The Minnesota Twins have had a carousel at shortstop this season, but many fans believe it will stop with Kaelen Culpepper. The Twins’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Culpepper has had a tremendous season that has him on the cusp of his major league debut. But it has hit setbacks in recent weeks due to a series of injuries.
The latest obstacle came on Tuesday when Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported the Twins placed Culpepper on the seven-day injured list with a glute strain that was initially suffered last month. Culpepper had returned from the injury to play in a pair of games last week, but after the symptoms returned, the 23-year-old will go back on the shelf and make Twins fans wait a little longer for his call-up.
Kaelen Culpepper becomes the latest Twins prospect to battle injuries in 2026
The Twins' first-round pick in the 2024 draft, Culpepper entered the season as MLB Pipeline’s 52nd overall prospect and started the season at Triple-A St. Paul. Culpepper warmed up as the season went along and is hitting .272/.376/.492 with 14 homers, 43 RBI and 15 stolen bases on 17 attempts in 63 games but the glute injury has limited him to just two games since a June 13 meeting with the Toledo Mud Hens.
Culpepper returned from his first stint on the injured list on June 28, going 1-for-8 in two games before he was hit in the hand by a pitch on June 30. While Culpepper hasn’t played since, the glute injury has been the biggest issue and the latest instance of a top Twins prospect going on the shelf.
Walker Jenkins, who is the Twins' top prospect and No. 14 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, missed time with a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder after crashing into an outfield wall on May 3. Jenkins has recorded a hit in seven of nine games since his return and homered in a July 3 victory over Buffalo, perhaps putting him on a timeline to join the Twins late in the year.
Emmanuel Rodriguez, who is MLB Pipeline’s No. 57 prospect, has also been out after undergoing a procedure on his thumb and has not played since May 1. Before the injury, he was hitting .247/.417/.506 with six homers, 18 RBI and three stolen bases on five attempts, but he isn’t expected back until August.
With Culpepper struggling to overcome his injury issues, it’s another season that has been marred by injuries for the Twins’ top prospects. But fans could still be hopeful he debuts soon, even if it takes a little longer for it to happen.
Add us as a preferred source on Google