The Twins announced on Tuesday that they added lefty pitchers Kendry Rojas and Connor Prielipp, righty pitchers Andrew Morris and John Klein, and outfielders Gabriel Gonzalez and Henry Mendez to their 40-man roster, protecting them from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
Shockingly, the Twins elected not to protect one promising pitching prospect from the Rule 5 Draft.
Twins surprisingly decline to protect right-handed pitching prospect C.J. Culpepper from Rule 5 Draft
Culpepper, 24, is the Twins' No. 17-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Minnesota selected Culpepper out of California Baptist in the 13th round (384th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft.