Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll Explains Why Walker Jenkins Hasn’t Been Called Up

[mrmpls]

Entering action on Friday, the Twins are tied with the Rangers for the third and final Wild Card spot in the American League. A spark to the club’s outfield group couldn’t hurt as Twins outfielders are 17th in OPS and second to last in homers (2) and RBIs (9) over the past two weeks. Jenkins could certainly provide that boost.

[HarmonK03]

15 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

No, Keaschall cannot move to 2B unless all of Clemens, Lewis, and Kreidler are out. That ship has sailed.

Walker Jenkins comes up if Buxton, Keaschall, or Larnach go on the IL.

The reasoning and examples given by cpettit19 hold as do the examples. The Twins brought up KC, the Yankees brought Lombard Jr., etc. under very specific conditions. Unfortunately, those conditions do not exist (as of now) that make bringing up Jenkins a sound tactic. I thought Buxton was going to be down for six weeks or more with his recent hip injury and wanted Jenkins called up. Buck is back and playing. No room at this time. Injuries can happen at any point in the season. If the Twins need a full time outfielder from AAA, I think they call up Jenkins. 

I wanted to come back to this one more time.  My responses to your comments yesterday were not probably the best or even fair.  You have been giving a sound logical argument to all the comments being put forth here and I should have shown more respect than I feel I did.  I was and am frustrated at the roster construction but you are providing another point of view that is sound and reasonable.

[HarmonK03]

16 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

We've been through this before, I'm not putting Keaschall at 2B for another game in his life. And I'm not benching Larnach twice a week for Jenkins. The guys in the clubhouse definitely know who's got them there and that absolutely has a very real chance of disrupting the team. Jenkins better perform or you're going to have some very cranky vets. 

But I ask again, can you name another team that has called up a Jenkins type prospect and moved a guy back to a position they already decided he couldn't field and benched one of their 4 or 5 best hitters multiple times a week to get that guy in? Your suggestion is not as mainstream as you seem to be suggesting it is.

I want to see Jenkins, too. I have no idea if he'll perform from the jump or not. I'm not forcing Keaschall back to the dirt and benching Larnach multiple times a week in the heat of a playoff chase to find out if he's going to be like most rookies (even the elite prospects) and struggle some out of the gate, or if he'll be an outlier and outperform nearly my entire roster.

I needed to come back to you as well one more time on this subject.  You were providing sound logical responses to my comments and others as well yesterday.  I was frustrated and probably still am and that showed in my responses.  But I do appreciate your thoughts and rationale on this subject and others as well. 

Hopefully we can disagree on the lineup on day 1 of the playoffs because that is what we all are rooting for.

[Riverbrian]

15 hours ago, ashbury said:

The solution, for Jenkins, or any batter, is to be playable against lefties.  If the lineup is too full of players where the opposing manager can walk to the mound and tap his left wrist, and *poof* the rally ends, the Twins manager has to take steps to compensate - or else the team takes their lumps waiting for the player to grow.  Don't be that player, Jenkins.  Show us you're not, at AAA.

The Solution is to expose them to it when developing so they gain the experience to be better at it. The solution is too stop developing Joc Pederson and start developing Kyle Schwarber. The solution is to increase the trade value of prospects so when it becomes time to trade them because we can't afford them anymore... teams will pay higher prices for them and you keep the train a rollin.  

I don't care what their minor league splits say. At age 21 the book isn’t written yet so don't drop them into cement for what is a marginal advantage in a per AB or per game basis. 

I'm tired of right handed prospects getting full time opportunity while all lefties are grounded. If there was one thing that bothered me about Zoll's comments it was the mention that Culpepper was right handed as justification for his call up. Culpepper was the sensible call up because Tristan Gray was the best option otherwise and Culpepper just might be better. According to Derek Shelton... Tristan Gray was the choice out of spring training because he was left handed... Now it's Culpepper because he is right handed. I wish they stopped looking at right or left and just bring up talent and develop that talent fully for maximum value. 

When my kids were younger... I let them stick the penny into the electrical outlet. Mothers don't want to see them flailing away on the floor afterwards but they learned and now they understand the value of money. 

We exposed our kids to things during their formative years and that is when you see growth when they are younger. My kids could drive a semi-truck at age 3. They spent their summers earning money delivering pallets of Shampoo and Ravoli to Dollar Generals. 

And once again... I openly question the per AB and per game value of the platoon advantage and I say that recognizing the platoon advantage statistically. That platoon advantage shows up over time. Talent is what you shoot for. Left handed hitters should be more valuable than a right handed hitter. Develop them fully so they can be more valuable. Do not hold them back and therefore intentionally limiting their value. 

 

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I needed to come back to you as well one more time on this subject.  You were providing sound logical responses to my comments and others as well yesterday.  I was frustrated and probably still am and that showed in my responses.  But I do appreciate your thoughts and rationale on this subject and others as well. 

Hopefully we can disagree on the lineup on day 1 of the playoffs because that is what we all are rooting for.

No problem at all. I didn't think there was any disrespect or anything like that. I enjoy the back and forth. I can guarantee you there's people in the front office making your arguments and people in there making mine. Our little TD front office with no say in anything at all is enjoyable because of the disagreements and other view points. 

This season has provided the opportunity for even more debate because of the craziness of being consistently below .500, but also in the playoff race. Been one of the more enjoyable TD seasons in recent memory with all the different realistic ways they could've gone with decisions. 

[Major League Ready]

19 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

So he doesn't come up next year either, if they keep Larnach? Because there's no opportunity?

I don't have to tell you that the lack of opportunity is part of the cost of a playoff push with a sub 500 team.  They were going down a path of clearing spots for the young talent when Tom Pohlad decided to halt the rebuild they had started last year at the deadline.  You are probably right that they will continue down this same path to mediocrity next year.  

[JD-TWINS]

20 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

So he doesn't come up next year either, if they keep Larnach? Because there's no opportunity?

Assuming Larnach is emergency defense & 75% DH v. RH pitching in ‘27………Keaschall & Buxton on other side of the DH platoon.

Roden isn’t beating him out in Spring Training…..if he’s still with the organization.

He’s 21……….

[Coach JT]

Add Jenkins and demote Jackson . I actually like Jackson and wanted them to deal Jeffries for a starting pitcher and prospect to Yankees . Now we will lose him for a draft pick. 
I love the Bullpen adds but we need one more starter and push everyone back a day or two for rest . Rojas and … time to call up Jenkins, we need another bat and Larnach is cooked for the year . 

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

Jenkins isn't up because of poor roster construction, injuries (him and Erod)and Erod having no options. If they Twins call Jenkins up before Erod is just another bad decision in line with other bad decisions. As much as I would love Jenkins to be up, Erod needs to be the next guy up, for reasons others have said (40 man, next year possible lock out, and Erod would need to play less than Jenkins).

This FO can't seem to get out of its own way. I have said it before but as of right now the Twins go into 27 with the same issues they have right now, I believe Jeffers is the only  free agent and his active roster spot must be taken with Erod. 

two catchers, Lewis, Clemens, Lee, Culpepper, Erod, Buxton, Keashall, Larnach, Martin, Kriedler, and Bell. With Wallner, GG, Fedko, Mendez and Roden still on the 40 man. So I can't see how they possibly put Jenkins on the 40 man until Buxton injury happens. 27 looks a lot like the last few years of .500 baseball. 

[Jasper]

DOES Jenkins hit lefties or will he be a platoon outfielder? Seems more likely that they do not want to call him up on account of next years possible lockout.

[HarmonK03]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

And once again... I openly question the per AB and per game value of the platoon advantage and I say that recognizing the platoon advantage statistically. That platoon advantage shows up over time. Talent is what you shoot for. Left handed hitters should be more valuable than a right handed hitter. Develop them fully so they can be more valuable. Do not hold them back and therefore intentionally limiting their value. 

Over the course of a season this can work because the odds will even out with the desired outcome.  The problem comes when you get to the playoffs or a short series, you need the best players to win and can't rely on a platoon advantage.  This is where they keep getting themselves caught.

Like you said develop these players fully, don't handcuff immediately when they come up.

[mnfireman]

22 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

Cody, thank you for the article.  Zoll's word are just a bunch of corporate speak for I am too afraid to take a chance.  A talent like Jenkins you find at bats for him.  Larnach is scuffling and you had people in yesterday's game thread calling of Roden, there are AB's right there.  Buxton is not going to play every day as they manage his hip injury, more AB's.

They just need the will and they don't have it.  Other teams make this kind of move but Zoll is either too scared or incompetent to do it.

He is carrying two players on the roster that Shelty won't use.  And if what Dan Hayes says is true the only reason Jackson is on the roster is because he is a good clubhouse guy.  So does he lose at cards and that the puts the players in a good mood to go out and slay their opponent on the field.

Jenkins needs to be in San Diego tomorrow, there really is no excuse.  This is the only time I will ever advocate for Tom P. to be involved in personnel decisions, but he needs to go into Zoll's office and say do it now.

 

[mnfireman]

Jenkins will be here soon enough, whether its this weekend, September 1st or whenever Opening Day 2027 is....

[IndianaTwin]

Unless I missed it, no one has noted that Jenkins has played LF three times in the past week.

Buxton may move to a corner at some point, but at this point in the season, it's very unlikely he's anywhere but in CF each time he has on a glove. Part of Jenkins proving he's ready is demonstrating he'll be able to play a corner spot. I'm sure Ron Washington would say that playing LF is also incredibly hard. That they are experimenting with him there is a positive sign for his potential promotion. 

[howeda7]

23 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I would be more shocked if that was a factor than if the Twins had signed Ohtani.

Walker Jenkins is going to play for the Twins but not before there is an opening. There are three spots: Keaschall, Buxton, Larnach. Who gets to sit for 5 games per week if Jenkins is called up? 

Buxton/Bell 3 combined. Larnach 2. 

[mnfireman]

Jenkins leading off playing CF for the Saints tonight. ERod/Emma not in the line-up...

[gagu]

On 8/20/2026 at 1:36 PM, HarmonK03 said:

Shelton is willing to move players around just to get Caratini time at 1B, but he wouldn't do it for Jenkins.  That is totally baffling to me.  Philadelphia moved a gold glove second baseman to 3B to get Arraez 's bat into the lineup.

At this point, Jenkins is not Arraez. Stott has never won a Golden Glove. While his fielding percentage is near flawless, his range this season dipped below league average for the position. While it's a small sample at third base, his range is above league average. Total Zone Fielding Runs Above Average Per 1200 Innings at #B is +17; at 2B, it's -13—great glove, a strong, accurate arm, with questionable range for a middle infielder.  Moving Stott to 3B was the logical move and improved the Phillies' defense overall. Adding Arraez and shifting fielders improved the team's chances in ways where a Jenkins call-up probably isn't comparable. 

As to Jenkins, I'm on the fence. Without context, I would love to see him called up today, but there are many moving parts. A September call-up would not affect his accrued service time. Adding him to the 40-man this season probably wouldn't matter down the road, though I'm not positive. The CBA could be in play, involving issues that we aren't aware of. So I'm OK either way,

[MikeNC]

On 8/20/2026 at 12:38 PM, tony&rodney said:

I would be more shocked if that was a factor than if the Twins had signed Ohtani.

Walker Jenkins is going to play for the Twins but not before there is an opening. There are three spots: Keaschall, Buxton, Larnach. Who gets to sit for 5 games per week if Jenkins is called up? 

Larnach, who hasn't hit squat for a month.  At least until the next BucksTon trip to the IL. (like a week from now).