Kaelen Culpepper Is Showing the Twins His Bat Can Travel

Kaelen Culpepper reached the majors with a reputation built across several levels, a hip injury behind him and no reason to think the learning would stop once he got to Minnesota.

The first week has already brought changing pitchers, uneven games and the daily work that comes with playing shortstop in the majors.

His two hits against Philadelphia on Saturday gave the Twins a better look at the part of his game most likely to keep him in the lineup.

Culpepper doubled to left in the fifth and singled in the ninth, using the whole field after the score had moved far away from Minnesota.

Culpepper talked about the jump before he reached the majors when he said, “I don’t really look at it as there being a big jump. I mean, there is the age gap and stuff like that. The competition here is pristine. Guys are more polished, more mature. But when it comes to the skill gap, it’s pretty similar. It’s still baseball."

A hip strain delayed a likely promotion, and Minnesota didn't rush him back simply because the major-league lineup had an opening.

His early major-league work now gives the club a different test.

Pitchers can read his swings, change the way they attack him and see whether he chases when the fastball or breaking ball moves just beyond the zone.

Saturday's loss was decided by a seven-run Philadelphia fifth, so Culpepper's two swings didn't create a late comeback.

He stayed with his at-bats and found two hittable pitches after the game had taken on a different pace.

His progress through the system put him among Minnesota's possible early extension candidates, then the injury pushed the promotion conversation back.

His path has included enough stops that one good night shouldn't suddenly change how the Twins judge him.

Minnesota's current infield mix leaves room for regular shortstop work while Royce Lewis and others settle into their own spots.

Culpepper can help that group by reaching base from the bottom of the order and making the lineup turn over with someone aboard.

His first scouting report will change quickly because teams don't need many games to find where a rookie gets uncomfortable.

Culpepper will have to recognize the new plan without giving away the aggressiveness that helped him move through the system.

Minnesota has already made room for prospects to develop at their own pace.

The same patience should continue in the majors, where a hitless series can teach more than a two-hit night if the at-bats remain controlled.

His next step is keeping that approach when pitchers stop using the same locations and the game begins asking him for a counter to new scouting reports.