Many Twins fans were clamoring for Minnesota to call up top shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper after he began the year slashing .273/.377/.498 (124 wRC+) with 14 home runs, 43 RBI and 15 stolen bases over 61 games for Triple-A St. Paul. Unfortunately, he landed on the injured list on June 16 with a left hip strain. He returned to the Saints' lineup on Sunday , but his path to the majors may have become more difficult due to utilityman Ryan Kreidler's unexpected breakout season .
When the Twins moved Brooks Lee to third base last month , manager Derek Shelton began using a rotating door of Kreidler, Tristan Gray and Orlando Arcia at the shortstop position . Minnesota designated Arcia for assignment roughly two weeks ago, creating a platoon situation with Gray, a left-handed hitter, and Kreidler, a right-handed hitter. However, Kreidler has quickly proved he's a better option than Gray, even when the opposing team has a right-hander on the mound.
Over 36 plate appearances since June 14, Kreidler has slashed a remarkable .412/.444/.676 (211 wRC+), raising his season slash line to .289/.361/.515 (143 wRC+). Before this season, Kreidler, 28, had just two home runs and eight RBI over 89 games. In just 42 games this year, Kreidler has already hit five homers with 21 RBI.
Meanwhile, Gray is hitting just .243/.286/.358 (77 wRC+) over 162 plate appearances this season. Kreidler has also been a much better defender than Gray, posting 0 Defensive Runs Saved and +1 Out Above Average in 117 1/3 innings at shortstop, while Gray has recorded -7 DRS and -7 OAA in 210 innings at the position. Additionally, Kreidler has recorded innings at center and left field this season, making him more versatile than Gray.
While it originally seemed Kreidler would just help hold down shortstop until Culpepper proved ready for the majors, his surprisingly good numbers have created a situation where the Twins cannot justify taking him out of the lineup. Of course, Kreidler could regress, and his journeyman career suggests he will. But for now, he deserves to start regularly.
But if Culpepper continues to impress in the minors, the top shortstop prospect deserves to be in the majors at some point this year. An injury could be what creates an opening for Culpepper. If not, and if Kreidler remains a key part of the Twins' lineup, Minnesota may still be able to make room for Culpepper. Since Kreidler can play outfield, second and third base, Shelton could have him play all around the diamond. Culpepper could potentially play second base as well, since Luke Keaschall mainly plays right field now. Prospect Marek Houston seems to be the Twins' shortstop of the future anyway, so moving Culpepper to a different position already seems inevitable.
This article was originally published on www.puckettspond.com as Twins' surprising shortstop breakout complicates Kaelen Culpepper's path to MLB .
