Royce Lewis and Kaelen Culpepper, the St. Paul Saints’ only Black players are both working on a similar goal: to play in the majors. The former wants to get back there after he was sent down to the Triple-A club last month, and the latter is working to convince Minnesota Twins officials that he’s ready to be promoted.
Going into last weekend’s series at Louisville, the 6-2 Lewis has been tearing the hide off the baseball with five HRs, hitting .321 and has a 95.5 mph average exit velocity that puts him in the 98th percentile of Triple-A hitters, and up from his 87.9 mph average in the big leagues, where the 26-year-old infielder was since 2022.
After his rehab for a left knee sprain suffered early this season, Lewis has struggled at the plate, hitting below .200, and looking more and more uncomfortable at the plate with each at-bat. He reportedly accepted his demotion a bit upset as expected but hopes to find his groove again.
“It feels good,” said Lewis as we chatted after an infield practice at the Saints’ ballpark, “to be playing with such awesome kids here, especially K.C. These guys dominate, man. I’m just having fun again, and so enjoying the game, it’s been great.”
The 23-year-old Culpepper, in his first season at Triple-A, is a top Twins prospect. He is hitting nearly .270 with 12 HRs and a .941 OPS.
We recently met again for the second time this season, our first meeting the 5-10 shortstop admitted he was getting used to being at the minor league’s top level after splitting last season between AA and A+.
“I feel like I’ve been transitioning pretty smoothly, getting to the routine of everything,” said Culpepper. “It’s going pretty good.”
Both Lewis and Culpepper said they are leaning and learning from each other now as Saints teammates.
“Obviously he’s been through it a lot and he knows his ways around ups and downs, and all that,” explained Culpepper on Lewis. “You just got to pick his brain and learn from him, have fun.
“He’s always smiling, he’s always in a good mood, so we get to build off his energy. It’s always electric, a great person to be around.”
It’s his electric energy that Lewis has displayed during his years with the Twins that the team hopes will return soon because he’s too talented, a career .262 batting average, 33 homers, an .801 OPS and four home runs in six postseason games in 2023. He has proven he can hit big league pitching.
Culpepper also wants to make and stick in The Show. We are rooting for both of them.
“We’re all in the same boat,” surmised Lewis. “We all want to be in the big leagues and make our dreams come true. Whether it’s me or Kaelen or whoever else on this team or in the organization or in any organization, we all want to be in the big leagues.
“So, working our butts off to get there, that’s the goal, man,” he concluded, “and have fun while you’re doing it. That’s what I’m doing. I know that’s what Kaelen’s doing.”
Finding Black fans at the ballpark
It took nearly a couple of months into this season but we recently found a Black fan at a Twins game.
During a May 18 game, Carl (his real name withheld by request) was there along with friends. All were Black, sitting together at the Twins ballpark.
“I like coming to the game more than watching it at home on TV,” said Carl between innings. “I enjoy the atmosphere.”
“It’s a good getaway to enjoy quality time with the friends,” he added. “We’re always working and taking care of the family, so it’s a good way for us to get away. My brother-in-law, he’s the one who bought the tickets for us and treated us. He’s done it every year for the last three years.
“We sit in this section all the time,” concluded Carl as he went back to his seat.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.