wave could arrive faster than expected. Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez all got late-season looks after being called up toward the end of the year, giving Minnesota a chance to see how each prospect might fit as the roster turns over again.
Culpepper handled everyday shortstop duties well enough to put himself in position for a regular role, while Jenkins showed real improvement late but still carries some uncertainty. Rodriguez is the trickiest case after dealing with both health and performance issues, and the Twins may not have much choice but to keep him around because of roster rules. If Minnesota leans on that group heavily in 2027, it will be asking a lot from players who are still learning on the job. [Read more 🡒]