Kaelen

Culpepper

Culpepper’s home run was off Payton Tolle, and the 23-year-old is now up to three home runs on the season while hitting .294 with eight RBI and a .927 OPS. Brooks Lee has been off to a slow start in the big leagues, so there is a chance that Culpepper, who is MLB Pipeline’s 52nd-ranked prospect, could push Lee for a job by May if he keeps this up.

Culpepper is the Twins’ second-ranked prospect and the 52nd-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He reached Double-A last season and slashed .289/.375/.469 with 20 home runs and 25 steals in 113 games between High-A and Double-A. There’s a good chance that he could be in Triple-A by the beginning of the summer if he starts this season in the same way he finished last season.

Culpepper’s hits today left the bat at 109 and 104 mph. The 2024 first-round pick is slated to open 2026 back in Double-A, but he might finish it as the Twins’ shortstop unless Brooks Lee takes a clear step forward.

Culpepper was 5-for-15 with two doubles and a triple in five games before getting hurt. The 22-year-old shortstop was the 21st overall pick in last year’s draft.

Culpepper, the 21st overall selection this year, hit .297/.366/.541 in nine games for low-A Fort Myers. He’s thus far played six games at short and one at third base. Expectations are that he’ll progress pretty quickly, adding to the potential logjam the Twins face with Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Jose Miranda, Brooks Lee, Willi Castro, Edouard Julien and Luke Keaschall between shortstop, third and second.

Culpepper receives a full-slot $3.9 million deal from Minnesota as the 21st overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old shortstop doesn’t project as a future fantasy standout, but he does a little bit of everything and has some long-term stolen base upside.

Culpepper was a three-year start for the Wildcats and hit .328/.419/.574 while adding 17 steals and 11 homers over 61 games in 2024. The 21-year-old is an assertive hitter who has shown a willingness to get on via walk, and his strong bat speed and willingness to go the other way gives him a good chance to hit for a high average at the next level. There are power questions that weren’t answered by a bad showing in the Cape Cod League (.699 OPS with a .318 slugging percentage), but 15-plus homer seasons are possible with added loft. He also will compensate for so-so power with the ability to steal bases, so Culpepper is a solid -- if flawed -- fantasy prospect.