What Does Walker Jenkins Need to Prove at Low-A?

Expectations were high for Walker Jenkins entering the season, even though he is 19 years old and had fewer than 120 professional plate appearances. Some evaluators felt he could have a meteoric rise similar to Jackson Holliday, baseball’s top prospect who moved from Low-A to Triple-A last season. Jenkins injured his hamstring during his first game of the season and was sidelined for multiple weeks, so it seems unlikely he will reach the Saints this season. Still, he is one of the best prospects to come through the Twins system over the last decade, and expectations will continue to be high. 

So, what should fans watch as Jenkins returns? What does he need to work on before being promoted to Cedar Rapids?

Power vs. Hit Tool
Jenkins has been known for his advanced approach at the plate throughout his amateur career. He’s dominated while facing players his own age, including a .362/.417/.571 (.989) slash line during his professional debut. His OPS was even higher than that during his rehab stint, so now it’s about his ability to hit in the Florida State League. His hit tool has always been vital, so fans can keep an eye on his in-game power. Can he continue to drive the ball to all fields? How does he fare against more advanced pitchers? Those are the questions the Twins hope he can answer in the coming months. 

Running Wild 
Jenkins has been known as a strong base runner, but a hamstring injury can slow him down on the bases. He went 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts during his rehab stint, including a two-steal game. Interestingly, the Twins were distraught with Royce Lewis stealing bases during his rehab stint with the Saints. However, Jenkins isn’t on pace to impact the big-league roster this season, so the organization must be fine with him being aggressive on the bases. Ideally, he will be hitting more extra-base hits so that steals won’t come into the picture, but he will continue to draw walks. Do the Twins want their star prospect running wild on the bases?

No Body Puts Jenkins in the Corner
The Twins have continued to use Jenkins in center field despite some evaluators believing he will move to a corner spot at some point in his career. The Mighty Mussels may start giving Jenkins reps in the corner outfield, but it makes sense for him to stay in center field for as long as possible. Minnesota follows a similar plan with Brooks Lee, who has played shortstop throughout his professional career even though Carlos Correa is blocking him at the big-league level. Teams value depth at up-the-middle positions, so there is no reason to move Jenkins until he adds more to his frame and grows out of the position (if that ever happens).

Avoiding the Twins' Top Prospect Injury Curse 
Minnesota’s top prospects for most of the last decade have been bitten by the injury bug, including Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton, Alex Kirilloff, and Austin Martin. Jenkins missed time to start the 2024 campaign, and his previous injury history is something to consider. As a freshman in high school, he had surgery for a hip impingement, and he broke his hamate bone during his last year before the draft. All of Twins Territory hopes he can put his previous injuries behind him and get back to playing baseball.  

Jenkins has the potential to be a generational talent, but he is a long way from Target Field. Fans can have fun watching his progress this season, especially now that he can attempt to live up to the lofty hype surrounding his prospect status. 

What will you be watching with Jenkins? What should his goals be for the remainder of the season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!