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There was lots of uncertainty about the directions that the Twins would go with the fifth overall pick, with the top three college players and Max Clark off the board. There were rumors that the Twins would go under-slot and try to float some players into the range of their next picks. But when it came time, the Twins took the #4 player on the Consensus Big Board.
I was less of a believer as the draft got closer, I'm not going to lie about that. Jenkins always seemed like the Twins type. The pretty swing that's going to lead to both hit and power. The 80-grade make-up the team always raved about with Royce Lewis. The idea that the Twins were so off on Jenkins led me to believe they were maybe just really worried about his hip.
But it all turned out to be a false narrative. The Twins got the guy that seems to be a perfect fit. Sure, they missed on the last prep hitter they drafted so high (Keoni Cavaco). Yeah, they don't have a great need for left-handed hitting outfielders.
The Twins, though, lack high-end prospects. Brooks Lee is a Top 25 prospect in all of baseball, but I think it's fair to believe we could have expected more. Royce Lewis and Edouard Julien have graduated. Emmanuel Rodriguez was a Top 50 prospect to start the season but has struck out in over 40% of his at-bats and his .764 OPS is only saved because he has drawn 50 walks. Walker Jenkins could be the new #1 prospect. Is definitely not lower than #2 and has significant upside.
So what should we expect from Walker Jenkins? I think 2019 Max Kepler or present-day Kyle Tucker. 30 home runs is achievable with a league-average OBP. The ability to steal a dozen bases and be mobile enough with a really good arm in right-field to be considered an above-average defender.
Walker Jenkins is reportedly being advised by super-agent Scott Boras. This would have been a cringe-worthy sentence not too long ago, but the organization and Boras have done a lot of business lately. Draft slot is $7,139,700. Jenkins may get every penny of that (or more). I like to believe that the Twins could have convinced Boras that not going #5 meant maybe going #7 (since the A's are a disaster) and could shave some thousands off the slot. But, at the end of the day, Jenkins is going to sign and should hopefully get to Cedar Rapids by the end of the summer and join them for their playoff run.
JD Cameron says this about Jenkins, who ranked fourth on the Consensus Big Board:
QuoteJenkins is one of two premier prep prospects in the '23 class. At 6'3, 210, he's projectable and his athleticism is a clear separator. Jenkins has a quiet operation at the plate with excellent bat speed that gives him easy power to all fields. Jenkins is a good runner and route runner in the field with a plus arm. His speed may diminish over time, moving him to a corner spot eventually. Committed to North Carolina, Jenkins should be a top 5 pick in July and has the best hit/power combo of any prep bat and 30 home run potential at the next level.
What are your thoughts on the Twins selection of outfielder Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft?
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