Ahead of the 2024 college baseball season, there was every indication that Kaelen Culpepper was thick on Major League Baseball draft radars. Thick in the same manner as frenetic Monday mornings for east coast air traffic control towers.
But instead of airport radars, Culpepper applies data points in batting and plate discipline. Power, too… speed, unquestionably. He’s also spent untold hours of work on defensive disciplines that went on display for three seasons at Tointon Family Stadium with the Kansas State Wildcats.
The 2024 NFL Draft begins Sunday in Arlington in conjunction with All-Star Game activities and overall evaluations by MLB scouts put Culpepper high on draft boards across the league. The Class of 2022 signee is at least a four-tool player who has potential to be the first Wildcat position player as a first-round selection after stellar play in the 2024 college postseason.
“I’ve always found ways to dig deeper and find my potential,” Culpepper said in June ahead of K-State’s super regional trip to Virginia. “I don’t think I’m where I want to be yet but the ceiling is still high for me. All that hard work is starting to pay off.”
Pay off large. Culpepper’s delivered at every level, even when he switch-hit at Saint Benedit at Auburndale HS on the east edge of Memphis, Tenn. Even as a K-State freshman when solid contact was his main focus to bat .283 before his power numbers blossomed in college years 2-3 (2023-24).
His 2023 slugging of .576 made Culpepper the Wildcat team leader before he batted .471 and slugged .853 in a nine-game summer Team USA stint. That team was laden with stars such as Griff O’Ferrall (Virginia), JJ Weatherholt (West Virginia), Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M) and Jac Caglianone (Florida).
KC, as he goes by around Tointon, was on base for the U.S. squad in 20 of 38 trips to the plate.
This all came before Kansas State made a big splash in 2024’s postseason behind Culpepper’s ability to wield a sizzling light saber for a bat. K-State coach Pete Hughes can see when Culpepper gets ‘dialed in,’ which was the case for the Wildcats in last month’s Fayetteville Regional. Culpepper batted .583 while four extra-base hits contributed to a 1.33 slugging percentage (2.00 OPS).
“We lucked out with KC,” Hughes said. ”We love athletes; we love kids who can run and have high skillsets.
“We love kids who are focused, who are motivated to be great at this game who are good people. He checked all those boxes.”
Culpepper caught the eye of assistant coach Austin Wates at a summer showcase-style workout. He’s also caught the eye of Wildcat fans for three seasons, which included two at third base before Nick Goodwin’s departure to open the 2024 shortstop position. Culpepper slid into his natural spot like a bird to a live wire. The Wildcat junior posted .993 OPS after his .999 sophomore production.
Culpepper was one bright topic of the NCAA opening weekend regionals when he powered the Cats past home favorite Arkansas to the supers. The 6-foot, 190-pounder produced the regional’s top highlight with an opposite field blast in game 2 which enabled the Wildcats to gain an upper hand on the No. 5-ranked Razorbacks.
His career culmination put him high atop team boards that seek early-round infielders. Culpepper could play third as well as short and has a strong arm for plays in the hole. As for his bat, that was on display prominently in those three regional contests.
“I just love the big hit in the big moment against the best pitchers in the nation,” Hughes said of Culpepper’s Fayetteville performance. “That’s pretty awesome to watch.”
