“A Jolt Of Emotions Ran Through My Body” | Minnesota Twins Make Kaelen Culpepper Highest-Ranked Kansas State Positional Player Drafted In School History

The 2024 MLB Draft saw many MLBbros get their name called.

Those players included No.2 overall pick Chase Burns (Reds) and his college teammate Christian Moore who went to the Los Angeles Angels with the No.8 overall pick.

The talented duo helped lead the Vols to their very first College World Series title. The Boston Red Sox quickly swooped in and grabbed Texas A&M star Braden Montgomery with the No.12 pick, after he slipped following his broken ankle.

Kaelen Culpepper Makes Kansas State History 

The surprise pick of the first round was Kaelen Culpepper who was chosen by the Minnesota Twins with the No.21 pick. The sweet-hitting infielder became the highest-ranked positional player in school history.

Surrounded by a host of family and friends, Culpepper saw his dream which began at nearby at St.Benedict at Auburndale come to fruition. In fact, he’s also the first ever graduate of the school to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

 

In speaking with reporters after being selected, Culpepper described how he was feeling in that moment.

“A jolt of emotions ran through my body. I didn’t know what to do it was all excitement, joy, tears, it was all real. I came a long way, my journey just to get here and looking back on it, it’s amazing.”

 

Coaches Knew It Was Inevitable

While Culpepper was a bit spent and overjoyed in that moment, there was never a doubt about his ability as it pertains to his former coaches at St. Benedict.

 

“Everyone who knew him, I think, as pretty sure he’d end up playing at a high level,” St. Benedict’s former hitting coach and now head baseball coach Ray Knott said.

 

“You kind of new early on that he was going be special,” his former coach at St. Benedict Brandon Patton said.

 

Patton always loved Culpepper’s willingness to get better and outwork those around him.

 

“He probably could’ve played as a high schooler at nine-years-old. He’s definitely the most talented player that I’ve ever coached and more than anything he’s probably the hardest working player I’ve ever coached.”

 

 

Culpepper Performed Remarkably At K-State

 

Culpepper’s all-around skill set was on full display from the time he arrived in Manhattan, Kansas. In three collegiate seasons the elite infielder who spent time at both shortstop and third base batted .312 with 26 homers and 122 RBI. That also included 175 total hits, 38 of which went for doubles (32) and triples (6). He also drew 63 walks and stole 27 bases, showing his plate and base-running discipline.

This past season is where Culpepper saw a huge jump in just about every major statistical category, and that’s a huge reason why the Twins jumped on him.

How Does Culpepper Fit?

Currently the Twins have some serious infield talent in three-time All-Star Carlos Correa at shortstop. On the hot corner there’s the talented-but-oft-injured Royce Lewis.

 

 

That allows a player like Culpepper to develop at his pace, and not feel the pressure to come up to the majors faster, which should benefit him and the Twins in the long run.