Kansas State Athletics
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Former K-State All-American Kaelen Culpepper was named the 2025 Minnesota Twins Minor League Player of the Year, earning the organization's Sherry Robertson Award.
Culpepper, who was drafted 21st overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, quickly made the jump to Double-A in June and established himself as one of the top players in the Twins' organization. This summer, the first-rounder earned a spot on the American League Team at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, standing out as the organization's lone selection, and also garnered Texas League All-Star honors..
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Culpepper finished his first season with the Wichita Wind Surge as one of just five players to record both double-digit home runs (11) and steals (10). Overall, he capped his first full year in professional baseball with an impressive .289/.375/.469 slash line, racking up 39 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Culpepper led K-State to the program's second Super Regional appearance in 2024, earning Second Team All-America honors. He capped a standout junior season as one of the Big 12's top offensive performers, while pacing the Wildcats with a .328 batting average and .574 slugging percentage.
In 2023, he became just the third Wildcat in school history to be selected to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. He led Team USA with a .471 average, while adding two triples, three home runs, and seven RBI. Culpepper also topped the roster with an .853 slugging percentage and a .526 on-base percentage.
A three-time All-Big 12 selection, Culpepper closed his Wildcat career with a .314/.402/.531 slash line, recording 32 doubles, six triples, 26 home runs, and 122 RBI. His 26 career home runs rank 10th all-time in program history.