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Local Insider Confident Twins No. 1 Prospect Will Debut in 2025
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- Local Insider Confident Twins No. 1 Prospect Will Debut in 2025
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins are going to rely heavily on internal talent this season. That's largely because ownership has failed to commit additional money to the payroll. If there is a silver lining to that reality, it's that the farm system is loaded .
No one in the MN Twins system is better than Walker Jenkins. The former first round pick has ascended to new heights in recent prospect rankings . Despite being a teenager, he may not remain in the minor leagues for much longer.
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Walker Jenkins could be an option for the Minnesota Twins
Last season Walker Jenkins saw his year get off to a slow start due to injury. When he was on the field though, the results were nothing short of incredible. Star Tribune columnist LaVelle E. Neal thinks he could debut at the big league level this season.
"The man is put together. He's 6'4" about 215 [pounds]. I was like, good Lord this guy is put together. He will debut this year. I predict he would definitely debut. So you'll see Walker Jenkins at one point. What do we like about him? If you do a side-by-side video analysis, his swing looks exactly like Joe Mauer's . But Walker is projected to hit for more power and he is a corner outfielder."
If you've come across Jenkins in person, then Neal's comments about him being an absolute specimen won't be shocking. If you've looked at the placement of Jenkins on prospect lists, then it's also not jarring to think that he's an incredible talent.
Last year Jenkins played in 82 games across four separate levels . He owned a .282/.394/.439 slash line with 22 doubles, four triples, and six home runs. He walked more than he struck out. Offensively, he's absolutely a superstar.
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Related: Man… Twins Walker Jenkins' Beautiful Lefty Swing Looks VERY Familiar
Walker to The Wall!
Walker Jenkins doubles to the right field wall to record his first Double-A RBI.
T6
Drillers: 0
Wind Surge: 1 pic.twitter.com/tJgDmviVxK— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) September 15, 2024
Despite playing centerfield right now, it's likely that Jenkins moves to a corner in the outfield. He'll start the year at Double-A, and a jump to the big leagues isn't insane. If he can stay healthy, and continues to produce, then Neal's suggestion makes a significant amount of success.
Jenkins talked with new Twins beat writer Matthew Leach regarding his season, and he's expecting better from himself as well.
"Being injured somewhat hindered the way I like to play. I had to be able to manage my body, and I wasn't able to go what I felt like was full throttle all the time…I have extremely high expectations for myself. I feel like last season, that was a below-average year for me. Like, I'm not happy with my performance last year. … I want to do better."
There are a lot of similarities for Jenkins and Royce Lewis when it comes to makeup. The both of them have exceedingly high expectations of themselves, and they don't ever rest when seeking to achieve them.
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You'd be foolish to bet against Jenkins making The Show this season. The Twins have a need for a right-handed outfield bat, and he could prove to be that answer in relatively short order. Emmanuel Rodriguez is probably the top prospect that will show up first , but Jenkins isn't far behind.
Related: Four Minnesota Twins Prospects Make Coveted Top 100 List
Walker Jenkins has spring training in his sights, and he'll get plenty of opportunity to perform in front of Rocco Baldelli. Derek Falvey may be forced to lean on him sooner rather than later because of it.
