K-State's Culpepper taken in first round of MLB Draft

ALRINGTON, TX. (KSNT) - K-State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper has taken the first step towards his professional career.

Culpepper was taken with the No. 21 pick of the MLB Draft to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

After three seasons in Manhattan, Culpepper finished with a career .314 batting average, hitting at a .328 average in 2024. The Wildcat shortstop hit 21 home runs in the last two seasons.

Culpepper was named the MVP of the Fayetteville Regional in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He hit for the cycle in the Wildcats' opening round win against Louisiana Tech. Culpepper followed that performance with a three-run homerun off National Pitcher of the Year Hagen Smith in an upset over No. 5 Arkansas.

He's the first K-State player drafted in the first round since Jordan Wicks in 2021. Culpepper is the first positional player to receive all-American honors under head coach Pete Hughes.