- 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.
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: 50/High
Track Record: 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.
Scouting Report: 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.
The Future: Culpepper becomes yet another in what has become a very deep group of young Twins’ infielders. He should be a fast-mover.Scouting Grades:Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60.
Draft Prospects
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School: Kansas State Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
Culpepper is a 6-foot, 190-pound physical freak who had a standout sophomore season for Kansas State. After slashing .283/.356/.428 as a freshman in 2022, Culpepper hit .325/.423/.576 in 2023 with 10 home runs and earned an invitation to Team USA’s college national team, where he was one of the better hitters on the club. He has electric bat speed with present strength that leads to solid power to the pull side, though with a wood bat he’s more likely to be a line drives and doubles hitter than an impact home run threat. Culpepper is an above-average defender at third base, but he is expected to slide over to shortstop in 2024 and should have the athleticism, quickness and hands to stick there. His arm is more than enough for either position on the left side of the infield, and it’s at least plus with plenty of velocity and carry across the diamond. Culpepper is an above-average runner and instinctual base stealer. In a draft class that’s lacking in first round shortstops, Culpepper could fill the void at a coveted demographic.
