Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins — who fired manager Rocco Baldelli after a 70-92 finish in 2025 — will rely heavily on the prowess of their starting rotation to turn things around under new skipper Derek Shelton in 2026.
With less than a month remaining before Spring Training, the Twins’ roster is an oddly constructed group that still needs plenty of work to be considered “competitive”.
But no matter what happens to the depth chart between now and Opening Day, there should be plenty of room for youngsters to make an impact on the big league roster this season.
Included among the prospects invited to Fort Myers in February are Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins, two former first round draft picks who have a realistic shot at making their big league debut at some point in 2026.
Kaelen Culpepper expected to join MN Twins before Walker Jenkins
But while most Minnesota Twins fans continue to wait patiently for Jenkins, the 2023 No. 5 overall pick — it sounds like the young shortstop picked one year after him is expected to beat him to the big leagues.
It’s not necessarily because Culpepper (No. 21 overall pick in 2024) is miles ahead of Jenkins in his development, but as Star Tribune beat writer Bobby Nightengale mentioned recently, it’s more so due to the Twins’ lack of depth at shortstop, behind starter Brooks Lee.
Culpepper’s timeline could depend a little on how Brooks Lee plays. If Lee struggles again to start the season, the Twins don’t have a ton of other options for an everyday starter at shortstop.
Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune
Shelton’s options behind Brooks Lee include underwhelming options like Orlando Arcia, Ryan Kreidler, and Tristan Gray, none of which have anywhere near the upside of Culpepper.
Brooks Lee owns just a 75 OPS+ in his first 189 big league games. He has been hurt, and his defensive isn’t top notch either. For a guy whose offense has to carry him, things aren’t looking great.
Last season Jenkins finished with 23 games at Triple-A St. Paul. He batted .242/.324/.396 but came on strong to wrap up the year. The time in big league camp will give him some serious perspective to parlay into the year, and then it will be on him to produce.
Walker Jenkins not an Opening Day roster consideration
At least for now, the Minnesota Twins No. 1 overall prospect is blocked by a glut of MLB corner outfielders already on the roster. And they aren’t going to call him up to sit behind Byron Buxton, in center field.
Thus, Walker Jenkins doesn’t have much of a chance to crack the Twins’ Opening Day 26-man, something Derek Shelton made pretty clear while on KFAN Radio with Paul Allen earlier this week.
“I would say he’s close. I would not expect him, you know, I mean, he’s not going to break camp
with us out of spring training. But we’re really excited about him. I mean, he’s a big, physical kid. He lives in Wilmington. He’s been working out with Ryan Jeffers, which is important when you have one of your leaders
working out with one of your top prospects. But we’re excited about him, and I think only time will tell, because as you said he’s only twenty one, and when he tells us he’s ready to be in the big leagues and we’ll get him there, right.”
It’s important to note that Culpepper has yet to even reach the Triple-A level, and he’s ranked lower on the Minnesota Twins top prospects list, than Jenkins.
The 21st pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Culpepper batted .285/.367/.460 in 59 Double-A games. He had a track to Triple-A playing time but cooled down the stretch. He’ll likely start with St. Paul this season, and that has him on the doorstep of Target Field.
Only one prospect met the following four thresholds in 2025…
.375+ OBP
20+ Home Runs
25+ Stolen Bases
Sub-20% Strikeout Rate
Kaelen Culpepper.pic.twitter.com/7SulR0rWu3
— Eric Cross (@EricCrossMLB) November 29, 2025
Mentioned in this article: Kaelen Culpepper Walker Jenkins
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