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Twins Call Up Kaelen Culpepper, Replace Kreidler

8/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Minnesota Twins promoted shortstop Kaelen Culpepper (23) for his MLB debut as they seek an offensive spark.
In Triple-A, Culpepper hit .271 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 17 steals in 74 games.
He replaces Ryan Kreidler at shortstop, who was batting .232 with five homers and a .679 OPS.
Assistant GM Alex Hassan said Culpepper’s strong arm, defensive work ethic and steady hit tool give him high upside.

History

Historical Context

After Derek Jeter’s May 29, 1995 debut and his .314, 10-home-run, 78-RBI rookie season in 1996, the Yankees captured the World Series and began a late-1990s dynasty under manager Joe Torre. In 2024 the Minnesota Twins promoted 23-year-old shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, hoping his Triple-A .271 pace can echo Jeter’s early boost to a struggling lineup.

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Story summary

The Minnesota Twins promoted shortstop Kaelen Culpepper (23) for his MLB debut as they seek an offensive spark.
In Triple-A, Culpepper hit .271 with 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 17 steals in 74 games.
He replaces Ryan Kreidler at shortstop, who was batting .232 with five homers and a .679 OPS.
Assistant GM Alex Hassan said Culpepper’s strong arm, defensive work ethic and steady hit tool give him high upside.

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