Are the Twins Really Holding Walker Jenkins Back to Gain a 2028 Draft Pick?

[DJL44]

59 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Well, after today's debacle the season is pretty close to officially over. It really is time to start planning for next year.

They are 1.5 games back with 37 games remaining. Teams have closed larger gaps than that before.

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

It’s likely that Jenkins is currently no better than the players they are already using in the outfield. That’s not a slight on Jenkins. Buxton is an All-Star, the Larnach/Martin platoon has been producing and Keaschall has been doing well in the lineup.

Keaschall has played well but he needs a lot of work on defense. Larnach is over his hot start and isn't a great defender. Not certain what to make of Martin, but he should only hit lefties. Buxton looks like a shell of himself with his hip stuff, and now Martin is on the injured list. 

I'd play Jenkins over any iteration of all of the players you listed because of the injuries to Buxton for sure.

[Mike Sixel]

I think they are holding him back in case they're is a lockout next year. They want as many games from him as possible. I don't agree with them, but luckily for you all I don't run the team. 

[mnfireman]

10 hours ago, umterp23 said:

Twins mgmt team runs on a strategy of hope, which results in mediocrity and for a relative small budget organization (by choosing). Cardinals rolled the dice yesterday with Baez and he made an immediate spark. Draft pick impact is 5 years down the road on average, but hey let’s hope he can win rookie of the year!

He was 0-5 with 3 Ks today, back to reality....

[mnfireman]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Question for the masses.  Does the 130 AB rule include walks, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts yes they still do exist), and HBP?  That would drop the required ABs significantly.  There are only 38 games left (including today).  That's not many games to reach 130 "official" ABs.

It's130 PAs, it's never just ABs...

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Question for the masses.  Does the 130 AB rule include walks, sacrifice flies, sacrifice bunts yes they still do exist), and HBP?  That would drop the required ABs significantly.  There are only 38 games left (including today).  That's not many games to reach 130 "official" ABs.

The MLB ROY rule is based on ABs

ABs do not include walks, sacrifices, or HBPs. Those are PAs.

But again...they can't be considering that. 

Edited yesterday at 12:50 AM by USAFChief

[mnfireman]

10 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

It's130 PAs, it's never just ABs...

I looked it up, it is 130 AB (not PAs, my bad), 50 IP or 45 days on the active roster (excluding time on the IL).

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/rookie-eligibility

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, mnfireman said:

It's130 PAs, it's never just ABs...

Crud, I failed to keep scrolling all the way down, and now I can't delete.

[Whitey333]

The thought they aren't only 1.5 games out of a playoff spot is a reflection more of the poor teams in american league than proving Twins are contenders.  This team even if it mskes the playoffs doesnt make them contenders.   Play some young guys yes.  But you must have patience with them.  You cant expect guys like Jenkins to step in and im.ediately become a superstar.  If he is on the 40 man and if there is a lockout he cannot play minor league baseball.  That is a consideration.  Yes ge certainly deserves they opportunity.

[TNtwins85]

20 hours ago, SarasotaBill said:

The 2027 CBA lockout is a critical omission.

 

Exactly. Also the fact that they have waaaayyy to many OF’s and LH OF’s at that. This whole PPI speculation is simply Twinsdaily staff looking for clicks as I’ve seen it written about a thousand times. The reasons go as such. 1. Too many OF’s, who gets bumped? 2. Jenkins needs AB’s if he’s brought up. 3. Erod needs AB’s as he’s out of options. 4. If the 27 season is delayed Jenkins doesn’t have to sit out if not on the 40. 5. Maybe PPI here. 
That’s the order. PPI isn’t even close to the top reason. Come on Twinsdaily. Stop speculating this garbage. Do better. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

21 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

Since 2020, the roster has only expanded to 28 on September 1. Most teams add the one pitcher allowed, plus an additional hitter. 

My mistake. Thanks Indiana.

[Larry Janisewski]

On 8/16/2026 at 11:05 AM, tarheeltwinsfan said:

If Jenkins were promoted today, what would the lineup be? Who sits? Buck...no. Larnach...no Keaschall...not even Keaschall, because he has been the Twins best hitter since July 1... Bell...no Lewis...no. Jenkins needs to keep playing in AAA for now. Give him a taste of the bigs when the 40 man roster begins September 1. 

I believe the 26 man rosters only go up to 28 in September.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Larry Janisewski said:

I believe the 26 man rosters only go up to 28 in September.

You are correct. I made a mistake. Thank you.

[twinstalker]

If the Twins don't promote him at all until sometime into next season (at least two weeks), it will provide them with the biggest prize of all...an extra year.  Given that they would want to trade Jenkins with two years of control left, it's the difference between having him for five meaningful years instead of four.  That's 25% more Jenkins.