Could Walker Jenkins Go on a Holliday Tour?

[Fatbat]

One thing is certain, Jenkins and Lee are the only 2 in our minors that have a shot at debuting at about 20 yo. They have both fallen in the FO laps just as Polanco and Kepler are at the tail end of their own decade+ with the twins. Jenkins has the highest ceiling of the two. Only Jenkins will determine when he gets to the show.  If there was ever a kid that can get to the show and be the next Trout type, its Jenkins.  Lee is more of a polanco type comparison. Could be much higher if he avoids major injuries that have limited polanco. 
I seriously doubt the FO is going to play games with either of their service times.  

[roger]

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

He turns 20yo February 2024 based on BF reporting. 

Still a  very, very young prospect.

Sorry, Doc.  I checked and saw Feb, 2005 as his birth date.  Don’t remember where that was.

edit:  Just checked again and MILB shows his birthdate as Feb 19 2005.

[harmony55]

21 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

One thing is certain, Jenkins and Lee are the only 2 in our minors that have a shot at debuting at about 20 yo. They have both fallen in the FO laps just as Polanco and Kepler are at the tail end of their own decade+ with the twins. Jenkins has the highest ceiling of the two. Only Jenkins will determine when he gets to the show.  If there was ever a kid that can get to the show and be the next Trout type, its Jenkins.  Lee is more of a polanco type comparison. Could be much higher if he avoids major injuries that have limited polanco. 
I seriously doubt the FO is going to play games with either of their service times.  

Brooks Lee turns 23 years old on Valentine's Day.

[saviking]

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

There's an awful lot to unpack here.

First of all, full admission, projections had the Twins drafting Clark and I wanted that. I saw him as a pure CF. In retrospect, despite all I had read, I just missed the idea/conception that Jenkins was a legitimate CF option. I guess I just listened to too many "As he fills out" comments. And truth is, he's so young still, he COULD just NATURALLY grow and bulk up to force a move to a corner spot one day. But the kid is so well put together, and has so much natural power already, you almost want him to stop growing physically at this point, LOL.

He reminds me so much of Royce Lewis in ability and attitude, and intelligence and attitude and faith it's wonderful. I'm so impressed by this kid not just because his debut was great, but because of his work ethic. 

I do have to object to speculation, however. We want to focus on Holliday, per the OP, but that's not really fair to do so. Hrbek exploded, as did Puckett and Mauer. We forget that WAY back in the day, Blyleven debuted as a teenager. With Hrbek, Puckett and Mauer, and even Buxton, the Twins HAVE HAD those early 20 year olds debut. 

But the whole Griffey and Gooden's and Harper's and a few others making a mark at 19 and 20/21 yo are unique. Some become HOF players...and some flame out. 

It's AWESOME if the Twins have another early 20's stud prospect who reaches MLB that soon. (Lewis would have if not for the knee injuries). But I would be ECSTATIC if Jenkins rose to AA for the last half of 2024 as a 20yo! It would put him on the cusp of reaching MLB in 2025 at some point as a 21yo! That would be outstanding!

But I really hate projecting one kid vs another when everyone is different, and time will ultimately be the factor. Holliday might hit a wall, and Jenkins might break through that wall. Time will tell. If he debuts as a stud at 22yo, I certainly wouldn't hold it against him.

I'm not a betting man. But I understand the law of averages. The Twins got really lucky with Lee and Jenkins both. The FO knows this. I would be SHOCKED if Lee is moved. And Jenkins is going nowhere except up. But if Jenkins isn't ready until 2025 or so, I'm not going to fret or worry. 

 

I'm fine with Cedar Rapids for two-thirds of the season. A taste of AA at the end of the year. Begin 2025 at AA and, when ready, move him up to AAA, maybe just before mid-season. If he can hit AAA ball, bring him up in September 2025. That's still lightning quick. Even 2026 debut is fine ..

[Fatbat]

15 minutes ago, roger said:

Sorry, Doc.  I checked and saw Feb, 2005 as his birth date.  Don’t remember where that was.

edit:  Just checked again and MILB shows his birthdate as Feb 19 2005.

Its very interesting that Lee, Erod and Jenkins are all Feb birthdays in 2001, 2003 & 2005.  All could be in the show within a season or two of each other and be teammates for a decade+.

[Fatbat]

1 minute ago, harmony55 said:

Brooks Lee turns 23 years old on Valentine's Day.

Ooops. Yes and Erod will be 21 in Feb and will likely debut as a 22 yo. 

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Walker Jenkins DOB - 02/19/2005; 19 years old in a couple of weeks.

Thank you! Tired or old eyes I don't know, but I read his birthdate of February 19th and thought it said he WAS 19.

(Headap)

[DocBauer]

45 minutes ago, roger said:

Sorry, Doc.  I checked and saw Feb, 2005 as his birth date.  Don’t remember where that was.

edit:  Just checked again and MILB shows his birthdate as Feb 19 2005.

Yeah, thought it said he was 19. That's his birthday. 

I can be so silly sometimes.

[roger]

18 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Yeah, thought it said he was 19. That's his birthday. 

I can be so silly sometimes.

Got a feeling Doc, that our eyes are of similar age.  
 

What I am excited bout is all these young studs working their way up the ladder.  Was also thrilled with today’s Strib comments bout Buxton’s, AK’s and Miranda’s health.

[Trov]

I know you using Holliday because of recent season he had, but they really not similar type players.  Holliday is not a power hitter, may get some power as he ages, but right now his numbers were very much built off his walks and general batting average.  

I am not saying he will be either of these guys, but looking at path of Mike Trout and Juan Soto might be more interesting.  both of them were called up year 19 seasons after crushing the minor leagues.  Trout did not do great in his 40 games at MLB level at age 19, but starting age 20 he became best player of all time, possibly.  Soto actually took off on his age 19 season when he was called up.  Both where supported by great eyes at the plate and good power. Both were outfielders by trade. Neither were super hyped guys at time of entering minors.  Trout drafted 25th and Soto signed as like outside top 20 players in his international signing.

The Harper comp is interesting because Harper was tagged the next big thing, and has been good to great, but only 1 year younger than Trout has 40 less bWAR for career.  In part, Harper plays corner OF and has had up and down years.  Really, if Jenkens can be close to any of them we will take it. I do not expect the Twins to be as aggressive as those three, all getting called up at 19, but if Jenkins comes out gate hitting like he finished the season, we could see a later season call up if injuries arise. However, a call up in 2025 is more likely if he crushes this year.