Kaelen Culpepper is making the most of his first big league spring training with the Minnesota Twins as one of 26 non-roster invitees preparing for the 2026 season. After earning Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year honors in his debut full professional season, Culpepper is focused on improving his endurance and consistency during spring training, with vital support from veteran teammate Royce Lewis.
Culpepper’s Impressive Minor League Performance and Off-Season Focus
In 2025, Culpepper delivered a solid offensive campaign, hitting .289/.375/.469 with 20 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases across High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita. His plate discipline showed promise, marked by a 9.7% walk rate and a 17.4% strikeout rate over 517 plate appearances. While Culpepper maintained strong production for most of the season, he faced a slump in August and September, slashing just .223/.313/.377 during his final 147 plate appearances.
Determined to address that downturn, Culpepper committed to strengthening his stamina through focused off-season training.
“Staying locked in because every rep matters, every pitch matters, every play matters,”
Culpepper explained.
“So just making sure I’m focused on every play and things like that. That’s going to help me take the next step, and like I said, it’s just continuing to do what I need to do. Being consistent with everything.”
Training With Veterans to Increase Endurance and Experience
To prepare for a potentially longer and more demanding season ahead, Culpepper spent the off-season training alongside established Twins players like Royce Lewis and Taj Bradley. The group, also including pitching prospect Marco Raya, benefited from the guidance of Stephen Hawkins, the St. Paul Saints’ strength and conditioning coach who frequently leads the Twins’ spring training warm-ups.
The collaboration provided Culpepper with not only physical conditioning but valuable insight as he adjusted to the intensity of major league spring routines. Lewis described their time together, saying,
“We just kept pushing each other. We had a great time, and Kaelen and I were the only hitters, so we’d go hit together after. Took ground balls maybe one time, and it was indoors, so really short.”
Mentorship and Positive Energy in the Clubhouse
Culpepper expressed appreciation for the support of Lewis and Bradley during his spring preparation.
“You kind of expect a lot from them, especially them being like the face of MLB and guys like that, high-level players and stuff like that,”
he said.
“It helped out a lot. I think I salvaged my routine, and they helped me do that, and I thank those guys, but those are incredible people.”
While Lewis did not focus solely on mentoring Culpepper as a fellow infielder, his primary goal was to keep the energy high and motivate the teammates around him. Known for his infectious positivity in the Twins clubhouse, Lewis aims to sustain enthusiasm through every stage of a long season.
“We try to bring out the best in everybody and try to have a high energy for these guys because the older you get, the energy tends to get a bit lower,”
Lewis remarked.
“Just like your dog, man, when your dog is one or two years old, he’s a puppy that high energy, then all of a sudden, 10, 11, 12, he’s starting to cool down a little bit. Be more chill. So, I’m trying to keep that high energy level up as high as I can for as long as I can, and hopefully these guys feed off that energy.”
Prospects Lineup and Season Outlook for Culpepper
Culpepper is expected to begin the 2026 campaign with the St. Paul Saints, making his Triple-A debut in Indianapolis. He will join a formidable lineup featuring top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, forming one of the strongest middle orders in the International League. While expectations remain high, Culpepper has entered this new phase with improved endurance and encouragement from veteran teammates, ready to demonstrate growth in his game.
“I definitely got more in the tank,”
Culpepper shared.
“I’m just excited to get back out there and play another season of baseball, and show what I can do and show the things I improved on in the off-season.”
Lewis also voiced confidence in Culpepper’s progress, stating,
“He’s a hard worker, a great kid, and I really look forward to seeing him in the future because he’s probably going to be joining us shortly at some point.”
