Injuries have made their presence felt for the Minnesota Twins this season, yet again. Pablo Lopez, Zebby Matthews, and Royce Lewis have all been placed on the injured list, recently.
We’ll see how long Royce’s latest stay will be but both pitchers will be out two-three months.
The Twins’ injury issues began to pop up during Spring Training, affecting both big leaguers and prospects alike. One of those hit the hardest was top five overall MiLB prospect, Walker Jenkins, who suffered an ankle injury down in Fort Myers.
Walker Jenkins activated off IL to Double-A Wichita
After a failed return attempt from the IL in early-April, has missed about 60 games down at Double-A already this season.
But come Tuesday, when the Wind Surge open a new series down in Wichita vs the Lakeland Flying Tigers, Jenkins will be back in the lineup. This, following a successful two-week long rehab assignment down in Fort Myers.
Jenkins played in a total of nine rehab games, for the FCL Twins. He went 7-for-25 with a home run and a couple stolen bases, looking largely like the five-tool prospect he has been billed as. Prior to going on the injured list back in April, Walker Jenkins went 1-for-8 with two strikeouts.
Jenkins started last summer in the same place he did his rehab assignment (Low-A Fort Myers). He finished it with the Wind Surge, where he logged just six Double-A games before their 2024 campaign ended. The 20-year-old went 4-for-25 with a double.
When healthy, hitting the ball has not been a problem for a healthy Walker Jenkins so far during his professional career. In three seasons as a minor league ball player, Jenkins is batting .297 (.860 OPS) with 10 HR, 82 RBI and 25 SB. All 444 of his at-bats have come while he has been far younger than most of his competition. That will certainly be the case again this season, at Double-A.
When could Minnesota Twins call upon Walker Jenkins?
Walker Jenkins was selected fifth overall pick during the 2023 MLB Draft, out of high school, who doesn’t turn 21 until February.
Realistically, especially after his early-season injury, we won’t see Jenkins up with the Minnesota Twins this season. More likely, fans should put a pin on the 2026 season, as long as all goes as planned.
Triple-A, however, is more realistic. But he’ll have to earn it. Whenever he does eventually make it to St. Paul, a callup becomes possible at any time. For now, the Wilmington, North Carolina native is likely focused on staying healthy and producing where his feet are.
Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach have looked good at times, this season… but we’ve been saying that about Twins’ corner outfielders since Derek Falvey took over the front office. Play well and good things will happen.
