TRANSACTIONS
RHP Zak Kent was optioned to St. Paul and the Twins recalled RHP Garrett Acton, who was recently acquired from the Marlins.
SAINTS SENTINEL
Game 1: Worcester 4, St. Paul 2 (7 innings)
Box Score
Starting pitcher: Andrew Morris (3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 70 pitches)
Home runs: Kaelen Culpepper (2)
Multi-hit games: N/A
Sunday’s doubleheader got off to a great start for the Saints. Kealen Culpepper hit a leadoff home run off Red Sox No. 1 prospect Payton Tolle and Orlando Arcia put St. Paul up 2-0 in the second inning with a little league homer — a triple plus a throwing error that allowed him to come all the way around to score.
The Saints recorded just two more hits from there, but the pitching staff managed to keep the Sox off the board through six innings (of this seven-inning game). Andrew Morris delivered 3 2/3 innings of two-hit ball and was followed by John Brebbia, who pitched a pair of scoreless frames.
Veteran Dan Altavilla came in for the save and everything went sideways. He could not find the zone, issuing three walks while throwing less than half of his pitches for strikes. Altavilla blew the save and Worcester ended up scoring four runs in the inning. The Saints went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to end the first game of this doubleheader.
Highlight: Culpepper’s homer off Tolle.
Game 2: Worcester 11, St. Paul 9 (11 innings)
Box Score
Starting pitcher: John Klein (1 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 55 pitches)
Home runs: Orlando Arcia (2), Emmanuel Rodriguez (2), Kaelen Culpepper (3), Alan Roden (1)
Multi-hit games: Roden (2-for-4, HR), Gabriel Gonzalez (2-for-4, 2B), Arcia (2-for-4, HR)
Things continued to go south to start the second game. The Saints found themselves down 8-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning, mostly due to former Saints great Mickey Gasper. Super Mickey his a solo homer in the first inning, then a grand slam in the second.
The Saints kept at it. They chipped away a pair of runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to bring the score to 8-6. Then Orlando Arcia hit an RBI single in the sixth to bring the Saints within a run. The St. Paul bullpen continued to hold and buy the lineup time to get back in it.
In the bottom of the seventh (and scheduled to be final) inning, Worcester retired the first two Saints batters. Alan Roden was St. Paul’s last chance. He made sure there was more baseball to be played. A lot more.
Roden blasted a 2-1 changeup for a home run he sent 427 feet with an exit velocity of 106.6 mph to tie the game.
Neither team was able to score their “bonus” runner who started the eighth inning at second base. The Saints bullpen could only hold on for so long. They finally gave way in the ninth inning, with the Sox scoring the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Saints were down to their final out once again. And once again it was Roden to the rescue. He hit the first pitch he saw back through the middle to tie the game once again.
The Saints showed impressive resolve in this game, battling back from an early seven-run deficit, but Worcester still prevailed. The Sox scored two more runs in the top of the 10th inning to finally finish off St. Paul.
One last item to add on Roden’s heroic effort: He also made an excellent diving catch in left field to end the top of the seventh inning.
Highlight: Roden’s game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
KERNELS CHRONICLE
Cedar Rapids 14, Peoria 8
Box Score
Starting pitcher: Nolan Santos (3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 61 pitches)
Home runs: Marek Houston (1), Brandon Winokur (1), Caden Kendle (1), Andy Lugo (1)
Multi-hit games: Houston (3-for-5, HR), Khadim Diaw (2-for-5), Winokur (2-for-5, 2B, HR), Jacob McCombs (2-for-3, 2 2Bs), Kendle (2-for-4, 2B, HR)
The Kernels carried a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning and absolutely blew this game open from there. Cedar Rapids tallied seven runs that inning, six of which were scored with two outs. Andy Lugo provided the knockout blow, a grand slam.
Also in that inning, Eduardo Tait was hit by a pitch either on his hand or wrist. Tait waved off the trainer, stayed in the game and eventually came around to score. Tait’s spot in the order came back up in the sixth but he was pinch hit for. Cedar Rapids broadcaster Calvin Christoforo noted that Tait was not receiving any medical attention in the dugout. With the Kernels already up 13-4, it appears that Tait’s exit was precautionary.
Lugo’s grand slam was the headliner, but Marek Houston, Brandon Winokur and Caden Kendle also homered. Cedar Rapids scored 22 runs over their first weekend of 2026.
TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day: Andrew Morris, St. Paul
Hitter of the Day: Alan Roden, St. Paul
PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for more.
1. Walker Jenkins (St. Paul): 0-for-3, K
2. Kaelen Culpepper (St. Paul): 1-for-3, HR (2), R, RBI | 1-for-4, HR (3), R, 3 RBI, BB, K
3. Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul): 1-for-4, HR (2), R, 2 RBI, BB
4. Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids): 0-for-2, BB, R, K, HBP
7. Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul): 1-for-3, K | 2-for-4, R, K
9. Marek Houston (Cedar Rapids): 3-for-5, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K
12. Andrew Morris (St. Paul): 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 70 pitches
13. Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-5, HR (1), R, RBI, K, 2 errors
15. Marco Raya (St. Paul): 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
19: Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids): 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI
CURRENT W-L Records
Minnesota Twins: 3-6
St. Paul Saints: 3-5
Wichita Wind Surge: 1-2
Cedar Rapids Kernels: 2-1
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 1-2
TOMORROW’S PROBABLE STARTERS
N/A (Monday is a travel day across the minor leagues)
Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!