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Until the draft, there was some question about whether the Twins may deviate from the consensus top five. Both Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews were seen as the top talents coming out of LSU, and Max Clark was paired with Walker Jenkins as prep prospects. Wyatt Langford was the other premier hitter from Florida, and Minnesota was lined up to get one of the five.
Having stayed chalk and taking Jenkins, who was left at their pick, the immediate hope was that they made the right move. An outfielder who projects for more power than speed, Jenkins was built up as the type of player that could turn into a franchise cornerstone. That’s serious pressure to put on an 18-year-old coming out of high school, but you wouldn’t know it by his production level.
Reaching Low-A Fort Myers, Jenkins played in 26 games during his professional debut. Slashing .362/.417/.571, it’d be hard to slow down any hype train already leaving the station. The North Carolina native crushed three dingers while tripling four times to show off his unique toolset. Following in the footsteps of Royce Lewis before him, he did so with a level of maturity that is well beyond his years.
Catching up with Jenkins as the dust settled on the season and he found time to reflect, it is clear that while the start was good, what’s to come can be even better. Working at the Twins complex in Florida, his offseason has already begun, and getting after it never stopped.
It was all about the process when I asked about the biggest takeaway from a foray into pro ball and what might have been unexpected. “Figuring out what routine works for you and developing that was big," says Jenkins. "I didn’t control my schedule as much as I was used to. Learning what adjustments to make, things I needed to work through, and staying responsible while being on top of everything I’m doing was a must.”
Jenkins has experienced a taste of professional ball, and he’s now thrust into his first offseason. Even though it’s a different scenario, he doesn’t envision the offseason changing too much.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve trained extremely hard and like I’m going out and preparing for a 160-plus game season. I’m fortunate enough to be with some big-league guys. I will work as hard as I can this offseason to prepare for next season.”
Home will be where the baseball is for Jenkins this offseason. Although he is currently down in Florida, he plans to bounce back and forth between Fort Myers and North Carolina. Well supported no matter where he is working, the goal doesn’t change based on the location.
Not only did Jenkins play high school baseball in 2023, but he also blew through rookie ball and headed into Single-A. Each step of the way came with considerable success, and it didn’t fly under the radar by any means. Jenkins knows he’s confident in his abilities and the work he puts in, but also said he’s a quick learner and has always seen the game as one of adjustments.
“I was able to adjust while moving through different levels, and similarly to the routine thing, figuring out what would allow me to be successful was a must. I did things a lot differently than other guys who were succeeding.”
It’s not just the mock drafters and teams that understand the talent coming out of this draft, but the players get it, too. Jenkins is well aware of the heights both Jackson Holliday and Nolan Schanuel rose to from his draft class.
“I have considered what a good 2024 looks like for me; it’s kind of hard not to," he acknowledges. "Obviously, I want to be in the big leagues. Possibly a little far-fetched? Maybe. I want to get there as fast as possible but be as prepared as possible. I don’t want to bounce back and forth once I get there. The Twins development group will know when that time is and when to move me. If I come out this year just trusting my abilities, I’ll be in a really good spot.”
Although the goal is the highest level for Jenkins, winning is what matters along the way. He wants to show up individually, but being on the right side of outcomes is also a constant focus. “We did a good job. The teams I was on last year, although it was a short amount of time when I got down there, we started winning a lot. I don’t like to lose.”
For a player like Jenkins, the track record coming into pro ball is already long. He has seen multiple grand stages and played against plenty of dominant competition. That doesn’t mean everything goes as expected. “The jump from being a high school kid, living with your parents, to living on your own was a big jump. The change in that has been a really good learning experience for me. I feel like I’ve always been responsible, but it’s nice to shoulder that when you don’t always have people guiding you that way. This first opportunity in pro ball has kind of given me that exposure.” Minnesota sets this change up well for draftees with the campus in Fort Myers, and Jenkins was quick to call that setup awesome.
Baseball is a sport viewed through larger sample sizes, and although Jenkins jumped out to an excellent start, everyone wants to see that translate in a greater setting. The coming season provides a runway, and goals are already in the works. “I want to go into the year prepared. I want to stay healthy and take care of my body so I can play a full season. I try not to get caught up in the statistical stuff. If I can consistently hit balls hard, consistently play a good defensive centerfield, and consistently make smart mental decisions, that will reflect plenty on the numbers. If I can do those three things, I will be in a good spot.”
Sometimes, it is difficult to envision how a prep prospect plays into the plans of a big league organization while they may be a ways off. Someone as talented as Jenkins can force the timeline, but he is already picturing himself playing at Target Field.
“Just getting drafted by a team and then going and seeing them having postseason success makes you want to get up there and help the team win. I read that Minnesota hadn’t won in the postseason in a while, but the fact that they bounced back and have a successful team as I’m coming through is exciting for me. I feel like as more talent moves up, the more successful they’ll be, and I hope to be a factor in the organization winning sometime in the near future.”
Drafting players is a complicated process, with results that are often scrutinized. Hitting on the talent and makeup isn’t something that always happens, but Jenkins appears to be well on his way to cementing that reality. If he can continue along the path he started for himself, Twins fans may be able to take in his game as soon as 2024 over at CHS Field.
When we see Jenkins next, a professional offseason program will be reflected in his makeup, and how far that propels him in the year ahead isn’t worth limiting him with.
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