Kaelen Culpepper cracks MLB Pipeline’s list of top-100 prospects
Twins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, who is on the 2025 All-Star Futures Game roster, is now a top-100 prospect, No. 96 to be exact, per MLB Pipeline.
The Twins selected Culpepper out of Kansas State with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He played in nine games with Low-A Fort Myers last season, hitting .297/.366/.541 with two homers and nine RBIs before getting promoted to High-A. Culpepper had a rough showing upon joining Cedar Rapids, hitting just .210/.310/.306 in 71 plate appearances over 17 games last season.
Culpepper has turned things around this season, slashing .293/.385/.479 with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 247 plate appearances with High-A Cedar Rapids before earning a promotion to Double-A Wichita. Since joining the Wind Surge, Culpepper has hit .293/.383/.439 in 47 plate appearances.
Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez drop in rankings
Jenkins fell from No. 6 to No. 15, while Emmanuel Rodriguez fell from No. 27 to No. 46 in MLB Pipeline’s latest top-100 prospects update.
Jenkins has been injured for much of the year, which likely played a big part in his drop in ranking. Since returning from the injured list, Jenkins has hit .255/.397/.373 in 63 plate appearances with Double-A Wichita.
Rodriguez has also been injured for a chunk of the season. He has a .232/.400/.392 batting line in 125 plate appearances with Triple-A St. Paul.
Luke Keaschall rises in rankings
Although he has been sidelined with a fractured right forearm, Keaschall rose from No. 49 to No. 47 in MLB Pipeline’s latest top-100 prospects rankings.
Minnesota promoted Keaschall to the major leagues on April 18 after just 14 games in Triple-A this season due to Matt Wallner landing on the injured list.
Keaschall likely rose in the prospect rankings due to his impressive performance in the major leagues before getting injured. He posted a .368/.538/.526 slash line with five stolen bases in 26 plate appearances with the Twins this season. Once he returns from the IL, Keaschall will probably find himself off the prospect rankings shortly due to losing prospect eligibility.