Image courtesy of David Malamut (photo of Kaelen Culpepper)
When the Minnesota Twins selected Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the reaction from fans was… tepid. Another shortstop? Limited power? It didn’t exactly scream “impact pick” for a team that already had a glut of middle infielders. But just a couple months into his first full professional season, Culpepper is already proving the doubters wrong.
Through 177 plate appearances with High-A Cedar Rapids, Culpepper is slashing .289/.390/.467 with an .857 OPS, six home runs, and 22 RBI. That production is quickly changing the narrative, especially for a player who was knocked for his lack of pop coming out of Kansas State.
Culpepper’s junior year at K-State saw him hit 11 homers and 15 doubles in 291 plate appearances. Scouts loved his bat-to-ball skills but questioned whether his flat swing would ever generate enough lift to tap into more power. The Twins clearly saw something they could work with. Fast forward to 2025, and Culpepper has already racked up 14 extra-base hits in just 38 games. The results suggest the adjustments are working. Additionally, the swing looks violent. Culpepper is attacking the ball and creating lift required for big-league power.
It’s not just the power that’s standing out, but his approach at the plate that is mature beyond where many prospects find themselves at his age. Culpepper is walking at an impressive 18% clip while striking out only 12% of the time. He’s also making an impact on the basepaths, swiping 11 bases and getting caught just once. That’s a dynamic offensive profile at any level, and one that’s starting to garner national attention.
Keith Law recently updated his top 50 prospects list and slotted Culpepper at No. 45. “He’s an above-average shortstop who might get a little better with more consistency,” Law wrote. “And I might have undersold his bat a little on draft day.”
That kind of recognition speaks volumes. Prospects are inherently volatile, and Culpepper still has plenty to prove, but this looks like a pick that’s aging very well. The Twins bet on a high-contact hitter with elite athleticism and strong makeup, trusting their development system to unlock the rest. So far, that bet is paying off.
Defensively, Culpepper has held his own at shortstop, though some scouts project a move to third base. Initially, that raised eyebrows, could he hit enough to justify the move? But with the power starting to show up and his overall offensive game rounding out nicely, the concerns are fading. He may still have the bat to profile at the hot corner. And if he is able to hold his own at shortstop and stick there, we could be looking at a potentially special player.
The draft is a minefield, especially when picking toward the back half of the first round. So far, the Twins look like they made a savvy play, identifying a talented player with room to grow and helping him tap into that upside quickly. There is still a lot of room for things to go wrong and for his game to fade, but for now the Twins front office should be applauded for the draft pick.
What do you think of Kaelen Culpepper’s breakout season? Is it too early to call this pick a win, or are you ready to buy in? Let us know in the comments.