Twins Minor League Report (8/23): Walker Jenkins is Superhuman

[Matt Braun]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson

TRANSACTIONS
No moves were made on Sunday.

Saints Sentinel
St. Paul 5, Columbus 8
Box Score
Ryan Gallagher: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
HR: Walker Jenkins 2 (10, 11), Tanner Schobel 2 (4, 5)
Multi-hit games: Walker Jenkins (3-for-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Ben Ross (2-for-5, 2B), Tanner Schobel (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)

A disastrous first inning sunk the Saints on Sunday.

Oh, Ryan Gallagher, you poor thing. First, he suffered a nine-run blowup on the 18th, then, he couldn't escape Sunday’s inaugural frame without enduring five earned runs. All of this after a three-start run of allowing three earned runs across 17 1/3 IP. So it goes. 

Anyways, on to the home run barrage. Tanner Schobel and Walker Jenkins exchanged blasts like Joe Walsh and Don Felder trading guitar solos on Hotel California. Schobel’s first was a pallet whetter: a perfectly solid shot out to left that traveled 394 feet.

Then, a Jenkins swat with a touch more mustard, but a lower launch angle, more of a line drive that refused to return to the ground than a proper home run. 

Penultimately, the centerpiece. Jenkins hit a ball that was never seen again. It left the field, the stadium. The state? The planet? None may know its current whereabouts. The D.B. Cooper of long balls. All anyone knows is that it counted for two runs and helped fuel what has been a tremendous stretch for the youngster. He’s slashing .415/.493/.800 in August. 

Well, if awe and majesty is what we’re doing now, then Schobel is perfectly capable of matching his teammate. His second crack took off immediately and flew with the sky-scraping power of a Patrick Mahomes deep ball. 

MLB’s 31st-overall prospect played for the Clippers on Sunday. First baseman Ralphy Velazquez went 1-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Wind Surge Wisdom
Wichita 8, Frisco 12
Box Score
Sam Armstrong: 3 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
HR: Graham Brown (2), Caden Kendle (9)
Multi-hit games: Brandon Winokur (2-for-5, R), Graham Brown (3-for-4, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI), Jaime Ferrer (2-for-4, 2B, RBI)

The Wind Surge fell in a high-scoring game on Sunday.

Despite the end score, matters seemed to favor the Wind Surge during the match’s early stages. Graham Brown stepped up to the plate in the second and smoked a three-run homer to center; Wichita added on with a run-scoring groundout by Caden Kendle the following frame. 

Unfortunately, the good vibes ended there. Though strong in arm, Sam was not powerful in pitching acumen on Sunday. Frisco roughed up Armstrong with 10 hits in three innings, scoring six runs (five earned), as they overtook Wichita and slingshot into the lead.

Staring at a 6-4 disadvantage in the sixth, the Wind Surge knotted the score, plating one with a Jaime Ferrer double and another with a Luis Hernandez RBI grounder.

Tied once more, in a fleeting way. Lasting four pitches. A solo homer. A flurry of action. Suddenly, three runs. Two innings later, three more. Wichita hurlers found no rest or respite. No place to relax. Their ERAs speak for themselves. 

And, yet Wichita made it uncomfortable in the ninth. Caden Kendle carried a two-run homer out to left to bring the game within four. A walk and a hit by pitch sent reliever Eric Loomis from the game, with the incoming hurler one batter away from bringing the tying run to the plate. It didn’t happen. Kyle DeBarge struck out to end the game. 

The RoughRiders enjoy the work of MLB’s ninth-best prospect, infielder Sebastian Walcott. DH-ing, he singled and walked thrice, scoring four of Frisco’s 12 runs on the day. 

Kernels Nuggets
Cedar Rapids 7, Beloit 1 
Box Score
Cesar Lares: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Byron Chourio (2-for-4, R, RBI, BB)

The Kernels thumped their opponent on Sunday.

We start in the fourth, when—with the bases loaded—Jose Salas lined out softly to the first baseman. He caught the ball, and then fired to third, unintentionally imparting the ball with wings that sported and soared way beyond the third baseman’s grasp and into a massive inside-jutted foul territory the infielder might still be digging around in.

Beloit responded with a more ordinary RBI single stroked down the left field line.

Then, the fifth. Do you like watching batters take walks? Yes? So did Beloit pitcher Peyton Fosher. He surrendered five of them, with a Salas pop out and an Eduardo Tait serving as the two lone respites in the outing. Still, two runs scored under his watch, and the Kernels tacked on three more after he left thanks to a two-run single by JP Smith II, and a double by Yasser Mercedes. 

Danny De Andrade scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Cesar Lares provided five workman-like innings, allowing one run in what was easily his finest start as a Kernel. His Cedar Rapids ERA started the day at 13.18. It ended at 11.45. 

The two Ross(es), Dunn, and Michael, who employs it as his surname, combined for four shutout innings out of the bullpen, striking out five with one base runner allowed. 

Beloit shortstop Starlyn Caba ranks as the seventh-best prospect in the Marlins system. He went 0-for-3, with a walk. 

Mussel Matters
Fort Myers 1, Palm Beach 3
Box Score
Eric Hammond: 4 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
HR: None
Multi-hit games: Quentin Young (2-for-4)

The Mighty Mussels were meager on Sunday.

You couldn’t blame Eric Hammond for the shortcomings. The starter was excellent: he pitched 4 2/3 innings—the longest he’s gone all season—and didn’t allow an earned run. A runner reached base just twice against the righty. It was the culmination of a brilliant month for the Georgia product, as he now holds a 2.41 ERA across 18 2/3 frames in August.

“Walk this way?” Perhaps. But Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were vague and unclear on what to do on the topic of hits, leading to Fort Myers batters earning just three of them while taking eight free passes on the day (plus two hit by pitches.) Vahn Lackey was especially patient, trotting to first three times with every BB coming on four pitches. Given that he has already racked up 14 walks in 15 games, the pitching at Low-A might not offer him the kind of challenge he needs. 

Quentin Young found hitting conditions just fine, singling twice to account for 2/3 of the team’s hits on the day. Charlie Scholvin earned the other knock.

Hendry Chivilli struck out the side in an inning of work. The appearance continued a successful month for the former top international signee, as he holds a 3.46 ERA in August with as many strikeouts as frames (13).

Fourth-ranked Cardinals prospect, outfielder Alexander Frias, went 1-4 with a homer. He came to the Cardinals organization at the trade deadline from the Brewers. 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Eric Hammond
Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Walker Jenkins

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed:

#1 – Walker Jenkins (St. Paul) - 3-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB
#2 – Vahn Lackey (Fort Myers) - 0-2, 3 BB
#3 – Kaelen Culpepper (Twins) - 1-3
#4 – Marek Houston (Wichita) - 0-2
#6 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (St. Paul) - 1-5, 2 K
#8 – Eduardo Tait (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, BB, K
#9 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul) - 0-4, K
#12 – Brandon Winokur (Wichita) - 2-5, R, 3 K
#15 – Ryan Gallagher (St. Paul) - 4 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
#18 – Quentin Young (Fort Myers) - 2-4, K
#19 – Yasser Mercedes (Cedar Rapids) - 1-5, 2B, RBI, K

MONDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
No games for teams in the Twins’ system are scheduled for Monday.

View full article

[dxpavelka]

Too bad for Walker that the big league bats are clicking on all cylinders and it's looking like he might be pulling a Social Security check before he pulls a big league check.  Too bad for him that Alex Jackson & Alan Roden must have compromising pictures of somebody in the Twins brain trust.

[Mike Sixel]

Jenkins is on fire. Wow. 

Young had more his than strikeouts! Good for him. 

[MeleMouth]

I was curious so looked it up. Larnach had three games with 2 HRs in his MiLB career.

[PuckettPond]

Curious why Houston left the game after his 2nd at bat? Hurt or going to St. Paul?

[AlLagoon]

This is great - he is looking the part more and more every day.

Do rosters still expand on Sept. 1?

Add him then, avoid the 40 man roster doo doo. Get a good month of him for free.

If my basic math is wrong, my bad.

[Sampson5]

Get Jenkins to the mlb ASAP I do not care about a draft pick they might get if he wins roty next season simply because with his injury History feels unlikely to win it also pretty sure he can maintain the rookie eligibility at this point so can't be twins wanting to not burn a year of control. That's if there's even a season next year . But they can easily get him everyday and he could definitely help them get back in the playoffs just like culpepper has helped . Way twins are going if they wait until September they may already be to far back to make the playoffs without a crazy win streak that's why they should get him up now imo . Could easily dfa Jackson to free up a spot for Jenkins even tho I know twins love to waste a roster spot on a guy who don't contribute lmao 

[UK Twin]

It's now reached the point where Jenkins isn't just knocking on Zoll's door, he's hammering it down. You simply have to find a spot in the line up for him now, no more excuses about upsetting the veteran players etc. Larnach's production has fallen off a cliff - bench him. Jenkins deserves his promotion now. He'll still have rookie status for next season anyway.

[mikelink45]

The comments remind me of how I felt about the TD article on Zoll and Walker that I thought was complete BS.  In Jenkins isn't ready now, he never will be.  Leaving him in the minors is just foolish.  The thought of Rodriguez coming up first is also ridiculous.

On the other side of these stories is Ryan Gallagher.  I did not have him on my top twenty list and he seems to be losing his status.  Is he just worn out?

[DJL44]

8 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Too bad for Walker that the big league bats are clicking on all cylinders and it's looking like he might be pulling a Social Security check before he pulls a big league check.  Too bad for him that Alex Jackson & Alan Roden must have compromising pictures of somebody in the Twins brain trust.

I am not going to claim that Alan Roden is better than Jenkins, but he has been playing like he belongs in the big leagues. His last 28 days split: 

.281

.351

.406

 

[FlyingFinn]

No reason Jenkins shouldn't be up with the Twins today. Larnach shouldn't go to the training room for a hangnail even or he'll end up on the IL. Roden is playing well. Jackson made it through waivers once already so he would be the logical choice to try that again.

[Wedman13]

This write up was masterfully done!  Even slipped in Hotel California.  Nice job!

[HFC]

8 hours ago, PuckettPond said:

Curious why Houston left the game after his 2nd at bat? Hurt or going to St. Paul?

He apparently hurt his knee on a defensive play. After, you could see him reaching for his knee and rubbing it. I think that's why they took him out. Hopefully precautionary.. I'll keep monitoring twins daily for an official update

[thelanges5]

Call him up 

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

44 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

No reason Jenkins shouldn't be up with the Twins today. Larnach shouldn't go to the training room for a hangnail even or he'll end up on the IL. Roden is playing well. Jackson made it through waivers once already so he would be the logical choice to try that again.

Yes, to that. Plus, Buxton still doesn't seem right and/or healthy. He isn't helping the team as things stand. Bring up Jenkins and give him those at-bats for the next month.

[Dman]

I agree with everyone.  The only thing Jenkin's hadn't really shown was power.  His OPS hadn't been overly impressive for the league he is in.  He has changed all that the last month.  Bringing even his full season OPS into the .900's which is what you want to see.  I don't think there is anything left for him to prove.  I guess they can wait until September if they want, but he looks ready to me.

Larnach hasn't been all that great recently.  Roden doesn't have the ceiling Jenkins has.  Rodriguez has been getting hot as well just not as hot as Jenkins and he could use MOre AAA time.   It's starting to make too much sense to bring Jenkins up IMO.

[bean5302]

If Zoll had done his job at the deadline, there wouldn't be any roadblocks for Jenkins right now. I guess Larnach is going to have to become a bench bat, Roden to AAA is probably the best combo. 

DFA Go, Fedko, Gray, Orze or somebody.

[Launch Angle]

While I agree with everyone else, Jenkins needs to be called up yesterday, there is some logic that makes sense to keep him down all year. 

If I understand it correctly, any player on the 40 man roster will be ineligible to play in the minors next year if there is a lockout (which seems very likely). If Jenkins isn't on the 40 man roster he'd be able to play a full minor league season.

 

I'm guessing that's what the FO was thinking a few weeks ago, but he's been sooo good lately that he absolutely needs to be in the majors this week.

[Wedman13]

55 minutes ago, Bangkok Twins Fan said:

Yes, to that. Plus, Buxton still doesn't seem right and/or healthy. He isn't helping the team as things stand. Bring up Jenkins and give him those at-bats for the next month.

Interesting take and I'm fairly sure you are spot on 

[PuckettPond]

Thanks.

[nicksaviking]

Call him up.

Can his superhuman abilities include a significant healing factor? Like next time he violently crashes into a wall, instead of hitting the IL he just pops back up and flashes his adamantium claws?

[Dman]

38 minutes ago, Launch Angle said:

 

If I understand it correctly, any player on the 40 man roster will be ineligible to play in the minors next year if there is a lockout (which seems very likely). If Jenkins isn't on the 40 man roster he'd be able to play a full minor league season.

 

 

I don't think that is a huge factor in their decision.  Yeah it might take him a bit longer to shake off the rust, but he is a pretty complete player as is so I don't think he'd be hurt all that much missing some AAA time next year.

I think Zoll's biggest concern was Walker showing power.  Why bring up a player early who isn't completely ready?  Walker needed to work on his power at AAA not MLB.  It looks like he sacrificed some K's for more power, but that is what they needed to see. He'd already proven he has plate discipline and can hit around .300.  The only thing left for him to really work on was power and given the results this last month it looks like he has conquered that as well.

He looks like a complete hitter now and or well on his way to being one.  I think given his recent results they can feel confident adding him early.  Now if and or when they add him they need to get him consistent playing time otherwise why add him?  

I think they'll wait until September unless there is an injury that clears his way sooner than that, but it does look like he is forcing their hand with how well he is playing right now.

[MikeNC]

49 minutes ago, Launch Angle said:

While I agree with everyone else, Jenkins needs to be called up yesterday, there is some logic that makes sense to keep him down all year. 

If I understand it correctly, any player on the 40 man roster will be ineligible to play in the minors next year if there is a lockout (which seems very likely). If Jenkins isn't on the 40 man roster he'd be able to play a full minor league season.

 

I'm guessing that's what the FO was thinking a few weeks ago, but he's been sooo good lately that he absolutely needs to be in the majors this week.

If Jenkins fails at MLB so bad that he spends all of next year in AAA, then we will have officially decended into baseball Hell.

[chpettit19]

Jenkins is playing more and more LF these days. My guess is that the debut is near.

[1985Fan]

12 minutes ago, MikeNC said:

If Jenkins fails at MLB so bad that he spends all of next year in AAA, then we will have officially decended into baseball Hell.

The point was that if Jenkins is on the 40 man roster when the expected strike happens, if that extends into next season, players on the 40 man will be barred from playing or practicing baseball. 

[Old Twins Hat]

Classic Twins front office on Jenkins:  sacrifice the present season in hopes next year will be better.

That is the ultimate self-fulfilling prophecy.

They are always just one year away, but no way to get there from where they are.

[rdehring]

Like Puckett, was also wondering why Houston left the game.  Thanks, HFC for the information on why.  Was hoping it was related to getting an early start on a drive up I-35 to St. Paul.

As discussed over the past weeks, because of the uncertainty of baseball in 2027 I understand why the Twins could keep Jenkins in St. Paul all year.  But he sure as heck is making a statement with his play of late.  And that statement is "I am ready." 

Add me to the list of those who have flipped from it's ok to keep him in St. Paul to bring him up.  Considering September 1 is a week from tomorrow, have no problem with the Twins waiting until then to have him drive over to Target Field.  Maybe he can be that shot of adrenalin Twins bats need playing regularly in left field when Buxton is in the game.

[terrydactyls]

18 minutes ago, Old Twins Hat said:

Classic Twins front office on Jenkins:  sacrifice the present season in hopes next year will be better.

And yet, they didn't trade Jeffers and Ryan at the trade deadline because the Twins had a tiny chance of making the playoffs, albeit with a sub .500 record.

[MikeNC]

Another convert!! We're winning! Hey, I know, if just 17,000 of us get together and pitch in $100k we can buy the team!  Who's with me??!!??  Gotta go now, trying to track down a baseball reportedly seen rolling towards the Wisconsin border . . . 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, 1985Fan said:

The point was that if Jenkins is on the 40 man roster when the expected strike happens, if that extends into next season, players on the 40 man will be barred from playing or practicing baseball. 

They aren't barred from practicing baseball. Most of the guys in professional baseball have trainers and coaches on the side. They go to specialized baseball training clinics during the offseason and work with personal hitting, pitching, or fielding coaches. 

Yes, if there's a meaningful number of missed games next year, Walker would miss those game reps, but he'd still be training and working on his skills. He could even get together with Twins pitchers and have them throw him live BP so they're both working on their craft and getting better.

The threat of a lockout is weighed far too heavily by fans. Should a team like the As take it into real consideration? Sure. But nobody anywhere near a playoff spot is worrying about a possible lockout costing games in 2027 when making decisions about calling up somebody like Jenkins.