Kaelen Culpepper's injury may end his season early, but it also means he'll retain rookie/prospect status for 2027, with Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez.
With the 23-year-old Rodriguez joining 21-year-old Walker Jenkins and 24-year-old Luke Keaschall, there's a changing of the guard in the Twins' outfield.
Slashing payroll yet again and ignoring glaring weaknesses during the offseason went every bit as badly as feared, but the Twins' problems didn't end there.
Buxton still hopes to play again this season, but it's clear his lingering hip injury is significant. Plus, two Triple-A players join the expanded September roster.
Jenkins, the Twins' best all-around prospect since Byron Buxton a decade ago, is finally coming up now, at age 21, in part because of Buxton's hip injury.
Jenkins, the Twins' top prospect, has done everything he can at Triple-A to force a call-up during an age-21 season that strongly suggests future stardom.
Even with a losing record, and a 7-10 mark in August, the Twins hold the AL's last wild-card spot and 40 percent playoff odds. Will they get across the finish line?
Why not use the opportunity to call up top prospect Walker Jenkins? Or at least go with one of several right-handed Triple-A bats to fill Martin's platoon role?
Buxton could be eyeing a Field of Dreams comeback on Netflix. Plus, a state-of-the-site check-in after three months of independence and a St. Paul dream.
