Twins’ first-round pick Kaelen Culpepper makes pro debut

A little over three weeks after the Minnesota Twins made shortstop Kaelen Culpepper the first Kansas State position player ever taken in the first round of the MLB Draft, Culpepper made his pro debut on Friday.

The 21-year-old doubled in his first at-bat and finished his debut at Single-A Ft. Myers 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.

His debut comes the same week several of the Twins’ other 2024 draft picks made their debuts . Here's another look at how they're doing:

• Fellow shortstop Kyle DeBarge, whom Minnesota drafted 33rd overall, started at second base next to Culpepper. In four games at Single-A, DeBarge is 5-for-18 with a double, triple, five RBI, three walks, three stolen bases and only one strikeout.
• Third baseman Billy Amick, Minnesota’s 2024 second-round pick, is 6-for-18 with a double, one RBI, two walks, a stolen base and four strikeouts in four games at Single-A.
• Third baseman Jay Thomason, the Twins’ 17th-rounder, has appeared in two games with the Mighty Mussels, going 2-for-10 with an RBI and three strikeouts.
• Catcher Khadim Diaw, the Twins’ third-round pick, is 3-for-13 with an RBI, two walks, a stolen base and three strikeouts in three games.
• Outfielder Jaime Ferrer, Minnesota’s fourth-rounder, is 2-for-11 with an RBI, two walks and three strikeouts in three games.

• Fifth-round pick Caden Kendle, an outfielder, has appeared in three Single-A games, going 4-for-11 with two doubles, two RBI, a walk and a stolen base.
• Sixth-round pick Derek Bender, a catcher, has also appeared in the past two games for the Mighty Mussels, going 2-for 8 with one RBI, a walk and two strikeouts.

Most of Minnesota’s other 2024 draft picks are with the rookie-level Florida Complex League team.

They all have a long way to go but it’s fun to see the newest prospects getting their professional starts.