Overview: Kaelen Culpepper steps into the big leagues

Sports Columnist Charles Hallman provides an inside look at 23-year-old rookie Kaelen Culpepper’s first month with the Minnesota Twins following his call-up from Triple-A St. Paul. Hallman captures reflections from team veterans, manager Derek Shelton, and Culpepper himself as the young infielder establishes his presence in Major League Baseball.

Kaelen Culpepper
Credit: Charles Hallman/MSR

It has been almost a month since Minnesota Twins rookie shortstop Kaelen Culpepper was inserted into the starting lineup after being promoted from AAA St. Paul on Aug. 7.

That date is forever etched in the Culpepper family legend book: in only his second MLB at-bat, with his parents, family members and friends watching, the 6-foot Culpepper smacked a homer out of the park in Milwaukee, becoming only the 13th player in Minnesota history to do this, and the first to do so since 2022.

 “It felt great,” he told MSR last week.  “Being able to live that experience with my family, seeing my family in the stands just meant a lot to me because I know it was a journey just to get here.

“It was special when I hit it.  I didn’t know if I got it or not.  I know I hit it good, but I was like, ‘Go, go, go!’ And once it went over, I kind of lost myself a little bit.  I was celebrating around the bases; you know what I mean?  I was excited.”

Ten-year veteran Josh Bell pointed out that he and his mates were just as excited for the rookie as Culpepper was on his first big league hit.  “Some guys will have 10, 15, 20 at-bats without getting it.  Some guys never get it,” he reiterated.  “Happy that he was able to get that hit in front of (his parents).  Big baseball fans, big believers in him.”

We have followed the 23-year-old shortstop this season through his first year in Triple A: Culpepper hit .271 (80-for-295), 15 doubles, two triples, 14 HR, 46 RBI, 39 walks, 63 runs, 17 of 20 SB and .845 OPS in 74 games for St. Paul.

“He’s a good kid.  Seems like he loves big moments,” stressed Bell.

Delivering in big moments

Such was the case in the Twins’ 6-4 win over Atlanta Aug. 19 to cap a three-game sweep:  Culpepper had another career day, a three-hit game and scored a run, his second multi-hit game since being with the team.  

Manager Derek Shelton told MSR after speaking to reporters, “The biggest thing is he’s come to the big leagues knowing that he has development left, and his work has been great. The attention to detail on his work, the questions he’s asking, the things that he’s learning, little things that sometimes don’t come up until you get to the big leagues, and he’s really embracing and asking good questions, and I think that’s a really good sign.”

Twins infielder Royce Lewis said Culpepper is just going to get better. He played with him during his brief stint in St. Paul earlier this season. He was impressed with him then and continues to be impressed with him.  “He’s been the same guy.  Just hardworking, getting the opportunity finally.  I’m just happy to see him flourish in that role.”

Adjusting to the big league stage

By no means is Culpepper resting on his laurels now that he is wearing a Twins uniform.

 “Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable.  Feel pretty confident now,” he stressed.

Still, he can’t forget his first major league game: “That first game, my adrenaline was going crazy all over the place,” admitted Culpepper.  “I was thinking about so many different things.  I was breathing a little heavy.  Had to calm myself down a little bit.

“I think after my first at-bat, I was able to breathe a little bit.”

Finally, both Shelton and Bell marvel at Culpepper’s maturity.

“He’s very mature and he’s very confident, and he’s confident in a good way, which I think is important,” surmised the manager on the rookie.

“Just a testament to who he is as a competitor, as an athlete,” concluded Bell.  “He’s here in a big league uniform at a young age, just getting after it every day.  So, I’m definitely excited to watch his career.”

Twins fans rank among MLB’s most patient, study finds

A new study by Casino.ca released last week found that Minnesota Twins fans demonstrate some of the strongest long-term front-office thinking in baseball in its MLB Fan GM Index.  

The study surveyed 5,000 baseball fans across all 30 MLB teams, creating a model that shows what fans would do if they were in charge of their favorite team.

 “Twins fans clearly favor patient roster building and long-term success over aggressive, win-now moves and have strong confidence in the direction of the club’s current front office,” the report states.

Finally …

Kwanza Jones
Credit: Threads

While last week’s news that businessman Marc Stad bought a controlling interest in the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx made national headlines, Kwanza Jones and her husband Jose E. Feliciano acquired the controlling interest in the MLB’s San Diego Padres in a deal unanimously approved by MLB owners. This makes Jones the first Black woman to hold a majority stake in an MLB team.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesma-recorder.com.

Copyright © Charles Hallman 

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