Walker Jenkins
| Walker Jenkins |
|---|
 Jenkins in 2022 |
| Minnesota Twins |
| Outfielder |
| Born: February 19, 2005 Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S. |
Bats: Left Throws: Right |
| Stats at Baseball Reference |
Walker Clay Jenkins (born February 19, 2005) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Amateur career
[edit]Jenkins attended South Brunswick High School in Southport, North Carolina, where he played baseball.[1] As a junior in 2022, he batted .527 with ten home runs, forty RBIs, 13 doubles and 18 stolen bases.[2] He was named the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year.[3][4] That summer, he participated in the Prospect Development Pipeline League at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.[5][6] He was also selected to play in the High School All-American Game at Dodger Stadium.[7]
Jenkins entered his senior baseball season in 2023 as a top prospect for the upcoming MLB draft.[8][9] Jenkins finished his senior year with a .480 batting average and 32 runs scored.[10] He committed and signed to play college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team.[11][12]
Professional career
[edit]Jenkins was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the first round, with the fifth overall pick, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[13] On July 25, 2023, Jenkins signed with the Twins for an above-slot deal worth $7.14 million.[14]
Jenkins made his professional debut with the Florida Complex League Twins and was later promoted to the Single-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.[15] Over 26 games, he batted .362 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.[16] He was assigned to Fort Myers to open the 2024 season.[17] He was promoted to the High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels in late July, and also earned a promotion to the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge near the season's end.[18] He missed time during the season due to a hamstring injury.[19] Over 82 games for the season, Jenkins hit .282 with six home runs, 58 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases.[20] Jenkins opened the 2025 season back with Wichita, but missed time in April, May, and June due to an ankle injury.[21] After rehabbing, he returned to play with Wichita in June and was then promoted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints in August.[22] Jenkins appeared in a total of 84 games during the season, hitting .286 with ten home runs, 34 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.[23]
Jenkins was assigned to St. Paul to open the 2026 season.[24] In early May, he was placed on the injured list with a shoulder sprain that occurred when running into the outfield wall while making a catch.[25] He began a rehab assignment with Fort Myers on June 13.[26] He then appeared in three rehab games with Cedar Rapids before returning to St. Paul.[27] Jenkins was selected to represent the Twins at the 2026 All-Star Futures Game alongside Kaelen Culpepper.[28]
References
[edit]- ↑ Spears, Dan (June 2, 2022). "Walker Jenkins' talent, trust put South Brunswick into NCHSAA 3A baseball title series". Wilmington Star-News.
- ↑ Paul, Michael (June 29, 2022). "South's Jenkins named MEC Baseball Player of Year". The State Port Pilot.
- ↑ "South Brunswick High School student-athlete named Gatorade NC baseball player of the year". WWAY News. June 3, 2022.
- ↑ "Jenkins is N.C. Gatorade Player of the Year". The State Port Pilot. June 8, 2022.
- ↑ "Clark, Jenkins discuss PDP League, Team USA and more". MLB.com.
- ↑ "Jenkins selected to USA Baseball training camp". The State Port Pilot. July 20, 2022.
- ↑ "Jenkins to play in High School All-American baseball game". The State Port Pilot. July 13, 2022.
- ↑ "1 on 1 with South Brunswick's Walker Jenkins". September 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Wilmington Star-News Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts".
- ↑ "ESPN ranks South Brunswick's Walker Jenkins No. 1 baseball player born in 2005". Wilmington Star-News.
- ↑ Writer, Michael Paul, Staff (November 22, 2022). "South baseball senior Jenkins signs with UNC Tar Heels". The State Port Pilot.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Senior outfielder Walker Jenkins signs a letter of intent with UNC Baseball". Yahoo Sports. November 26, 2022.
- ↑ "Twins select high school slugger Walker Jenkins with 5th overall pick in MLB Draft" Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ↑ "Twins sign top draft choice Walker Jenkins for $7.1 million bonus". startribune.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Jenkins plays walk-off hero for Mighty Mussels".
- ↑ "How did the Twins' top 10 minor-league prospects do this season?". Star Tribune. September 19, 2023.
- ↑ "Mighty Mussels Announce 2024 Opening Night Roster".
- ↑ "Twins' Walker Jenkins: Promoted to High-A". CBSSports.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ↑ "Top prospect Jenkins aiming sky-high after solid '24". MLB.com.
- ↑ Morris, Justin (June 7, 2025). "Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins hits first home run of the season". MLB.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
- ↑ "Finally back from injury, Walker Jenkins reflects on wild first 2 years of pro baseball".
- ↑ "Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins promoted to Class AAA St. Paul Saints". Star Tribune. August 25, 2025.
- ↑ "Walker Jenkins Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Ralph, Max. "Twins top prospect Jenkins has best game of '26, with 3 hits and 2 steals". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ Leach, Matthew. "Top Twins prospect Jenkins sidelined with shoulder sprain". MLB.com. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Twins No. 1 prospect Jenkins homers in return to game action". MLB.com. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ Borek, Jesse. "New rehab level, same result: Twins' top prospect Jenkins slugs another homer". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2026.
- ↑ Dykstra, Sam (July 2, 2026). "2026 All-Star Futures Game rosters revealed". MLB.com. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference (Minors)