MLB Player News

Culpepper went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during Friday's win over the Brewers.

Culpepper took left-hander Shane Drohan deep in the fourth inning of Friday's contest to check off numerous firsts in what was only the second at-bat in the young infielder's MLB career. Culpepper figures to start nearly every day for the Twins now that he's been called up from Triple-A, and he offers plenty of fantasy upside after slashing .271/.367/.478 with 14 homers, 46 RBI, 63 runs and 17 steals across 74 games at Triple-A.

Rocchio went 0-for-4 in Friday's 8-2 win over the White Sox.

Rocchio has been a near-league-average performer for the season with a .254/.320/.375 slash line and a 98 wRC+ over 444 plate appearances, but he's fallen into an extended skid at the plate lately. Over his last 12 games, he's gone just 4-for-43 (.093), which has resulted in a 20-point drop in his batting average. Though he's remained a mainstay in the lineup at shortstop amid his slump, Rocchio could be in danger of losing out on a couple of starts per week after the Guardians recently called up one of their top prospects in Angel Genao from Triple-A Columbus. Genao will likely be in line for steady playing time while he's up with Cleveland, though his ability to play second base and third base in addition to shortstop could allow Rocchio to be included in the starting nine more often than not.

McGonigle went 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Giants.

McGonigle's three hits were all singles. He's now 9-for-26 (.346) with eight walks over seven games on the Tigers' current road trip, and he's added three home runs and seven RBI in that span. For the season, the rookie infielder is batting .289 with an .829 OPS, 12 homers, 44 RBI, 75 runs scored, 20 doubles, three triples and 11 stolen bases over 112 contests.

The Rays recalled Williams from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

The move bolsters the Rays' infield depth after Ben Williamson (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Williams made the Rays' Opening Day roster as the team's starting shortstop but has spent the majority of the 2026 season in Triple-A, where he is slashing .226/.318/.392 with 17 steals (in 24 chances), 11 home runs and 51 RBI over 358 plate appearances.

The Twins selected Culpepper's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.

Culpepper will take over at shortstop for the Twins moving forward after slashing .271/.367/.478 with 14 homers, 46 RBI, 63 runs scored, 17 stolen bases and a 39:64 BB:K across 343 plate appearances with St. Paul this season. With power and speed upside, Culpepper should be added in all fantasy formats. He's batting seventh in his major-league debut Friday against Brewers lefty Shane Drohan.

The Twins optioned Gray to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.

With top prospect Kaelen Culpepper promoted for his major-league debut, Gray will head back to the minors after slashing .225/.267/.324 with four homers, 29 RBI, 16 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 10:60 BB:K across 188 trips to the plate with the Twins this season. Culpepper should get a long runway at shortstop in Minnesota.

The Twins will call up Culpepper from Triple-A St. Paul prior to Friday's game in Milwaukee, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

Culpepper might have been promoted earlier this season had he not missed time with hand and glute injuries. He's healthy now, and will take over as the Twins' primary shortstop down the stretch. A first-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Culpepper has slashed .271/.367/.478 with 14 home runs, 17 stolen bases and a 39:64 BB:K over 74 contests this season with St. Paul.

Montgomery went 2-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Red Sox.

Montgomery has had a tough time at the plate since the All-Star break, as he entered Thursday's game having gone just 11-for-61 with a 36.2 percent strikeout rate. He started to turn things around Thursday, recording his first multi-hit effort in his last eight starts. Montgomery singled in a run during the third inning and then drove in an additional run with a sacrifice fly in the 11th frame.

Gimenez went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs.

Gimenez collected two singles before ripping a ground-rule double in the ninth inning and promptly swiping third base. He was intentionally walked in the 11th with a runner on third and stole second moments later, giving him 15 stolen bases on the season. It was his second multi-steal game of the year after recording three against Boston on June 17. The double also snapped a nine-game extra-base-hit drought, a stretch in which he batted .167 with just one RBI.

Nimmala is day-to-day after suffering a hand laceration with Double-A Rocket City on Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Nimmala was the big get for the Halos in the Jose Soriano trade earlier in the week, but he'll now be sidelined for a short while after making his organizational debut Wednesday. The 20-year-old shortstop was a first-round pick in 2023 and has seen action at four different levels of the minors this season. He slashed .279/.355/.451 with four homers, 11 RBI, 21 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 13:32 BB:K across 138 plate appearances at Double-A prior to being dealt to Los Angeles.