5 Questions Walker Jenkins Must Answer in September

[Cody Christie]

Walker Jenkins’ first handful of games in the big leagues have gone about as well as the Minnesota Twins could have hoped. The 21-year-old has shown the strong hit tool that made him one of baseball’s top prospects. He has looked comfortable at the plate, played solid defense, and even shown enough athleticism to steal his first base. There haven’t been many signs that the moment has been too big for him.

That doesn’t mean Jenkins has answered every question. September will provide a larger sample size and more opportunities for opposing pitchers to adjust to him. The Twins will also get a better idea of where Jenkins fits into their long-term plans. There are still some questions surrounding the former first-round pick, and these five will be worth watching closely over the final month.

Can Jenkins Stick in Center Field?

There is already an argument to be made that Byron Buxton should eventually move to a corner outfield spot. That doesn’t mean Jenkins is going to push Buxton out of center field immediately. Buxton at his peak has been one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball. Jenkins isn’t going to match that version of Buxton.

But Minnesota has to think about what its best defensive alignment looks like for 2027 and beyond. Jenkins has the athleticism to handle center field, and he has looked comfortable there early in his big-league career. If he can prove that he can be an above-average defender at the position, the Twins will have an interesting decision to make.

A healthy Buxton moving to a corner could extend his career while allowing Jenkins to take over center field for the long term. September won't answer this question definitively, but every inning Jenkins plays in center will give the Twins more information.

Can Jenkins Show His Power Potential?

This might be the biggest offensive question surrounding Jenkins. The power has always been in there. He showed flashes of it during his hot stretch at Triple-A before receiving his promotion. There were stretches where Jenkins looked capable of doing damage against upper-level pitching.

Now he has to show it against big-league pitching. Jenkins' ability to make consistent contact was never the primary concern. His hit tool has long been viewed as one of his greatest strengths. The question has been whether enough of that contact will turn into extra-base damage.

His first month in the majors will provide a glimpse of that answer. If Jenkins can combine his ability to control the strike zone with more authoritative contact, his offensive ceiling becomes significantly higher. The Twins don't need him to become a 40-home-run hitter, but adding consistent gap power and home-run production would make him a much more complete offensive player.

Can Jenkins Pull the Ball More Regularly?

There is something familiar about Jenkins' swing. For Twins fans who watched Joe Mauer throughout his career, there are times when Jenkins' left-handed swing looks remarkably similar. Both players have the ability to stay on the baseball and use the opposite field.

That approach worked extremely well for Mauer. But Jenkins might need to pull the ball more often if he wants to tap into his power potential. At Triple-A this season, Jenkins pulled the ball 39.5% of the time. That's down from 47.6% in 2025. A player doesn't necessarily need to become pull-heavy, but Jenkins has enough strength to do more damage when he gets the ball out in front.

That could be one of the easiest ways for him to unlock more power without dramatically changing his overall approach. The Twins don't want to take away the all-fields approach that makes Jenkins such a talented hitter. They just want to see more of those well-struck balls find the pull side.

Can Jenkins Hit Fewer Ground Balls?

The other side of the power equation is Jenkins' launch angle. His ground-ball rate at Triple-A was 45.1% this season, up from 41.3% last year. At the same time, his average launch angle dropped from 14.9 degrees in 2025 to 12.4 degrees this season.

That's important because ground balls are rarely going to turn into extra-base hits. Jenkins doesn't need to sell out for launch angle, and there is always a danger in trying to artificially create more loft. His ability to make contact is a major part of what makes him special.

Still, finding a better balance could unlock another part of his offensive game. If Jenkins can keep his line-drive approach while reducing some of the ground-ball contact, more of his hard-hit balls could turn into doubles and home runs. That's something to monitor throughout September.

Can Jenkins End the Year Healthy?

Perhaps the most important question doesn't have anything to do with statistics. Jenkins has been limited by injuries in every professional season. That's made his journey to the majors a little more complicated than it otherwise might have been.

Now that he is finally here, the Twins would love nothing more than to see him finish the season healthy. September represents an opportunity for Jenkins to get his first extended taste of big-league baseball while also building toward the offseason. If he can stay on the field and finish strong, he'll enter spring training with a chance to claim a spot in Minnesota's Opening Day lineup.

He could even enter 2027 as an early frontrunner for American League Rookie of the Year. That's a long way down the road, but Jenkins' talent makes the possibility worth considering.

September is Just the Beginning

It's important not to read too much into a small sample size at the end of a season. Jenkins reached the major leagues at 21 years old. He's going to have stretches where he looks like one of the best young hitters in baseball, and there will be other nights when veteran pitchers make him look like a rookie.

Both are part of the process. The Twins aren't expecting Jenkins to answer every question during the final month of the season. They simply want to see how his tools translate against major-league competition and give him an opportunity to experience what life in the big leagues is like.

Still, he will be under the microscope. Every at-bat, every ball hit in the field and every game he finishes healthy will provide another piece of information for Minnesota's front office.

Jenkins has already shown why he was considered one of baseball's elite prospects. Now, September gives him a chance to show the Twins why he can be an important part of their next contender.

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How will Jenkins answer these questions in the season’s final month? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

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[TJSweens]

Buxton needs to move out of CF right now. Full stop. It's not a matter of whether he can still field the position better than Jenkins. The Twins need to preserve his body, especially his legs. Buxton will need to cover half the ground in a corner spot. Leave Jenkins in CF. He is at least adequate there.

Beyond that, Jenkins just needs to show he can run, field and hit. 

[thelanges5]

Yes 

[ewen21]

I would say Jenkins doesn't face any real pressing questions to answer as of September 2026.  It is way too soon for this.  He is only 21 years old and he is only five games into his career.

[Coach Wheels]

Seems like a lot of questions for a guy to answer in 1 month.

Culpepper looks be a very good player but this road to, let's say 90 wins, seems long. Upgrades defensively and offensively are really important and, if payroll stays at $110 million, our young guys will have to be good.

[MinnInPa]

just hit the ball boy .. that what you were born to do. stop with all the analytics... hit with power / hit with avg... low low low K ratio. gonna have a great career

[bean5302]

The premise of this article itself if absurd. There is nothing he must answer in like 80-100 PA. 

[ewen21]

 

Look here BOY.  I say.....listen here BOY.....you start hittin' ...I say....or we send you back to St. Paul

[Fatbat]

Availability is the MVP in Buxton’s and Jenkins game. When they are available, the team is 1000% better. Buck will move to a corner, its only a matter of time. If available for every game in April-June ‘27, they could both be Allstars and WJ could be chasing ROY in ‘27. Bucks ceiling was HOF but his availability was not even close during his career. He could still make it if he pays 160 games/season from ‘27-31. That gets him a very long career and a whole lot of MLB stats. His legs are the issue. Huge issue. 
WJ in the ROY chase as a 22YO…. As a CF and future HOF ceiling. This is gonna fun to watch.

[Jack Pine]

Just keep what ever batting coach that helped Lewis perfect his launch angle etc. away from him.

[Twins GFP]

15 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The premise of this article itself if absurd. There is nothing he must answer in like 80-100 PA. 

This...

Using "Must" in the title is like trolling for clicks... or is it clicking for trolls? Either one probably fits.  

[Jasper]

To answer all the questions let him play and you will find out!

[Rod Carews Birthday]

He’s 21.  He just needs to survive at this point.  It’s a “free” get your feet wet moment for a guy who we hope is going to be a star player for the team.  Even if he “answers” one or more of those questions, we should have learned in the past that small sample size answers aren’t really answers.  Ask future all-stars Julien, Lewis, and Wallner.  

[Woof Bronzer]

Insane premise.  Jenkins isn't going to "answer any questions" in 1 month of baseball, and any front office that makes any decisions based on a rookie's first month should be fired into the sun.

Let the kid grow and develop.  My goodness.  

[saviking]

Let's just sit back and enjoy watching his development. Same with Culpepper. And I sure wish we coukd be watching E-Rod with them. 

By the way, E-Rod went 4 for 5 last night. But Larnach is standing in the way of his development for now. 

[PuckettPond]

We have Gulf of America & Lake America now Twin fans have Captain America. Go Twins! Buxton is a rotary phone as Jenkins is an iphone.

[Permanent Twins Fan]

The only questions I am concerned about right now are Can he stay healthy and can he play CF. After that, we have to give him a lot of time. 

[Jeff K]

Just staying healthy is the big goal.  I expect Jenkins to be the primary CF out of spring training.  Buck in a corner outfield spot sense makes better sense for staying on the field.

[Greglw3]

1 hour ago, ewen21 said:

 

Look here BOY.  I say.....listen here BOY.....you start hittin' ...I say....or we send you back to St. Paul

Uh, B-B-B- But I Say, I S-S- Say, Boy, I say Mr. Leghorn, please, I just wanna be like Lyman Bostock! Would, W- W- W- That please be OK M- M- M- Mister Foghorn???

[ts2384]

Wow....so if he doesn't answer all of those questions, he is bust.  Don't really understand this article.  He will be fine and just needs to stay healthy.  Should be no reason he can't play CF.  Buxton should DH 75% of the time and play Corner Of the other times.  

 

[Nashvilletwin]

Geez, what a ridiculous headline and article.  Just like Keaschall, he (and Culpepper) need to play every day this season and next to continue to grow as major leaguers.

Just quit with these stupid, trolling articles. For heaven’s sake, the kid is 21 and been up a week. At this rate, next week the TD will publish an article headlined “Is Jenkins the Twins’ Solution at First Base”.  Let it rest.

[killercarewoliva]

2 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Availability is the MVP in Buxton’s and Jenkins game. When they are available, the team is 1000% better. Buck will move to a corner, its only a matter of time. If available for every game in April-June ‘27, they could both be Allstars and WJ could be chasing ROY in ‘27. Bucks ceiling was HOF but his availability was not even close during his career. He could still make it if he pays 160 games/season from ‘27-31. That gets him a very long career and a whole lot of MLB stats. His legs are the issue. Huge issue. 
WJ in the ROY chase as a 22YO…. As a CF and future HOF ceiling. This is gonna fun to watch.

I made a comment about Culpeper that he just wasn't getting much of a batting average going then he took off. hopefully Jenkins can do the same thing because he's finding Major league pitching to be a bit more difficult. everyday. he's killing the ball at AAA but right now it's average as well under .200. like Culpeper that's just a few games. give it a little more time. let's get a little more lift on the ball.

[D.C Twins]

I'll echo the above. His MLB development will not be linear. (Neither will Culpepper's for all of his success out of the gate).  

Ultimately they will both need to demonstrate the ability to adjust to the pitcher's adjustments just like Keaschall is learning to do.

I have confidence that both will do so over time but have no idea what that timetable will be. 

[1985Fan]

This is what comes with the prospect hype. He’s been touted as the next greatest Twins player to save the franchise. The Mauer hype was probably more intense due to him being Minnesotan and a 1,1 pick. High draft picks have high expectations. Mauer’s career turned out well. Lewis is trying to adjust to falling short of expectations, and we’ll see how Jenkins and Lackey handle the pressure. Of course it’s not fair to expect so much from a young rookie, but that’s the situation of today’s game. I’m sure the Twins will be patient, so I hope the fans and press will be as well. The main thing Jenkins needs to prove is he can handle the pressure and scrutiny that comes with the hype. 

[Kummel]

Twins fans are very familiar with uneven development of rookies (and 2nd year, even 3rd year players), so first month is just a little blip, not definitive in any way.   I'm just glad they're getting some time in the bigs -- and  Culpepper's swing is sweet out of the gate, which is fun to watch.

[Blyleven2011]

The thing to watch is how Jenkins hits QUALITY starting pitching , pitch selection , hitting to all fields …

Jenkins is auditioning and other teams in September are auditioning AAA pitchers , some quality and some fringe pitchers …

let’s just see how he responds to the MLB better pitchers …

[Mike Sixel]

I didn't even read this insane article. But I read the comments. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

[RpR]

Number One -  Can Jenkins hit Major League pitching

[Riverbrian]

None of these must be answered in September.

We have players for 6 years of service time to utilize and September is a small dent.