Waiting to retain eligibility for ROY next year would be the only legitimate reason to hold him back, but that time clock has just about run out.  There are two ways Jenkins can lose his ROY eligibility for 2027:  if he is on the team more than 45 days or has more than 130 at bats in 2026.  If he came up now, there only be 37 days and 34 games left.  We only need to worry about 130 at bats...and the Twins can smartly control that. The team is averaging close to 4 ABs per game, so that in 34 games, that would be 136 ABs.  Just hold him out a game or two and we are there.  Its time.

Holding him back because he might miss development time if there is a protracted strike is a stupid reason.  There MIGHT be a work stoppage.  There might NOT be a work stoppage.  There might be a brief work stoppage.  Who knows?  

He's done everything he needs to do in MiLB. He can contribute now. More importantly, he can contribute at a higher level than any other OFer other than Buxton.  

Finally, I look at it this way:  who do you prefer in RF....Clemens or Jenkins?  Roden or Jenkins?  Who is the best player to spot Buxton some rest?  Jenkins or Roden?  I've watched Roden play the OF and he is no where as fast or smooth as Jenkins.  

We rarely get a chance to bring up a five tool player with the skill and talent of Jenkins.  

Just do it already. 

This topic was thoroughly covered from both viewpoints in the comments (150+) to an article where Twins GM Jeremy Zoll explains ....

In sum, call him up because he offers better defense, better baserunning, and could provide the offense the Twins want to help them win games.

In sum, do not call him up because Jenkins does not replace Bell, Buxton, or Keaschall and the Twins are very unlikely to release Trevor Larnach (or reduce him to Alex Jackson playing time).

Why . . .is Roden . . .on the . . . roster???

"A 20-year-old at AAA with an OPS of .800 is very exciting, a top 10 global prospect. A 20-year-old at AAA with nearly a .900 OPS is a guy to consider calling up."

This article lays out the pros and cons well and ably contrasts it to Culpepper's promotion, but Jenkins turned 21 in February, before the season started.

18 hours ago, JADBP said:

More importantly, he can contribute at a higher level than any other OFer other than Buxton.  

That is not necessarily true at all. He might, but there is no way to know how he'd do in his first month in the big leagues, anything good or bad can happen in the small sample of 4-6 weeks. He has the talent offensively to be  one of the best hitters in Twins history in his career. 

I would hold him back.  If the there is a long strike or lockout that lasts most or all of the year, we will be glad he is ready to play at AAA.  If you think 120 AB and Jenkins is the difference of making the playoffs or not then call him up.  Though I feel like Wallner should get this one since he is already on the roster.  If we had no other options, it would be an easier decision to make the call.  I wouldn't give Roden too much more rope as he is only hitting with runners on base.  

On 8/21/2026 at 3:15 AM, JADBP said:

Waiting to retain eligibility for ROY next year would be the only legitimate reason to hold him back, but that time clock has just about run out.  There are two ways Jenkins can lose his ROY eligibility for 2027:  if he is on the team more than 45 days or has more than 130 at bats in 2026.  If he came up now, there only be 37 days and 34 games left.  We only need to worry about 130 at bats...and the Twins can smartly control that. The team is averaging close to 4 ABs per game, so that in 34 games, that would be 136 ABs.  Just hold him out a game or two and we are there.  Its time.

Holding him back because he might miss development time if there is a protracted strike is a stupid reason.  There MIGHT be a work stoppage.  There might NOT be a work stoppage.  There might be a brief work stoppage.  Who knows?  

He's done everything he needs to do in MiLB. He can contribute now. More importantly, he can contribute at a higher level than any other OFer other than Buxton.  

Finally, I look at it this way:  who do you prefer in RF....Clemens or Jenkins?  Roden or Jenkins?  Who is the best player to spot Buxton some rest?  Jenkins or Roden?  I've watched Roden play the OF and he is no where as fast or smooth as Jenkins.  

We rarely get a chance to bring up a five tool player with the skill and talent of Jenkins.  

Just do it already. 

My sentiments exactly. It seems like a no-brainer.

14 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

That is not necessarily true at all. He might, but there is no way to know how he'd do in his first month in the big leagues, anything good or bad can happen in the small sample of 4-6 weeks. He has the talent offensively to be  one of the best hitters in Twins history in his career. 

Remember Rich Coggins and Al Bumbry and the two barreled, scintillating rookie transformation of the Orioles they brought in the second half of the season.  Coggins/Bumbry. Culpepper/Jenkins. You’ll never find out leaving 1/2 of the potential transformational tandem in AAA.

I think this is actually a fairly simple question with a very difficult answer. The only spot available is to play instead of Larnach. Keaschall has been our best hitter since May 1. Bell has been clutch and hitting very well since July 1. Buxton is the one guy we have that can carry the team and is unlikely to ever sit more than one day a week. The open spot is in LF. 
 

So that’s the question. Do you bench Larnach or at least drop him to two games a week so Jenkins or Emma can come up and play regularly?. If you do that, Jenkins or Emma could come up and play five days a week, one in CF and four in LF (or RF if you want to move Keaschall to where he’s likely to play next year). It’s a very tough call because although he’s slumping now, Laranach has hit well all year and if you bench him any trade value he might’ve had is gone, and I think they will trade him in the off-season. Also, there’s no guarantee that the co-op would hit any better than Larnach is hitting now. Most guys really struggle with their first shot at MLB pitching.. Still, despite all that, I would send Roden back to AAA, call up Jenkins (not Emma) and play him five days a week in the outfield with Larnach grabbing some pine. Emma can come up on September 1.