Standard MLB Batting Statistics

	Season	Tm	LG	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	HBP	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
	2026	MIN	AL	10	40	35	4	11	1	0	1	2	2	11	0	0	2	.314	.375	.429	.804
	1 Season	MIN	AL	10	40	35	4	11	1	0	1	2	2	11	0	0	2	.314	.375	.429	.804

*: All Star Season, Rankings AL/NL: Top 5 10 15 20,        Click for Chart.

Advanced MLB Batting Statistics

Season	Tm	LG	PA	TB	LOB	SAC	SF	BABIP	XBH	GIDP	GIDPO	NP	P/PA	K/PA	HR/PA	BB/K	ISO	ROE	WO
2026	MIN	AL	40	15	18	0	1	.417	2	1	6	157	3.925	.275	.025	.182	.114	0	0
1 Season	MIN	AL	40	15	18	0	1	.417	2	1	6	157	3.925	.275	.025	.182	.114	0	0

Standard MLB Pitching Statistics

No MLB Pitching Statistics.

Standard MLB Fielding Statistics

Season	Tm	LG	POS	G	GS	INN	TC	PO	A	E	DP	RF	FPCT%
2026	MIN	AL	SS	10	10	89.0	24	6	18	0	2		1.000
1 Season	MIN	AL	SS	10	10	89.0	24	6	18	0	2		1.000

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Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Culpepper was a starter at Kansas State right from the get-go, spending his first two seasons at third base then moving to shortstop for a very successful junior year. After leading the U.S. collegiate national team in hitting the summer prior, he went out and compiled a slash line of .328/.419/.574 en route to becoming the Wildcats’ first position player to ever go in the first round, surprising some when he went No. 21 overall. He made the Twins’ pick look like a wise one in his first full season, making it to Double-A, going to the Futures Game and finishing with a 20/20 campaign in his first full year of pro ball.

Culpepper brought his solid approach and penchant for contact with him from college into his first extended taste of pro ball. He limits his swing-and-miss (17.4 percent strikeout rate in 2025) overall and can use the entire field, with good bat speed enabling him to find the gaps everywhere. He punishes fastballs and posts impressive in-zone contact rates, but he has a tendency to chase soft stuff out of the zone too much. He can get to his over-the-fence power particularly to his pull side, and there could be more to come if he can cut down his 50 percent ground-ball rate a little. 

The jury is still out over where Culpepper’s ultimate defensive home will be. He plays a solid shortstop with plenty of arm for the premium position, but his lack of first-step quickness or range could mean a move in the future. He did get a little time at third and second in 2025 and there likely will be more of that as he hits the upper levels full time.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

A three-year starter at Kansas State, Culpepper raised expectations in terms of his own Draft status by leading the U.S. collegiate national team in hitting the summer before his junior year. He did nothing to dampen excitement when he moved from third to shortstop in his junior year, posted a .993 OPS and hit .474 in the NCAA Tournament, leading the Wildcats to the Super Regionals. He became the first position player from Kansas State to ever be taken in the first round when the Twins selected him No. 21 overall. He made a solid, albeit brief, pro debut, reaching High-A in the process.

Culpepper entered pro ball with a reputation as having a very disciplined hit-over-power approach, and he lived up to it during his stop with Single-A Fort Myers. He makes a ton of contact and uses the entire field with outstanding bat speed. That plus his natural strength point to the chance for solid power, though he's been content thus far using his flat swing to send line drives everywhere rather than aim for more loft. A little more leverage could lead to average in-game pop in the future.

One question surrounding Culpepper was where he would profile best defensively. He looked better at short than many expected, and the Twins already consider him one of the better at the position in their system. But some think he may not have the quickness and range to stay there long-term. He could be a Gold Glover at third, though that will put more pressure on his bat, and the Twins plan to expose him a little to the hot corner as well as second and even the outfield as he progresses, just to expand his defensive arsenal.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, Culpepper starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals. He went from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player when the Twins took him No. 21 overall this July and signed him to a full-slot bonus of $3.93 million.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Culpepper might go from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player. Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, he starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer. 

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2026

TEX Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/07/2026	Minnesota Twins selected the contract of SS Kaelen Culpepper from St. Paul Saints.
	07/24/2026	St. Paul Saints activated SS Kaelen Culpepper from the reserve list.
	07/11/2026	American League Futures activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	07/06/2026	St. Paul Saints placed SS Kaelen Culpepper on the 7-day injured list.
	06/28/2026	St. Paul Saints activated SS Kaelen Culpepper from the 7-day injured list.
	06/16/2026	St. Paul Saints placed SS Kaelen Culpepper on the 7-day injured list.
	03/26/2026	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to St. Paul Saints from Wichita Wind Surge.
	03/05/2026	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Minnesota Twins Prospects.
	02/09/2026	Minnesota Twins invited non-roster SS Kaelen Culpepper to spring training.
	07/11/2025	American League Futures activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	06/20/2025	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Wichita Wind Surge from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
	06/20/2025	Wichita Wind Surge activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	04/22/2025	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper from the 7-day injured list.
	04/12/2025	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed SS Kaelen Culpepper on the 7-day injured list.
	03/15/2025	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Minnesota Twins Prospects.
	03/06/2025	activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/19/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	08/19/2024	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/19/2024	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	08/09/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels from FCL Twins.
	08/05/2024	SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to FCL Twins.
	08/01/2024	Minnesota Twins signed SS Kaelen Culpepper.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
	02/02/2024	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	06/26/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to USAB Stars Team.
	06/08/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to College Workout.
	05/20/2023	3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
	04/01/2022	Bluefield Ridge Runners activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
	04/01/2022	3B Kaelan Culpepper assigned to Bluefield Ridge Runners.
	02/14/2022	3B Kaelen Culpepper and assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.