The Minnesota Twins don't have the most exciting short-term outlook, as outfielder Byron Buxton and starting pitcher Joe Ryan are their only healthy above-average players. However, they have four prospects ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list, which gives them hope long-term.

Shortstop Kaelen Culpepper is one of them (No. 52 on MLB Pipeline), and the Twins sent him back down to the minors on Wednesday, per TwinsDaily.com. They also sent first baseman Aaron Sabato back down. Both players were non-roster invites in spring training. 

Culpepper went 6-for-19 with two RBIs, one walk, and one stolen base this spring. Minnesota drafted the Tennessee native No. 21 overall in 2024, and he got called up to Double-A last season. He owns a .280/.367/.456 slash line with 23 homers and 76 RBIs over 139 minor-league games. 

Meanwhile, Sabato went 3-for-13 with one RBI, one walk, and one stolen base this spring. The 26-year-old has more experience than Culpepper, as the Twins drafted him No. 27 overall in 2020 and he got called up to Triple-A last season. He notched a .741 OPS with 14 homers and 41 RBIs over 65 Triple-A games.

Sabato is not ranked within Minnesota's Top 30 Prospects list, while Culpepper is second. However, Sabato might get his big-league call-up before Culpepper given that he's further along in his development. 

Regardless, it's beneficial for both players to go back to the minors now, as they'll likely receive more playing time. 

Minnesota has 11 prospects in its Top 30 that are projected to get called up to the big leagues in 2026, headlined by outfielder Walker Jenkins (No. 14 on MLB Pipeline). The 2023 No. 5 overall pick is 0-for-7 this spring, but logged a .720 OPS over 23 Triple-A games last season. He was named "the crown jewel of the Minnesota Twins organization" by Twins Daily's Sam Caulder on Sunday.

Next up is outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, who is ranked No. 74 on MLB Pipeline and No. 4 on the Twins' Top 30. Minnesota optioned the 23-year-old to Triple-A on Monday (per its official transactions page), but he went 8-for-19 with two homers, four RBIs, and two walks over 11 games. He notched an .852 OPS over 52 Triple-A games last season.

If any of the aforementioned players break out for the Twins over the next couple of seasons, the club will have a bright future. It's currently stuck in no man's land, as it's not good enough to contend but hasn't committed to a full rebuild. However, it would be easier for the organization to stomach a rebuild if its prospects become Rookie of the Year candidates.