Latest news with #WalkerJenkins
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Twins No. 1 Prospect is Finally Back
The Minnesota Twins selected Walker Jenkins with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. In the two years since, he has blossomed into a consensus top 10 MLB prospect. Now 20 years old, Jenkins' biggest professional struggle so far is a familiar one around these parts. Staying healthy. Walker has been available for just two games this season, with his last action coming back on April 6, when he opened the regular season for Double-A Wichita. Unfortunately, an ankle injury that was first reported as a problem in Spring Training eventually landed him a cortisone shot and two months on the injured list. Walker Jenkins starting rehab assignment Fast Forward to today, June 3, and Walker Jenkins is scheduled to be in the Minnesota Twins' rookie league lineup, where he will finally begin his long-awaited rehab assignment. Advertisement According to Dan Hayes (The Athletic), Jenkins was supposed to start his comeback yesterday, but the FCL Twins' game was rained out. They have a doubleheader scheduled for today vs the FCL Rays. The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m. CDT this morning. This year, Jenkins will be more than four years younger than the average player age in the (Double-A) Texas League. Last summer was Walker Jenkins' first full professional season. The Minnesota Twins' prospect batted an impressive .282 with a .833 OPS across four levels, ending his 2024 minor league journey at Double-A Wichita, where he will eventually land when activated off the minor league injured list. When available, Minnesota Twins top prospect producing beyond his age Across 110 total minor league games to start his young professional career, Jenkins is slashing .299/.415/.471 with 27 doubles, 8 triples, and 9 home runs. He has also stolen 23-of-29 attempted bases and owns a 63/65 K/BB. Advertisement The North Carolina kid is a true five-tool talent who projects as a regular MLB All-Star caliber player. He may eventually have to move off center field, but he's pretty damn good out there right now. On Monday, the MN Twins second-rated (and consensus MLB top 25) prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez hit the injured list for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. That makes the news that Walker Jenkins' return even more welcomed. It's possible that Jenkins plays well enough to force the Twins into a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul, by the end of the this season. He has the talent and ability to make that a reality. But really, the most important thing is that he stays healthy and gains experience. Advertisement Related: Another Top MN Twins Prospect Hits the IL Because by 2026, and certainly in 2027, Rodriguez and Jenkins should be contributing in the big leagues. Hopefully, in that time, both guys blossom into outfield cornerstones of the Minnesota Twins organization for a long time to come. Related Headlines
New York Times
01-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Twins prospect Walker Jenkins could miss start of spring season with ankle sprain
FORT MYERS, Fla. — He should be ready for Opening Day, but Minnesota Twins prospect Walker Jenkins could miss the start of the minor-league spring schedule after suffering a mild left ankle sprain. While his teammates were already taking live batting practice, the club's top prospect watched the drills in street clothes on Friday. Jenkins said he's limited to only working out (no baseball activities) as he recovers from a sprain he suffered while jumping for a ball during outfield drills following his arrival in minor-league camp on Sunday. Advertisement The Twins' minor-league exhibition schedule begins on March 12. The club said the injury could put Jenkins one to two weeks behind schedule. Though Jenkins may not be ready to open the spring slate, he isn't too far behind, general manager Jeremy Zoll said. 'He's just working his way back, but we don't think it's going to impact him in terms of being ready for the season,' Zoll said. 'We're getting close. … I don't know if it'll literally be for the first minor-league game, but he'll be in a good spot, as games are getting close, to get built up.' Jenkins is the second Twins outfield prospect to be sidelined this spring after Emmanuel Rodriguez sustained the same type of injury last month in big-league camp. Zoll described the left-ankle injury suffered by Rodriguez, a Grade 2 sprain, as worse than Jenkins'. Twins athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said on Saturday morning that Rodriguez is starting to run again after injuring his ankle in mid-February. The fifth overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, Jenkins suffered a hamstring injury in the 2024 season opener at Low-A Fort Myers and didn't play again until May 20. He batted .282/.394/.439 with 22 doubles and six home runs in 368 plate appearances across four minor-league levels last season. MLB Pipeline currently rates Jenkins as the No. 3 prospect in baseball. The Athletic's Keith Law ranked him as the No. 4 overall prospect earlier this year. GO DEEPER Twins top 40 prospects for 2025, led by Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez
