We enjoy watching baseball, especially seeing and speaking with Black baseball players before or after games.
Strike one:
Kaelen Culpepper was named to the MLB All-Star Futures Game for the second straight year. However, the No. 2 Minnesota Twins prospect and No. 35 overall couldn’t play in last Sunday’s contest in Philadelphia because he was placed on the injured list (IL) July 7 due to a left hip strain.
Before he was placed on the IL, “It’s an accomplishment, it’s an honor that you get acknowledged for putting up some good numbers halfway through the season,” said Culpepper, the St. Paul Saints starting shortstop, on his second consecutive selection.
The 22-year-old Culpepper, in his first year at St. Paul, is hitting .272 with 14 homers, 43 RBI, 54 runs and 15 stolen bases, and is tied for first in baseball in leadoff home run games (6).
“I was really excited last year,” he recalled, “and I was excited again this year. Being a two-time Futures Game (participant), I feel like I earned that because (it) definitely wasn’t given.
“I don’t know if I was playing good enough to earn that, but they saw me as one of the (players),” surmised Culpepper. “I’m doing something right, that’s for sure.”
Strike two:
We haven’t talked since he was traded to Toronto from Minnesota in late June. Pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson spoke after his July 4 start against St. Paul made him the 20th different pitcher to start this season for the Buffalo Braves, the Blue Jays’ AAA affiliate.
“Getting back to the starter routine is always fun,” said the right-hander. Before the trade, the Twins had sent him down to the bullpen, and he was later outrighted to Toronto. “I realize it’s a business. I love being in Minnesota, but I realize at the end of the day, it’s a business,” stressed Woods Richardson, who played for the Twins for almost four seasons (2022-2025).
The former big league Black hurler continued, “I liked all the guys in the clubhouse. I love going to war with all those guys. But it could be anybody. It was me, but I’m over here now with the Blue Jays (organization) and trying to get back on the right track.”
Woods Richardson is working to not only get his pitching form back, but also to get back to the majors.
“Just getting mechanics back right, getting my legs underneath me again,” he surmised. “That’s why we’re here at AAA.”
Strike three:
Charles McAdoo was one of three Black players on the Buffalo AAA club. He was on a tear during his team’s recent road trip. He smacked his 11th home run of the season in the Braves’ 8-3 win at St. Paul on July 5, the series finale between the two clubs. The second baseman also lined a double and scored two runs.
“(I’m) just making sure that I’m not missing the pitches I’m looking for,” McAdoo told MSR afterwards. “I know I can control the zone.”
Ball four:
Taj Bradley, the Minnesota Twins’ only Black pitcher, went into this week’s All-Star break after two impressive outings last week.
“It ain’t anything I’m not used to. I pitched in Tampa Bay last year,” said the pitcher of pitching in 90-plus-degree heat. “I’m putting up quality starts and giving the team a chance to win. Keep it as simple as possible.”
Bradley earned his team-leading ninth win of the season Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels, his second consecutive seven-inning outing, his 18th start of the season.
Sunday’s performance followed Bradley’s 7-inning, 10-strikeout victory on July 7 when the Twins defeated Cleveland 3-1. It was the second consecutive start with double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his career (Bradley had 11 strikeouts on July 1 at Houston).
“Positivity drives me right now. I’m just trying to stay positive,” Bradley told me after that contest.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.
© 2026 Charles Hallman