Twins Daily's Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects: #1 Walker Jenkins, OF

[Jamie Cameron]

Walker Jenkins had an excellent 2024 season, seeing three levels of Minor League Baseball. A strong offensive profile and consistent production have catapulted him to top-10 global prospect status.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

Age: 19 (DOB: 2/19/2005)
2024 Stats (Low-A, High-A, Double-A): 102 G, .282/.394/.439 (.883), 22 2B, 6 HR, 17 SB, 56 BB, 47 K
ETA: 2026
National Top 100 Rankings
BA: 6 | MLB: 2 | ATH: 9 | BP: 6

The Twins' good fortune in the 2023 MLB Draft Lottery cannot be overstated. Not only did they move up to the fifth overall pick despite having the 13th-worst record, they did so in an outstanding draft class. The additional bonus pool money allowed the Twins to lean into an excellent prep class, taking Charlee Soto, Brandon Winokur, and Dylan Questad. Additionally, it allowed them a crack at a player from a consensus top-five cluster of elite prospects.

After Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Max Clark, and Wyatt Langford were selected with the first four picks, the Twins selected Walker Jenkins, an outfielder out of South Brunswick High School, North Carolina. How has he performed so far? What’s left to work on? What might we expect in 2025? Let’s dig in.

What’s to Like?
Jenkins is an impressive athlete, at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. A sweet-swinging left-handed hitter, he made short work of two levels of pro ball in his 2023 post-draft debut. In 14 games in the Florida Complex League, Jenkins managed a .927 OPS, before bettering it for Fort Myers. In a 12-game Florida State League debut, Jenkins mashed his way to a 1.054 OPS, vaulting his name into the mix for a late-season call-up to Cedar Rapids.

That call was not forthcoming, however. Jenkins returned to Fort Myers for the beginning of the 2024 season and suffered a hamstring strain after one at-bat, which kept him sidelined for two months, until Jun. 4. Jenkins had a relatively slow start in his second pass at Low A, but heated up to the tune of an .817 OPS in 33 games, earning a promotion to Cedar Rapids at the end of July. Jenkins was even better at High-A, managing an .863 OPS in 34 games. When the Kernels' season ended, he was called up to Double-A Wichita for the final two weeks of their season. Not bad for your age-19 season.

There’s lots to like that underpins Jenkins’ strong 2024 performance. The approach and swing decisions are strong. He held a 13.6 K% and 14.5 BB% over three minor-league levels. The bat-to-ball skills are good, too. Jenkins had an excellent 82.2% Contact% in 2024, while maintaining an aggressive approach to pitches in the zone, a below-average chase rate, and an excellent in-zone whiff percentage (just 9.9% at Fort Myers). All of that adds up a strong offensive platform and a well-rounded profile, so what’s left to work on?  

What Left to Work on?
The most frequent criticism leveled at Jenkins’ profile thus far in his pro career has been a lack of power production, so let’s dig in there. In 2024, he managed a .426 SLG, with 19 doubles, three triples, and six home runs. 

Jenkins’s 90th-percentile exit velocity in 2024 for games in which we have data (Low A) is 101.7 mph, right around average for the level (102.1 mph). Some industry folks have dinged him for this. My opinion is he’ll continue to grow into more power. Players typically add more than 2 mph to their 90th-percentile exit velocity between the ages of 19 and 21. Additionally, Jenkins was hitting the ball 95 mph or harder 35.4% of the time (again, numbers from Fort Myers), slightly better than the 32.1% league average, and was hitting the ball at a launch angle between 10 and 30 degrees 29.3% of the time (28.2% league average). In other words, he’s hitting the ball hard consistently, on trajectories that will consistently lead to extra-base impact, all at a very early age. If you want to knock Jenkins for a lack of power in a season and a half of pro ball, you can, it’s just too early for that take from my perspective.

What’s Next?
Hopefully, a run of clean health and a long runway at Double-A in 2025. Jenkins's most likely MLB arrival date is 2026. This season seems unlikely, barring an incandescent first few months of the season. 

While Jenkins's supplementary tools aren’t spectacular, they’re average at worst. He’ll likely end up an average runner, but he’s a tick above that now, with a solid glove and a strong arm that should enable him to stick in center field for the short and medium term. Long-term, right field might be the most likely destination, but that shouldn’t impact his value adversely, given the richness of his offensive profile.

Jenkins's on-base skills shelter him somewhat from matchups. He didn’t show unmanageable platoon disadvantages or extreme susceptibility to certain pitch types, yet. The swing decisions, approach, and bat-to-ball skills give me confidence that Jenkins is one of the better prospects in baseball entering 2025. The continued development of his power stroke can elevate him to superstar prospect status. Next season will speak volumes on how likely that outcome is.

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[tony&rodney]

Does anyone else wonder if Jenkins will hit like Joe Mauer? Is that blasphemy or a template for criticism? Walker has a sweet swing and oozes athleticism.

"Hopefully, a run of clean health..." Seems like his ticket is health and repetitions. I'm looking forward to watching him next season. I think Twins fans should be totally excited about this guy.

[rv78]

I don't understand the perception that every prospective Twins hitter has to have "power". 

The most frequent criticism leveled at Jenkins’ profile thus far in his pro career has been a lack of power production, 

Let's allow the hitter to be the type of hitter they are instead of making or even expecting all of them to be Home Run hitters. There's nothing wrong with being a hitter that hits into the gaps for singles and doubles and an occasional home run as long as they are productive. I'll take another Joe Mauer over a Miguel Sano.

[jmlease1]

He's got all the tools. He's showing out on the field at every level (I don't count a cup of coffee in AA; talk to me after he has 100+ PAs in AA before anyone declares that he can't handle AA) and everything is looking great. Twins have been aggressive in promoting him (he's moving faster than Max Clark, whom he will inevitably get comped to) but not overly so.

He'll start the season in AA, and I won't be surprised at all to see him in AAA this season, especially if he stays healthy. I think he can be a special hitter and I'm not worried at all about his power production. Kid hasn't even turned 20 yet. 

Please stay healthy.

[mikelink45]

I agree with rv78 - power does not have to be the defining point in a players development.  Ask Arraez if exit velocity is the most important measurement.  I will take him and so glad we have him.

[Doctor Gast]

17 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Does anyone else wonder if Jenkins will hit like Joe Mauer? Is that blasphemy or a template for criticism? Walker has a sweet swing and oozes athleticism.

"Hopefully, a run of clean health..." Seems like his ticket is health and repetitions. I'm looking forward to watching him next season. I think Twins fans should be totally excited about this guy.

When I look at him I can't help but see a young LH Aaron Judge. I like the idea of the Twins have 1st started him out as being a good hitter & developing his swing instead of making him into a SO machine. The HRs will come.

[chpettit19]

44 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Does anyone else wonder if Jenkins will hit like Joe Mauer? Is that blasphemy or a template for criticism? Walker has a sweet swing and oozes athleticism.

"Hopefully, a run of clean health..." Seems like his ticket is health and repetitions. I'm looking forward to watching him next season. I think Twins fans should be totally excited about this guy.

The swing is definitely Mauer-like. And he uses that left center gap well already. He's shown a better ability to turn on the ball to this point, though. I don't know if he'll win batting titles, but when I watch him he certainly reminds me of Joe when he's up there. 

[LambchoP]

Is he going to start the year in A+ or AA? The lack of HR so far doesn't bother me at all, the guys only turning 20 years old. The power will come, I'm glad he's working on just being a hitter, not striking out, taking walks and hitting into the gaps. If he keeps this up, he'll be a great hitter for us for a lot of years. I just hope the organization doesn't ruin him by trying to make him swing for home runs every at bats like they did with Austin Martin. Let the kid do his thing and hopefully he can stay healthy and compete for an OF job in 2026:)

[Blyleven2011]

I'm on board with just allowing Jenkins to hit , hit to all fields and doubles into the gaps  , Jenkins needs to develop into a hitter not a Homerun hitter , the homeruns will come without even trying ...

Players that are productive is what we need  , n̈ot strikeout kings  ...

Don't fix what isn't broken and let Jenkins play his game ...

[arby58]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I agree with rv78 - power does not have to be the defining point in a players development.  Ask Arraez if exit velocity is the most important measurement.  I will take him and so glad we have him.

Please don't use Arraez as a positive comparison. Yes, Arraez hits for a high BA. His offensive contributions pretty much stop there. He was fourth in MLB in BA  last year but could only manage a 1.1 WAR. He doesn't get many extra base hits, he doesn't run well, and as a result doesn't score many runs. He also has little value defensively. Jenkins will be better than that in every category but BA.

[SF Twins Fan]

Give him 45 games at AA, and if he's producing like he did at A and high A then move him to AAA.  He's the type of prospect that doesn't need a full season or even a half season at any one level.

[saviking]

2 hours ago, rv78 said:

I don't understand the perception that every prospective Twins hitter has to have "power". 

The most frequent criticism leveled at Jenkins’ profile thus far in his pro career has been a lack of power production, 

Let's allow the hitter to be the type of hitter they are instead of making or even expecting all of them to be Home Run hitters. There's nothing wrong with being a hitter that hits into the gaps for singles and doubles and an occasional home run as long as they are productive. I'll take another Joe Mauer over a Miguel Sano.

As for power. The kid is only 19 years old. let the power come naturally. Don't alter his swing to create more.

[stringer bell]

The size and swing remind me of Kepler. I would hope that would be his floor. I, too, would not want him compared to Arraez. 
 

Starting a 20-year old in Wichita is aggressive enough for me. I hope he hits St. Paul in May and is in consideration for promotion to the majors by the end of the season. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Walker... who?  Well this caught me completely off guard.

[DJL44]

The pre-draft comp I saw for Jenkins was Kyle Tucker of the Astros. Generating more power is going to be crucial if Jenkins is going to develop into that type of player. I don't think anyone is going to be impressed if he hits 20 doubles and 5-10 HR in the big leagues. It took Tucker until his 3rd pro season (age 20) to tap into his power potential in games. Let's hope Jenkins does this same in 2025.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

One of the things that drives me a little crazy is the tendency that we have (me included) to think that our top prospects will become Willie Mays or Hank Aaron starting immediately.  It puts unrealistic expectations (like “where’s the power?”) on them and winds up leaving us all disappointed in the end.  We quickly forget that even Twins Hall of Famers like Kirby Puckett were just “pretty good” as rookies (and there are countless others) before developing into their fully formed stardom.  The road will surely be rocky and there will be ups and downs.  Put me in the club that is hopeful that Jenkins will eventually become a star and have a long productive career with the Twins.  That is a much bigger concern than what he does in his initial call up.  We (and the Twins) all need to exercise some patience. 

[chpettit19]

A 2025 debut puts him on a superstar trajectory. I'm with @stringer bell and hope to see him make relatively quick work of Wichita and be in St Paul in May. Absolute best-case scenario is the Michael Harris II route and he's in the majors in May, but the Corbin Carroll path of a September call-up followed by rookie of the year in 2026 wouldn't be too bad at all.

Walker appears to be an A+ kid and that's a great starting point. I'm excited to see him in big league camp and get our first glimpses into what the future may hold. There are kids who fly through systems and reach the majors crazy quick all over the league. Why can't the Twins have one?

[Senior Softball Guy]

SSS alert! When I saw him in Cedar Rapids he hit a double to left-center, ground ball hit to right, and placed a perfect bunt down third and proceeded to steal 2nd & third. I met him and his Grandpa afterward. This kid is a specimen! Big strong hands for a 19 year-old. SSS....but wow!

[Mike Sixel]

Exciting! 

It came down to him, Dollander, or Teel for me. All look good so far! 

[Steve Lein]

5 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Does anyone else wonder if Jenkins will hit like Joe Mauer? Is that blasphemy or a template for criticism? Walker has a sweet swing and oozes athleticism.

I have said this elsewhere, that there's a lot more Joe Mauer than Justin Morneau in Walker Jenkins game from what I have watched. What I mean by that is I think he swings for contact, not power, currently. This is not a bad thing, but I do wonder if that will shift at all in the future.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Steve Lein said:

I have said this elsewhere, that there's a lot more Joe Mauer than Justin Morneau in Walker Jenkins game from what I have watched. What I mean by that is I think he swings for contact, not power, currently. This is not a bad thing, but I do wonder if that will shift at all in the future.

I sure hope he maintains that swing and let the doubters doubt all the through a Hall of Fame career. 

[DJL44]

44 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I sure hope he maintains that swing and let the doubters doubt all the through a Hall of Fame career. 

Joe Mauer isn't a Hall of Famer if he plays his whole career in LF. Hal McRae, for example, was a very good player but not a Hall of Famer.

[bean5302]

Lets take a look at top prospects over the past decade or so. I'll take it back to 2011 where MLB's prospect lists begin and look at all prospects to appear on a top 5 from 2011-2023 (52 in total). I don't care about injuries or legal troubles, etc. I only care about production for years they played at the MLB level. No excuses.
6pts >6.0 fWAR = MVP Caliber
5pts 4.0-6.0 fWAR = All Star Caliber
4pts 2.0-3.9 fWAR = Solid Starter
3pts 1.0-1.9 fWAR = Fringe Starter
2pts 0.5-0.9 fWAR = Role Player
1pt <0.5 fWAR = Bit Player

First off, every single player to ever appear on the top 5 for MLB from 2011-2023 has made MLB. 100%. You'll also see the trend that by 10 years from now, most players are no longer part of MLB.

	Player	Last Appears	Best Year	Avg Year	Future
1	Mike Trout	2012	6	6	MVP Caliber
2	Jeremy Hellickson	2011	4	2	N/A
3	Bryce Harper	2012	6	5	All Star Caliber
4	Domonic Brown	2011	4	1	N/A
5	Dustin Ackley	2011	4	2	N/A
6	Matt Moore	2012	4	2	N/A
7	Julio Teheran	2012	4	3	N/A
8	Shelby Miller	2012	4	2	Bit Player
9	Jurickson Profar	2013	5	2	Solid Starter
10	Dylan Bundy	2013	4	3	N/A
11	Oscar Taveras	2014	1	1	N/A
12	Wil Myers	2013	4	3	N/A
13	Taijuan Walker	2013	4	3	Bit Player
14	Byron Buxton	2016	5	4	Solid Starter
15	Xander Bogaerts	2014	5	5	Solid Starter
16	Miguel Sano	2014	4	2	N/A
17	Archie Bradley	2014	4	2	N/A
18	Kris Bryant	2015	6	4	Bit Player
19	Carlos Correa	2015	6	5	Solid Starter
20	Francisco Lindor	2015	6	6	MVP Caliber
21	Addison Russell	2015	4	4	N/A
22	Corey Seager	2016	6	4	Solid Starter
23	Lucas Giolito	2016	6	3	Role Player
24	Julio Urias	2016	6	3	N/A
25	J.P. Crawford	2016	5	3	Fringe Starter
26	Andrew Benintendi	2017	5	3	Bit Player
27	Yoan Moncada	2017	5	3	Fringe Starter
28	Gleyber Torres	2018	4	4	Solid Starter
29	Dansby Swanson	2017	6	4	Solid Starter
30	Amed Rosario	2017	4	2	Bit Player
31	Shohei Ohtani	2018	6	6	MVP Caliber
32	Ron Acuna Jr.	2018	6	4	All Star Caliber
33	Vlad Guerrero Jr	2019	6	4	Solid Starter
34	Eloy Jimenez	2019	3	2	Bit Player
35	Fernando Tatis	2019	6	4	Solid Starter
36	Victor Robles	2019	4	2	Solid Starter
37	Royce Lewis	2019	4	3	Solid Starter
38	Wander Franco	2021	5	4	N/A
39	Gavin Lux	2020	4	2	Fringe Starter
40	Luis Robert Jr	2020	5	4	Solid Starter
41	Adley Rutschman	2022	5	5	All Star Caliber
42	MacKenzie Gore	2020	4	3	Solid Starter
43	Spencer Torkelson	2022	3	2	Fringe Starter
44	Jarred Kelenic	2021	3	1	Bit Player
45	Julio Rodriguez	2022	6	5	Solid Starter
46	Bobby Witt Jr.	2022	6	6	MVP Caliber
47	Riley Greene	2022	5	4	All Star Caliber
48	Gunnar Henderson	2023	6	6	MVP Caliber
49	Corbin Carroll	2023	5	5	All Star Caliber
50	Francisco Alvarez	2023	4	4	Solid Starter
51	Jordan Walker	2023	3	2	Too Early
52	Anthony Volpe	2023	4	4	Solid Starter

There's about a 10% chance a player who appears on the list becomes a perennial MVP candidate like a Mike Trout or Francisco Lindor, and an additional 10% chance they'll become perennial All Star caliber players like a Bryce Harper or Carlos Correa.

After those stars, there's another 30% chance or so the player becomes a solid starter like a Dansby Swanson or Gleyber Torres type.

Then there are about 20% of players who stick around as fringy guys who are good enough to fill holes in rosters in a pinch. These guys stick around for a few years at least. The Wil Myers' of the world, if you will.

There's about a 30% chance the player never amounts to much. They might have a isolated good season or two, but in the grand scheme of things, it'll be a pretty ephemeral career which is typically over with minimal impact like an Archie Bradley.

[gman]

If Jenkins is beating on the door by August, the Twins will have a tough decision to make. An outfield of Rodriguez, Jenkins and Buxton next September would be good to see. However, I expect Larnach and Wallner to be the starting corner outfielders next April. Maybe Wallner can play first base, maybe Larnach can dh. I expect Wallner to lead the team in homers next year and probably RBI's. I hope larnach and Lewis are both in the top 3 for the team. Then maybe in 2026 this will truly be a team with a dangerous lineup.

[bean5302]

Based on the numbers in the chart, you can be sure of one thing. Walker Jenkins is going to make MLB. Also, it's rare for a player to appear in the top 5 more than once, either from losing prospect status or dropping down the list, but most of the time, the player ranked this high is in MLB within a calendar year or so after their ranking. If Jenkins tears up AA I'm sure he'll be in AAA mid-year and he could potentially get some playing time at Target Field before the end of the season. It'd be a surprise for Jenkins not play a big portion of the 2026 season on the MLB roster.

He was 6'3 and 210lbs of super lean muscle at the draft point. Swimmers know how to be strong AF without putting on weight, but still, I'm not sure how much people expect him to "fill out" because he's not some 160lb high school prospect like Nick Gordon was. Morneau played at 6'4 and 220lbs in his prime. Turning him into a 300lb (Cartman voice) BEEFCAKE!!!! (/Cartman voice) isn't likely the source to improve his power.

Jenkins is young, but lets comparing him to other players from this list who were all elite prospects at age 19 (I swear the batting average is not a typo) and in A+ or above. Some prospects were drafted out of college, some were pitchers, and some didn't play in A+ or higher at age 19 (2020 lost season impacted a lot). To be fair, some of these guys I'm comparing Jenkins are potential hall of famers so this isn't some sort of fair bar to determine whether or not Jenkins can be a very good every day player, it's just next to the true superstars, the shine on his production doesn't stand out as much. Ordered by level, then by wRC+
1) MLB .270/.340/.477 OPS .817 ISO .206 wRC+ 121 Bryce Harper
2) AA .326/.374/.520 OPS .895 ISO .195, wRC+ 159 Ron Acuna, Jr.
3) AA .326/.414/.544 OPS .958, ISO .218, wRC+ 156 Mike Trout
4) AA .326/.351/.598 OPS .909, ISO .272 wRC+ 159 Xander Bogaerts
5) AA .402/.449/.671 OPS 1.120, ISO .269 wRC+ 203 Vlad Guerrero, Jr.
6) AA .286/.355/.507 OPS .862, ISO .221 wRC+ 133 Fernando Tatis, Jr.
7) AA .253/.315/.542 OPS .857, ISO .289 wRC+ 133 Jarred Kelenic
8) AA .289/.407/.395 OPS .801, ISO .105 wRC+ 131 Francisco Lindor
9) AA .281/.368/.452 OPS .820, ISO .171 wRC+ 127 Jurickson Profar
10) A+ .346/.453/.512 OPS .966, ISO .166 wRC+ 172 Wil Myers
11) A+ .326/.415/.472 OPS .887, ISO .147 wRC+ 155 Byron Buxton
12) A+ .290/.382/.481 OPS .862, ISO .191, wRC+ 147 Walker Jenkins
13) A+ .325/.416/.510 OPS .926, ISO .185 wRC+ 144 Carlos Correa
14) A+ .275/.377/.508 OPS .885 ISO .233 wRC+ 131 Addison Russell
15) A+ .275/.359/.433 OPS .791 ISO .157 wRC+ 121 Gleyber Torres
16) A+ .275/.352/.407 OPS .759, ISO .131 wRC+ 119 J.P. Crawford
17) A+ .255/.327/.399 OPS .726, ISO .144 wRC+ 110 Royce Lewis
18) A+ .262/.354/.387 OPS .741, ISO .125 wRC+ 110 Victor Robles
19) A+ .257/.307/.335 OPS .642 ISO .078 wRC+ 97 Amed Rosario

I've bolded the guys who have proven themselves as perennial quality starters thus far. I think it's pretty apparent Jenkins is on the line where stud players are less likely to shake out, though the book isn't closed yet on many of these players. It's worth noting the only players on this list lower than Jenkins who've already panned out were shortstops with far more defensive value than Jenkins will have.

Jenkins has a lot to prove in AA next year to maintain his status as a top prospect and stay on course to be a solid MLB player.

[tony&rodney]

19 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Jenkins has a lot to prove in AA next year to maintain his status as a top prospect and stay on course to be a solid MLB player.

Yes he does and I, for one, would not bet against him. His biggest challenges are his head and injuries.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Joe Mauer isn't a Hall of Famer if he plays his whole career in LF. Hal McRae, for example, was a very good player but not a Hall of Famer.

If Joe Mauer had played his entire career at any other position, other than as a pitcher, he would have won a entire trove of batting championships, had well more than 3300 base hits, etc. He was a catcher by choice (demand if you will) and the best in baseball. I don't think many Minnesotans still understand the respect that Mauer had among players in MLB as a pure athlete. 

We can only hope that Walker Jenkins has it all together like Mauer, and boy it would be sweet. Wouldn't it?

[DJL44]

37 minutes ago, tony&amp;rodney said:

If Joe Mauer had played his entire career at any other position, other than as a pitcher, he would have won a entire trove of batting championships, had well more than 3300 base hits, etc.

Almost nobody has more than 3300 hits. There's 11 people in the 150 year history of MLB. Willie Mays didn't have 3300 hits and neither did Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson or Cal Ripken Jr. You seem very certain about a very unlikely outcome.

[DocBauer]

Look, I'm NOT placing this not yet 20yo kid on a path to the HOF, but when I read scouting reports and prospect rankings, etc, I keep getting flashes of being a somewhat slower Trout who hits more Dbls but fewer HR, or a Mauer who might have a lower AVG but more power? 

It stinks he was hurt early last season. It's good it was a pulled hamstring and not a knee, or shoulder type of injury that required repair. With his size and ability, the HR power will come naturally. And the Twins don't have to, and won't, mess with his natural swing much at all. They don't have to. Again, the natural power is there, and I'd bet the most they do is "tweak" a couple things, which is common practice for all prospects. 

As talented as he is, I'd speculate he's ready for AAA come first of June or July. And for a 20yo, that's NOT a conservative estimate at all! Now, whether he debuts late in the season for a cup of coffee is debatable, and not worth worrying about IMO. But it's possible.

Looking down the road to 2016...trades could happen of course...but an OF of Larnach, Buxton, Wallner, Rodriguez, and Jenkins is not a dream, but a real possibility. Not sure exactly who plays where, but one or both of Rodriguez and Jenkins can spell Buxton in CF on days off, or IL stints. I rather like Wallner as the promenade RF with his arm, though Rodriguez and Jenkins have the defense and arm to play there as well. But with LF larger at Target Field, I like Rodriguez/Jenkins in LF over Wallner as they probably move a little better and can cover a little more ground. Larnach and everyone else can also DH for half days off. Hard to believe all 5 will be healthy at the same time all season long. 

But that's where potential trade possibilities occur. However, do either Larnach or Wallner have the ability to convert to 1B at that time? I'm not saying GG ability, but just the ability to be solid there. It would be a shame to put Wallner's arm at 1B, but he's a good athlete and big bat. Why couldn't he play 1B, potentially, and still be able to play some 1B? Larnach isn't quite the athlete Wallner is, but he's not a stiff either. Could he be a potential 1B candidate?

IF one of them has the ability to handle scoops and any kind of instincts, baseball intelligence to grasp the subtleties of the position, you suddenly have the best of all worlds with 4 prime OF talents, a productive/dangerous 1B who can still help cover an OF corner, and great DH coverage. Am I getting ahead of myself here? Maybe. But if Jenkins is ready in 2026, we're only talking a single season away from this possibility. And all 5 players are cost controlled. 

I think it's at least worth a moment of exciting reflection.

The #1 priority is Rodriguez and Jenkins just being healthy for the upcoming season. Whether Rodriguez jumps straight to the Twins, or comes up later, the issue is him being healthy and taking advantage of his opportunity at the ML level in 2025 WHENEVER it comes. Good health and continued development for Jenkins should have him ready for 2026, IMO. Though I certainly won't be disappointed if he debuts late in 2025.

[bean5302]

6 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Look, I'm NOT placing this not yet 20yo kid on a path to the HOF, but when I read scouting reports and prospect rankings, etc, I keep getting flashes of being a somewhat slower Trout who hits more Dbls but fewer HR, or a Mauer who might have a lower AVG but more power?...

Strange, I get Joe Benson.