FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The players chosen by the Twins in the MLB amateur draft on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday:
First round, 21st overall
Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
Culpepper, a righthanded hitter, hit .328 with 11 homers, 15 doubles, 59 RBI and nearly as many walks (35) as strikeouts (41) in 61 games this year. He became the second Kansas State player drafted in the first round since 1972. The slot value for the No. 21 pick is $3.93 million.
Listed at 6 foot, 185 pounds, Culpepper has a flatter swing that is more geared toward doubles than homers. His draft stock surged when he had a breakout 2023 season, and he was one of the better performers on USA Baseball's collegiate national team with Larry Lee — Twins infielder Brooks Lee's dad — as his manager. Baseball America rated Culpepper as the 34th-best player in this draft class.
He said he was "shocked" the Twins took him because he didn't hear from them much after an hourlong chat at last month's MLB draft combine.
"I know they are a great organization, and they just got a really good baseball player," said Culpepper, who was one of six first-round picks who attended the draft.
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Compensatory round, 33rd overall
Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana-Lafayette
The Twins got the pick as compensation for losing free agent Sonny Gray in free agency. DeBarge, 5-9 and 175 pounds, is a contact hitter who batted .355 in 62 games this year with 21 homers, 19 doubles and 72 RBI, earning Sun Belt Conference player of the year.
Second round, 60th overall
Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee
The son of NASCAR driver Lyndon Amick, Billy Amick played his first two seasons at Clemson before transferring and helping the Vols win the national title. At 6-1 and 220 pounds, he hit 23 home runs in 65 games with a .306 batting average.
Competitive balance round B, 69th overall
Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine, Texas
Hill, 6-4 and 170 pounds, has committed to Dallas Baptist. He led Grapevine to the Texas Class 5A state title and was the Dallas Morning News' player of the year after striking out 155 batters in 77 innings.
Third round, 96th overall
Khadim Diaw, C-OF, Loyola Marymount
Diaw, 6-1 and 215 pounds, went to Notre Dame High School, alma mater of Giancarlo Stanton and Hunter Greene, in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old righthanded hitter has had injury-plagued seasons at Loyola Marymount. In 20 games as a redshirt sophomore, he hit .432; in 80 career games, he has 12 home runs.
Fourth round, 126th overall
Jaime Ferrer, OF, Florida State
A 6-1, 218-pound native of Puerto Rico, Ferrer had 22 home runs in 63 games and hit .317 in his junior season with the Seminoles. The 21-year-old had a .409 OBP and .989 OPS in 176 career games. His grandfather played on the Cuban national basketball team.
Fifth round, 159th overall
Caden Kendle, OF, Cal-Irvine
Kendle, 22, was taken in the 10th round last year by St. Louis but elected to return for his senior season. The 5-11, 200-pound righthander hit .387 with six home runs in 51 games. He was a three-time All-Big West player and hit .342 with 20 homers in 181 games in his career with the Anteaters.
Sixth round, 188th overall
Derek Bender, C, Coastal Carolina
The 6-1, 235-pound Bender, 21, is from the Myrtle Beach, S.C., area. The righthander hit .320 with 11 home runs in 60 games as a junior and, over three seasons, hit .326 with 32 homers in 144 games.
Seventh round, 218th overall
Eli Jones, RHP, South Carolina
Jones, 21, pitched in 45 games in three seasons for the Gamecocks. The 6-1, 200-pound player had 129 strikeouts in 136 career innings. A native of Peachtree City, Ga., he started 27 times as a collegian.
Eighth round, 248th overall
Jakob Hall, RHP, Oral Roberts
Hall (6-2, 195 pounds) is from Bartlesville, Okla. A starter in college, the 21-year-old threw 107 innings last season as a junior with 110 strikeouts and was the Summit League pitcher of the year. In 50 games at ORU (35 starts), he fanned 239 in 232 innings and was 20-6 with a 4.15 ERA.
Ninth round, 278th overall
Jason Doktorczyk, RHP, Nevada
The 6-6, 230-pound Doktorczyk had 91 strikeouts in 84⅓ innings as a junior when he was the team's top starter. The 21-year-old from Seal Beach, Calif., started his college career at Sonoma (Calif.) State.
10th round, 308th overall
Peyton Carr, 3B, High Point
The 6-2, 205-pound righthanded hitter had 13 homers in 27 games (all as a DH) in his injury-shortened fourth season for High Point. A 22-year-old native of Fort Myers, Fla., he had 25 homers in 127 games and a .339 average in four collegiate seasons.
11th round, 338th overall
Michael Carpenter, LHP, Madison (Wis.) College
In 78 innings, Carpenter struck out 111 and had a 1.03 ERA, best in NJCAA Division II in his second season at Madison. He's 6-1 and 195 and from Hartland, Wis.
12th round, 368th overall
Christian Becerra, RHP, Cal
Becerra, 21, struck out 57 hitters in 51 innings and have four saves in his junior season. He's 6-1, 170 and from Studio City, Calif.
13th round, 398th overall
Xavier Kolhosser, RHP, St. John's (N.Y.)
The 6-5, 175-pounder is from Wappinger Falls, N.Y. He had 51 strikeouts in 76 innings as a redshirt sophomore for the Red Storm.
14th round, 428th overall
Jacob Kisting, RHP, Bradley
Kisting (6-5, 220) is from Madison, Wis. The 21-year-old struck out 173 in 171 innings in three years for the Braves.
15th round, 458th overall
Cole Peschl, RHP, Campbell (N.C.) University
The 21-year-old Peschl transferred after two seasons at the University of Charleston. In 13 starts, he had 83 strikeouts in 69 innings.
16th round, 488th overall
Aidan Haugh, RHP, North Carolina
A 6-6, 210-pounder, the 21-year-old Haugh had 61 strikeouts in 54 innings as a junior for the Tar Heels. He is from Raleigh, N.C.
17th round, 518th overall
Jay Thomason, 3B, Air Force Academy
In four seasons for the Falcons, the Auburn, Ala., native hit .348 with 58 homers in 194 games.
18th round, 548th overall
Michael Ross, LHP, Samford (Ala.) University
Ross (6-2, 205) is a 21-year-old from Lakeland, Fla. He struck out 158 in 180 innings over three seasons for the Bulldogs.
19th round, 578th overall
Logan Whitaker, RHP, North Carolina State
The 6-6, 220-pounder from Winston-Salem struck out 69 in 59 innings as a redshirt senior for the Wolfpack.
20th round, 608th overall
Merit Jones, RHP, Utah
Jones (6-4, 200) is from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He pitched 68 innings, striking out 68, for the Utes last season.