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Minnesota Twins Star Prospect Hurt Again
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- Minnesota Twins Star Prospect Hurt Again
William Parmeter
It's been a difficult start to spring training for the Minnesota Twins . Not only are they 3-7 in Grapefruit League play, but the Twins lost did their ace starter Pablo Lopez down in Fort Myers during the first full-squad practice of the year.
Since, they've had close calls with Joe Ryan (lower-back tightness) and Royce Lewis (right-side tightness) who were both scratched from the Twins' starting lineup in recent weeks. Thankfully, both guys got much better news from their respective MRI's than what Lopez did before them.
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Ryan won't pitch in the World Baseball Classic, but he is expected to return to the rubber for the MN Twins in coming days. Royce Lewis' diagnosis was even better. His MRI revealed his "right side tightness"
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Minnesota Twins lose Walker Jenkins to hamstring strain
But Sunday meant a new day down in Fort Myers, and a new injury for a well-known member of the Minnesota Twins organization.
This time it's top prospect Walker Jenkins (No. 14 overall at MLB Pipeline ), who arrived to the clubhouse this morning with a sore hamstring that MRI testing later revealed as a grade 1 left hamstring strain.
Walker Jenkins reported to camp feeling sore after running out a double play yesterday. Had an MRI on Sunday and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 1, 2026
Related: Minnesota Twins Pitcher Opts Out of WBC
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Like many of his fellow top Minnesota Twins prospects over the past two decades, the one thing standing in the way of Walker Jenkins' and big league success is his health.
Since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2023, the freshly-turned 21-year-old has pushed through two injury riddled professional seasons.
Injuries are the only thing holding Jenkins back
In 2024, Jenkins was limited to 82 games with the same left-hamstring strain he is dealing with right now, costing him about two months of the season. Then last year, he was limited to 82 games with a was a high left ankle sprain.
When on the field, Walker Jenkins has done exactly what he was drafted to do — batting .295 with a .863 OPS in 192 career minor league games — 19 HR, 114 RBI, 115 BB, 137 K, 40 SB.
Walker Jenkins lines a 102.6 MPH Double in his first Spring AB pic.twitter.com/LFyByjVolC
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) February 21, 2026
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