The Minnesota Twins announced Wednesday that rookie shortstop Kaelen Culpepper will miss at least ten days after being placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Culpepper, 23, was pulled from the game in the top of the seventh inning during Tuesday night’s 8‑1 defeat at the hands of the New York Yankees.
Performance since debut
Culpepper, the Twins’ 2024 first‑round draft pick, has shown promise since his major‑league debut on August 7. In 31 games at the big‑league level he is batting .275, has hit three home runs and driven in 11 runs. His speed and defensive work at shortstop have drawn praise from the coaching staff, and the organization sees him as a key piece of its future in‑field core.
Triple‑A numbers
Before his promotion, Culpepper spent the season with Triple‑A St. Paul, where he posted a .271 average with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 17 stolen bases over 74 games. Those numbers underscored his well‑rounded skill set and helped earn him the call‑up that has now been interrupted by injury.
Roster move
To fill the roster spot opened by Culpepper’s IL placement, the Twins recalled infielder Ben Ross from Triple‑A St. Paul. Ross, 25, made his major‑league debut on September 1 and appeared in three games, going 0‑for‑4 while scoring a run and striking out three times. The organization hopes Ross can provide depth at the infield while Culpepper recovers.
Outlook
The Twins remain focused on a strong finish to the season despite the setback. Manager Rocco Baldelli emphasized that the team will continue to rely on its depth and young talent as it pushes for a playoff berth. “Kaelen’s health is our priority, and we’ll give him the time he needs to come back stronger,” Baldelli said.
Fans can look forward to seeing Culpepper return once his hamstring heals, and the Twins will monitor his progress closely. In the meantime, the club will rely on the contributions of its veteran core and the emerging players already on the roster.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
