AB | 37 |
---|---|
AVG | .297 |
OBP | .366 |
SLG | .541 |
HR | 2 |
- Full name Kaelen Kenneth Culpepper
- Born 12/29/2002 in Memphis, TN
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Kansas State
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Drafted in the 1st round (21st overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2024 (signed for $3,934,400).
View Draft Report
School: Kansas State
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 60.
Culpepper is a well-rounded infielder with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame and lengthy track record of performance at Kansas State and in various summer leagues. His 2023 sophomore season was a breakout offensive effort, and he replicated that performance again in 2024 and is a career .312/.403/.529 hitter. He also played well in the Cape Cod League and was one of the top hitters for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team during the 2023 summer. Culpepper has an upright stance with a high handset and quick hands in the righthanded batter’s box. He uses a level swing and has raw power that should allow him to hit plenty of doubles but maybe a below-average total of home runs. He has solid contact skills, but is a better fastball hitter who will need to sharpen up his bat-to-ball skills against secondaries. Culpepper has a tweener defensive profile and is likely an above-average third baseman. He slid over to shortstop for the Wildcats in 2024 but might not have the actions to stick there. He has more than enough arm strength to stick on the left side of the infield, with a plus arm and great carry on his throws. Culpepper is an above-average runner and solid basestealer who has gone 27-for-31 (87.1%) for Kansas State. A team that views him as a shortstop could pop him in the first round, but he could slide a bit further than that with no clear carrying tool.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.
Track Record: Before he ever stepped on the field at Kansas State, Culpepper had already hit .301 in the Futures Collegiate League as a rising freshman in 2021. It was a quick sign that Culpepper would hit the ground running, and he did as a three-year starter for the Wildcats before becoming Kansas State’s first-ever first-round position player draftee. His 2023 and 2024 seasons at KSU were near carbon copies as he showed the ability to make plenty of contact, get on base and produce gap power. He also led USA’s Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in batting average (.471), home runs (three), slugging (.853) and on-base percentage (.526), further adding to his lengthy résumé of hitting with wood. The Twins drafted Culpepper 21st overall in 2024 and signed him for a slot-value bonus of $3,934,400. He made a brief 26-game pro debut, reaching High-A Cedar Rapids.
Scouting Report: Culpepper has a hit-first, well-rounded infield profile. His level swing keeps the bat in the zone for a while and should allow him to hit for average, and velocity doesn’t bother him. But without some swing changes, he’s going to be more of a line-drive, doubles hitter than a slugger. He never topped 11 home runs with a metal bat. The big question is how that hit-first approach will work if Culpepper eventually has to slide to third base as expected. He played two years at third base before moving to shortstop as a junior at Kansas State. His actions and feet are stretched at short, but he’s an above-average defender at third base with a plus arm. He should be able to handle second base as well.
The Future: Culpepper finished 2024 at High-A and likely will start there in 2025 before getting bumped up to Double-A Wichita. His defensive and power development will determine whether he’s a solid contributor or a significant regular in the long term.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.
Draft Prospects
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School: Kansas State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 60.
Culpepper is a well-rounded infielder with a 6-foot, 190-pound frame and lengthy track record of performance at Kansas State and in various summer leagues. His 2023 sophomore season was a breakout offensive effort, and he replicated that performance again in 2024 and is a career .312/.403/.529 hitter. He also played well in the Cape Cod League and was one of the top hitters for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team during the 2023 summer. Culpepper has an upright stance with a high handset and quick hands in the righthanded batter’s box. He uses a level swing and has raw power that should allow him to hit plenty of doubles but maybe a below-average total of home runs. He has solid contact skills, but is a better fastball hitter who will need to sharpen up his bat-to-ball skills against secondaries. Culpepper has a tweener defensive profile and is likely an above-average third baseman. He slid over to shortstop for the Wildcats in 2024 but might not have the actions to stick there. He has more than enough arm strength to stick on the left side of the infield, with a plus arm and great carry on his throws. Culpepper is an above-average runner and solid basestealer who has gone 27-for-31 (87.1%) for Kansas State. A team that views him as a shortstop could pop him in the first round, but he could slide a bit further than that with no clear carrying tool.