Twins Prospect Hot Sheet: It's Time for Walker Jenkins’s MLB Debut

As the calendar inches closer to the trade deadline, the Twins find themselves in a familiar position: trying to stay firmly in the American League Wild Card race, while evaluating whether help should come from outside the organization or from within. While front office discussions will dominate headlines over the next few weeks, several players in the farm system are giving the organization reasons to believe internal reinforcements could be just as valuable.

Walker Jenkins continues to remind everyone why he's one of baseball's elite prospects, despite another injury-interrupted season. Cody Morissette has quickly become one of the hottest hitters in Triple-A after joining the organization just a month ago. Meanwhile, Riley Quick is showing flashes of the frontline arsenal that made him a first-round selection last summer.

OF Walker Jenkins – St. Paul Saints

How He Got Here: Ever since the Twins selected Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, expectations have been sky high. When healthy, he has done everything evaluators expected, advancing to Triple-A before his 21st birthday while compiling an impressive .863 career OPS across the minor leagues.

The biggest obstacle hasn't been production—it has been availability. Injuries have limited Jenkins to just 192 professional games over the past two-plus seasons. A quad strain and hamstring injury slowed his 2024 campaign before an ankle sprain cost him significant time last season. Even with those setbacks, he still finished third among qualified Twins minor leaguers with a 135 wRC+ after proving he could handle upper-level pitching.

Hitting the Hot Button: Every time Jenkins returns from the injured list, he seems to pick up exactly where he left off. The 21-year-old appeared in five games for St. Paul this week, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a double, a triple, a home run, and two RBIs. His overall Triple-A numbers continue to impress; he's posted an .835 OPS and a 119 wRC+ through 33 games.

Perhaps more importantly, the timing couldn't be better. Byron Buxton's lingering hip issue has created uncertainty in the Twins outfield. Jenkins has already proven he can compete against Triple-A pitching, and his polished approach at the plate suggests he may be ready for the next challenge. If Minnesota wants to inject athleticism and offensive upside into its lineup without making a trade, Jenkins feels like the obvious answer.

INF Cody Morissette – St. Paul Saints

How He Got Here: Morissette's professional journey has taken a few unexpected turns. The former Boston College standout was selected in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft by Miami and was viewed as a polished college bat capable of climbing the ladder quickly. While he eventually reached Triple-A, consistent offensive production proved elusive, culminating in a .660 OPS across the upper minors last season.

After beginning 2026 back in Miami's organization, Morissette was released in June. The Twins signed the New Hampshire native to a minor-league contract on June 8. Since arriving in St. Paul, he's looked like a completely different hitter.

Hitting the Hot Button: Few hitters in the organization have been hotter over the past month. Morissette played in five games this week and went 6-for-16 (.375) while launching four home runs and driving in seven runs. His biggest performance came Wednesday against Buffalo, when he delivered a two-homer game.

Since joining the Saints, the 26-year-old has produced a .585 slugging average, a .935 OPS, five home runs, and two doubles. He's also expanded his defensive value by seeing time at both second base and third base, giving the Twins another versatile infield option if they need additional depth later this summer.

RHP Riley Quick – Cedar Rapids Kernels

How He Got Here: Quick's path to professional baseball required plenty of patience. After deciding to focus exclusively on pitching at Alabama, he impressed as a freshman reliever before undergoing Tommy John surgery during his sophomore season in 2024. He made 14 starts for the Crimson Tide in 2025, showcasing premium velocity and earning selection by the Twins with the 36th overall pick in the draft. Minnesota signed him for the full slot value of $2.69 million.

Although Quick possesses the frame of a durable innings-eater, he entered professional baseball with only 87 collegiate innings under his belt. Building stamina, refining his command, and establishing the routine of a full-season starter remain important developmental goals as the Twins carefully manage his workload.

Hitting the Hot Button: Quick delivered one of his sharper outings of the season this week. The 22-year-old started Wednesday against Quad Cities and allowed just one unearned run on two hits over four innings. He walked one batter while striking out seven.

The outing represented a positive step after a stretch where he had surrendered at least three earned runs in four of his previous six starts and failed to complete five innings in any of them. Minnesota has understandably remained cautious with its prized pitching prospect, limiting him to no more than 79 pitches in a game as he continues build on his previous workload. The strikeout ability has never been in question. As his workload gradually increases, the consistency should follow.

With every game carrying added weight in the Wild Card race, these three prospects are giving Minnesota's front office even more to think about as August approaches.

What stood out about this trio of prospects? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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