Kansas State University Athletics
Culpepper Named Twins' Minor League Player of the Year
Sep 29, 2025 | Baseball
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.
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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..
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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 the minors with an impressive .289/.375/.469 slash line, racking up 39 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..
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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 the minors with an impressive .289/.375/.469 slash line, racking up 39 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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– k-statesports.com –
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on the K-State Volleyball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
– k-statesports.com –
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on the K-State Volleyball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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