As the Twins snapped their three-game losing streak Monday in Sacramento, a 9-6 victory over the Athletics, rookie shortstop Kaelen Culpepper continued to show his growth entering the third week of his major league career.

Culpepper provided four of the Twins’ 16 hits. He scored a run and produced an eighth-inning RBI on an infield single.

After the Twins were swept in San Diego to begin their six-game road trip, Monday was a game where almost everything went right. Well, until the A’s scored four runs in the ninth inning against Yoendrys Gómez, who was pitching for the first time in five days.

All nine Twins position players recorded a hit. Byron Buxton broke out of his slump with three hits, including a double, and he scored four runs. Ryan Kreidler, playing near his hometown, homered for the first time since June 28.

Zebby Matthews allowed one run in seven innings, striking out seven, to earn his fourth consecutive win.

With 30 games left, the Twins sit two games out of a playoff spot.

For Culpepper, who is batting .340 through 50 at-bats, a lot of his offensive success can be traced to a nine-pitch at-bat against Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran on Aug. 16. When Culpepper fouled a 99-mph splitter on the eighth pitch, he broke into a smile in the batter’s box.

It was the fifth foul ball during his battle with Duran, and 99-mph splitters were something Culpepper hadn’t seen before in his baseball career.

“That was a crazy at-bat,” Culpepper said afterward. “At that point, I was like, ‘This is a great at-bat.’ I was like I got this far, I might as well finish it.”

There have been many learning moments and typical rookie lessons for the 23-year-old Culpepper, who finished his matchup with Duran by hitting a single through the left side of the infield, shattering his bat for a second time in the at-bat.

“That was the best arm I’ve ever faced,” Culpepper said. “Everything after that just felt a little slower. ... It’s not easy, but it slowed down for me a little bit. It was like, let’s relax, get back to myself.”

Culpepper, a 2024 first-round pick, has made youthful mistakes and flashed his potential to begin his big-league career. And it’s been virtually a series-by-series progression:

Culpepper debuts in Milwaukee

When the Twins sought an offensive boost at shortstop amid a playoff push, they promoted Culpepper at the beginning of a road series in Milwaukee.

His introduction to the majors was playing in front of 42,000 fans at American Family Field against one of the best teams in baseball. He had a couple of defensive misplays, adjusting to the faster tempo at the major league level, but he bashed a homer in his second career at-bat.

“I got to see a good portion of that at the start of the year,” Matthews, who played with Culpepper at Class AAA St. Paul in April, told reporters in Milwaukee. “Cold weather, it didn’t matter what it is was, he was out there playing. That’s arguably one of the most talented players I think I’ve seen.”

Culpepper had most of his family at the ballpark for his debut. His mom, Tiffanie, was stuck at the Philadelphia airport because of weather delays and created her own makeshift watch party with other travelers.

It was emotional for Culpepper all weekend when he looked into the crowd, and he saw family members celebrating his achievements, yelling and high-fiving other fans.

“It’s something I can’t really get out of my head and I keep replaying,” Culpepper said. “I couldn’t go to sleep the night before my debut or the day after. I still kind of couldn’t go to sleep after the second game, too. I was still in awe.”

First slump vs. Orioles

There is a lot of talk within the baseball industry about the widening gap between Class AAA and the majors, particularly the level of pitching. Culpepper, in his first career game at Target Field, struck out four times while adding a sacrifice fly.

In the next game, he went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

“Guys like Josh Bell, he’s been mentoring me and giving me a lot of advice, telling me to relax and I’m fine,” Culpepper said. “I’m not doing anything bad or anything wrong. Just learn from what I’m doing and I’ll be fine.”

Duran at-bat provides boost

Culpepper notched his first career multi-hit game against the Phillies on Aug. 15, but Twins manager Derek Shelton thought the nine-pitch single against Duran was more meaningful.

“Part of his growth is going to be a two-strike approach,” Shelton said. “In the middle of that at-bat, you were starting to see like, oh, this is something that’s different.”

Culpepper was doubled off first base to end the Field of Dreams game, caught running on a line drive back to the mound, but he showed more defensive awareness when he threw out Alec Bohm attempting to advance to third on a ground ball to shortstop.

“He’s getting there,” Shelton said. “There is still growth and development. I think there was a ton of growth.”

Culpepper hits stride vs. Atlanta

Following the Phillies series, and the at-bat against Duran, Culpepper had five hits in 11 at-bats as the Twins swept the Atlanta Braves at Target Field.

“I went back to my approach, understanding that I do belong in the big leagues and understanding I am a good hitter,” Culpepper said. “Just trusting that. Not trying to get too big and not trying to prove I should be here, stuff like that.”

Culpepper had a quieter weekend series in San Diego, a risky defensive play in Saturday’s 7-5 loss that didn’t pay off when Brooks Lee dropped a throw at third when he attempted to toss out the eventual tying run.

His response Monday was the first four-hit game of his brief career. Another positive sign.

“It’s a process still,” Culpepper said. “The game is supposed to be hard, but at the same time, I’m going to learn.”

________

©2026 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.