Twins Select Walker Jenkins, Option Alan Roden, & DFA Woo-Suk Go

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins made it official Friday, selecting the contract of outfielder Walker Jenkins and bringing one of the organization’s most anticipated prospects to the major leagues. The move was reported Thursday, but Minnesota officially announced the promotion Friday.

To make room for Jenkins on the active roster, the Twins optioned outfielder Alan Roden to Triple-A St. Paul. Minnesota also needed to clear a spot on its 40-man roster, designating right-handed pitcher Woo-Suk Go for assignment.

For the Twins, the move marks the arrival of a player who has been viewed as a cornerstone of the organization since he was selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. Jenkins has continued to establish himself as one of baseball’s top prospects throughout his professional career. Across multiple minor-league levels, he has compiled a .303/.404/.490 batting line.

His plate discipline has been particularly impressive. Jenkins has posted a 13.4% walk rate while striking out just 15.9% of the time. His 144 wRC+ shows just how productive he has been offensively, as he has performed 44% better than league average.

The 21-year-old also brings plenty of ability beyond the batter’s box. Jenkins has good speed and a strong throwing arm and is considered a capable defender at all three outfield positions. That versatility could give the Twins multiple options for how they use him during the final weeks of the season.

Jenkins’ promotion comes as Minnesota attempts to remain in the American League playoff race. The Twins have struggled to find consistency throughout the season, but the arrival of one of their best young players gives the club another option as it navigates the final month.

There will naturally be an adjustment period for Jenkins as he faces major-league pitching for the first time. However, his minor-league track record gives the Twins plenty of reason to believe he can contribute immediately.

For Roden, the move provides an opportunity to get regular playing time in St. Paul. The Twins acquired Roden as part of last year's trade involving Louis Varland, and he has remained part of the organization's plans despite struggling to establish himself offensively in Minnesota. He has received limited playing time in recent weeks, making just 10 starts in August.

Roden is hitting .254/.333/.313 this season, producing a .647 OPS and an 84 OPS+. Sending him to Triple-A should allow Roden to get consistent at-bats and continue developing rather than spending extended periods on the major-league bench.

The Twins' 40-man roster move ends Go’s brief run with the organization, at least for now. Minnesota took a chance on the 28-year-old right-hander earlier this season after he opted out of his contract with the Detroit Tigers organization. Go joined the Twins hoping to provide another option for a bullpen that has undergone significant changes throughout the season.

Go appeared in four games for Minnesota in July, allowing four runs. He posted a 3.91 ERA between Triple-A Toledo and St. Paul this season, although his numbers were much different between the two stops. Go struggled significantly in Toledo, posting a 12.54 ERA, before pitching better after joining the Saints.

His time in St. Paul also included a 10-game suspension after he was found to have an illegal substance on his glove. Now, Go will head to the waiver wire following Minnesota’s decision to designate him for assignment.

Those roster moves, however, are secondary to the biggest news of the day for the Twins. After more than three years of development, Jenkins has officially reached the major leagues. The former fifth overall pick is at Target Field, giving the organization an opportunity to see one of its most important young players against major-league competition. The next chapter of Jenkins’ career begins now.

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[Czelgert]

Only a couple of weeks ago I remember questioning why Roden was on the roster instead of Jenkins.  I was educated as to why Roden was the better choice.  Nice to see the Twins come around.

[thelanges5]

Twins sticking with the 2 man bench like they do. 👎🏻

[bean5302]

I would have much preferred Buxton to the IL and Roden optioned to call up Rodriguez, but at least the Twins have somebody who can potentially catch balls in center field now.

Jenkins has obliterated RHP, but there's a massive drop off against LHP with a much lower BB and higher K rate.

Emma, on the other hand, has hit LHP almost as well as RHP with a pretty flat K:BB rate. Probably not enough to warrant optioning Martin and playing Emma vs. LHP, though. Martin has always hit lefties well.

[Cris E]

Eh, still displeased. Don't care about Go per se, since Fedko could have been moved to the 60 day, for example.  But given that Buxton can;t field a position right now, there are only three real OF on the 26 man (Larnach, Keaschall and Jenkins) and only one of them has played a full season out there, and the only one that could possibly be described as even average with the leather has not played an MLB game. 

Buxton needs to sit his butt down and try to get well. Shelton needs to show him his hitting from the past month or more and press him on what he's adding to the team that couldn't be brought from the seat next to Lopez. 

I cannot even begin to address Jackson's presence around here.  Is he a Pohlad? Is he someone's bookie? Man.

[PuckettPond]

Go had to go. What is going on with Buxton? Will he DH full time? If so Bell needs to go.

[bean5302]

1 minute ago, Cris E said:

Eh, still displeased. Don't care about Go per se, since Fedko could have been moved to the 60 day, for example.  But given that Buxton can;t field a position right now, there are only three real OF on the 26 man (Larnach, Keaschall and Jenkins) and only one of them has played a full season out there, and the only one that could possibly be described as even average with the leather has not played an MLB game. 

Buxton needs to sit his butt down and try to get well. Shelton needs to show him his hitting from the past month or more and press him on what he's adding to the team that couldn't be brought from the seat next to Lopez. 

I cannot even begin to address Jackson's presence around here.  Is he a Pohlad? Is he someone's bookie? Man.

Buxton begged Tom Pohlad to let him recover for a couple weeks on the IL, but Pohlad said no. What can you do? It was a big fight when Pohlad decided Buxton had to be reactivated before he was ready a couple weeks ago. 

[Vanimal46]

It once again begs the question, why did Falvey take Roden in the trade package with Rojas? His path to playing time was questionable from the get go when we have a dozen other LH hitting corner OF. Now we've spent the last year and a half not knowing who he is or can be at the MLB level.

[Cris E]

9 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Buxton begged Tom Pohlad to let him recover for a couple weeks on the IL, but Pohlad said no. What can you do? It was a big fight when Pohlad decided Buxton had to be reactivated before he was ready a couple weeks ago. 

Did you forget a /S somewhere or are you serious? I could see Buxton pressing to get to Iowa or fighting to stay on the field at any time, but I can also see a simple mocking of Pohlad in any and every context on this site. 

[ashbury]

12 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

It once again begs the question, why did Falvey take Roden in the trade package with Rojas? His path to playing time was questionable from the get go when we have a dozen other LH hitting corner OF. Now we've spent the last year and a half not knowing who he is or can be at the MLB level.

As a trade chip to use later, he was plausible.  But they needed to flip him, or one of his near-clones already in the organization, as part of an off-season package, and that's what still baffles me.

Lefty-hitting corner outfielders can be kind of valuable.  But when you corner the market on them, you can't package up, say, the four you don't want, and swap them en masse for the pitching prospect you've had your eye on the last six months.  Other teams don't look for a bunch of any one thing - trades of prospects generally involve a variety of player types - so several trades were needed last off-season to clear the perceived glut.

IOW acquiring Roden wasn't necessarily a mistake, but it committed the Twins FO to effort in addition to what was already on their plate, that somehow they didn't wind up doing.

[ashbury]

33 minutes ago, Cris E said:

I cannot even begin to address Jackson's presence around here.  Is he a Pohlad? Is he someone's bookie? Man.

It's like having a mid-season Rule 5 Draft where you pick a 22-year old you don't really want to play right now but your scouts say he should develop into a nice starter in the next three years while you burn his options, and have to carry him the rest of the season.

Except this guy is age 30 and his role on a good team will be a backup at best.

I don't really get it either.

[Linus]

27 minutes ago, ashbury said:

As a trade chip to use later, he was plausible.  But they needed to flip him, or one of his near-clones already in the organization, as part of an off-season package, and that's what still baffles me.

Lefty-hitting corner outfielders can be kind of valuable.  But when you corner the market on them, you can't package up, say, the four you don't want, and swap them en masse for the pitching prospect you've had your eye on the last six months.  Other teams don't look for a bunch of any one thing - trades of prospects generally involve a variety of player types - so several trades were needed last off-season to clear the perceived glut.

IOW acquiring Roden wasn't necessarily a mistake, but it committed the Twins FO to effort in addition to what was already on their plate, that somehow they didn't wind up doing.

It’s a variation of Ferme’s (Linus) Paradox. There is no credible evidence of life within most of these left handed hitting outfielders but there are just so darn many of them someone out there one of them has to be good. 

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, Linus said:

It’s a variation of Ferme’s (Linus) Paradox. There is no credible evidence of life within most of these left handed hitting outfielders but there are just so darn many of them someone out there has to be good. 

AKA the Pony in the Pile.

[PuckettPond]

Time to put Buxton on the 60 day IL bringing up Erod for his Major League coming out party. Rather watch the young guys play than watch the old guys fail. Buxton should not step foot on the field again this season.