Kaelen Culpepper sparks Twins offense with homer in MLB debut

Bobby Nightengale, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Aug 7, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MINNEAPOLIS — Kaelen Culpepper arrived a little late for his major league debut at American Family Field on Friday, the result of a delayed flight, and he received an ovation from teammates at the end of the pregame hitters’ meeting.

For the Twins’ slumping offense, maybe Culpepper’s arrival was right on time.

Culpepper injected some energy into the dugout when he hit a solo homer in his second career at-bat, helping the Twins erase an early four-run deficit in an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Josh Bell had four hits, including a two-run homer, and Royce Lewis provided a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning.

The Twins held off the Brewers, the team with the best record in baseball, after Jeff Hoffman pitched around two walks in the seventh inning, and Andrew Morris induced an inning-ending double play with two runners on base in the eighth.

After Culpepper rounded the bases for the first time in his major league career, Pablo López told the rookie shortstop that he forgot to acknowledge the bullpen during his home run trot. Culpepper hurried up the dugout steps and waved to the relievers sitting in the bullpen.

Culpepper, a first-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft (No. 21 overall), made some defensive mistakes during his debut, but he helped ignite an offense that had been one of the worst in the majors since the All-Star break.

Down by four runs entering the third inning, the Twins scored two runs in four consecutive innings. Bell bashed a two-run homer off Brewers lefty starter Shane Drohan in the third inning, and Culpepper drilled an elevated fastball over the left-center wall in the fourth when he connected on a 0-2 pitch.

Culpepper became the 13th Twins player to homer in his debut, and the first since Matt Wallner in 2022. Before the game, manager Derek Shelton downplayed any notion that Culpepper could singlehandedly boost the Twins lineup.

“I don’t want to look at it that way, because I don’t want any extra pressure added to Kaelen,” Shelton told reporters in Milwaukee. “It’s just a situation where we thought he was ready to come up.”

The Twins offense didn’t mind following Culpepper’s lead after his homer. Austin Martin added an RBI double in the fourth inning. They loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning, which included a bunt single from Kody Clemens. Luke Keaschall hit an RBI single, and then another run scored when Culpepper grounded into a double play.

With the score tied in the sixth inning, Lewis hit a two-out RBI double down the left-field line and Bell followed with an RBI single.

Twins survive mistakes

Zebby Matthews, called up Friday after Joe Ryan went on the 15-day injured list with a left glute strain, exited with a blister on his right foot after warming up to pitch the sixth inning.

Matthews allowed seven hits and six runs (three earned) in five innings, totaling four strikeouts and two walks, and the Twins had one of their worst defensive games behind him.

Milwaukee scored three runs in the second inning after Lewis, playing second base, watched a grounder sneak underneath his glove with two outs. One run scored on Lewis’ error, and Brice Turang made it sting more when he hit a two-run double two pitches later.

After the Twins took a 6-4 lead in the fifth inning, the Brewers loaded the bases with no outs. Culpepper mishandled a grounder that was ruled a single to begin the bottom half of the inning. After a run scored on a sacrifice fly, center fielder Luke Keaschall threw to the wrong base to allow a runner to tag from first.

Garrett Mitchell tied the game with an RBI infield single when Culpepper took too long to release his throw against a speedy runner. When Keaschall threw to the wrong base, it eliminated a potential force out.

The Twins also ran into an out. Ryan Kreidler was thrown out at the plate on a well-placed relay throw from Brewers rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt in the fourth inning.

In the first inning, Martin drew a leadoff walk. When Martin stole second, he didn’t notice catcher William Contreras’ throw skipped into center field until it was too late to advance to third.

When Bell beat out an infield single with two outs, third-base coach Ramon Borrego tried to wave Martin to the plate because Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers had his back to him, but Martin stopped at third.

Despite the mistakes, the Twins secured a season-opening win.

Up next

The Twins will continue their three-game series in Milwaukee at 6:10 p.m. Saturday. Taj Bradley will start for the Twins against Brewers lefty Robert Gasser.