Kansas State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper made history on Saturday, becoming the first Wildcat to hit for the cycle since 2014.
Culpepper stepped up to the plate in the eighth inning in need of a home run and earned his stripes by blasting a two-run bomb in the Wildcats’ blowout win over Lousiana Tech.
Culpepper, the MLB’s 32nd-ranked prospect, continues to prove himself as one of the nation’s top infielders. With the home run climbing the outfield wall at George Cole Field, Culpepper became the first Wildcat to earn the honor since Ross Kivett in 2014 and just the fourth Wildcat in program history.
According to MLB scouts discussing Culpepper’s upside, “If he displays more power, Culpepper might go from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State’s first-ever first-round position player.”
The Tennessee native did just that, and with his home run on Saturday, Culpepper now has 10 on the year, earning back-to-back seasons with double-digit home runs.
Culpepper was a major contributor in Kansas State’s 19-4 win, and after rolling to a victory in Game One against Louisiana Tech, Pete Hughes’ group will take the field again on Saturday at 8:00 PM CT against No. 5 Arkansas.
