Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Three hits in Wednesday's win
Rotowire
Culpepper went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over Atlanta.
It was the first three-hit performance of the shortstop's brief MLB career, but Culpepper is quickly finding his footing in the Show. The 23-year-old has hit safely in seven straight games, batting .385 (10-for-26) over that stretch with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Culpepper's been consistently hitting toward the bottom of the order since being promoted Aug. 7, but that could change if he continues to rake.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Culpepper is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Orioles.
It's a routine day off for the rookie after he started the first two games of the series. Ryan Kreidler will step in at shortstop in Culpepper's stead.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Receiving Sunday off
Rotowire
Culpepper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
The 23-year-old started at shortstop in his first two MLB games after being called up Friday, and he'll get a break Sunday after going 2-for-5 with a walk, two hit-by-pitches and solo home run. Ryan Kreidler will handle shortstop for the Twins in the series finale.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Belts homer in MLB debut
Rotowire
Culpepper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Friday's win over the Brewers.
Culpepper took left-hander Shane Drohan deep in the fourth inning of Friday's contest to check off numerous firsts in what was only the second at-bat in the young infielder's MLB career. Culpepper figures to start nearly every day for the Twins now that he's been called up from Triple-A, and he offers plenty of fantasy upside after slashing .271/.367/.478 with 14 homers, 46 RBI, 63 runs and 17 steals across 74 games at Triple-A.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Returning to action at Triple-A
Rotowire
Triple-A St. Paul reinstated Culpepper (hand) from the 7-day injured list Friday.
Culpepper has appeared in just two games for St. Paul since June 28 due to a glute strain and a hand injury. He's progressed enough in his recovery from the latter issue to return to action at Triple-A, where he's slashing .272/.376/.492 with 15 steals and 14 home runs across 295 plate appearances.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Goes on Triple-A IL with hip strain
Rotowire
Culpepper was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday with a left hip strain, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
Culpepper had seemed close to getting a promotion to the big leagues, but that will have to wait now that he's been shelved. The 23-year-old has put up a .273/.377/.498 batting line with 14 home runs and 15 steals over 61 games with St. Paul this season.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Tending to glute injury
Rotowire
Culpepper exited early Saturday in Triple-A St. Paul's win over Toledo due to glute tightness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The 23-year-old shortstop appears ready to make his big-league debut after having thus far produced a .273/.377/.498 slash line with 14 home runs and 15 steals over 61 games with St. Paul, but his first order of business will be recovering from the glute injury. Per Emily Waldon of Baseball America, the Twins don't view the issue as a major concern, as Culpepper is expected to avoid a stint on the 7-day injured list and return to the St. Paul lineup in 3-to-5 days.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Promoted to Double-A
Rotowire
Culpepper was promoted to Double-A Wichita after hitting .293/.385/.479 with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases in 54 games for High-A Cedar Rapids.
The 21st overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft has shown improved power and speed in his second professional season along with solid walk (19.8 percent) and strikeout (16.6 percent) rates. Culpepper has been developed as a shortstop so far by the Twins, but it's not clear if that will be his eventual defensive home in the majors with Carlos Correa under contract through at least 2028 and Brooks Lee waiting in the wings behind him.
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Twins' Kaelen Culpepper: Sidelined with hamstring injury
Rotowire
Culpepper was scratched from Saturday's prospect showcase roster because of a hamstring injury, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
He is expected to be ready for the start of the minor-league regular season, however. Culpepper hit .242/.330/.394 with three home runs between Low-A and High-A last season in just 26 games after signing with the Twins. The 21st overall pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft has a strong hit tool, but he lacks impactful power or speed.
