Kaelen CulpepperMIN · SS

2026 review

Kaelen Culpepper was a rookie shortstop who hit .274/.328/.393 with a 21.9 K% and a 4.7 BB% over 128 PA for MIN, adding 3 HR over 33 games after his contract was selected Aug 7. A left hamstring strain sent him to the 10-day IL on Sep 16, and he was activated Sep 26 after missing 10 regular-season days. Drafted at NFBC ADP rank 1269, he finished 1133rd of 1472 in the TDK LABS 5x5 value rank, and 48th of 61 shortstops. His .320 wOBA ran 33 points above his .287 xwOBA over 128 PA. He started 20 of his games in Aug against 13 in Sep as the hamstring cut into his time. The TDK LABS card opened in early Aug calling him the Twins' everyday shortstop with plus power and speed, still framing him as an everyday piece with modest emerging power in late Aug, and by late Sep had him back from the hamstring injury but seeing limited playing time.

NFBC position eligibility · 2026: SS · 2027: SS