MN Twins Star Prospect Returns to Triple A

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Walker Jenkins, Minnesota Twins
Credit: William Parmeter

Injuries have ravaged the Minnesota Twins at every level of the organization this season. The big league health issues have been well-documented. But they’ve also lost three of their top four prospects to injury, at different points the season season, as well.

Thankfully, those youngsters appear to be on the mend. Top infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper’s injury isn’t expected to keep him down long. Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez is still expected to return this season after undergoing thumb surgery too.

Walker Jenkins returns to Triple-A for Minnesota Twins

The news is even better surrounding the organization’s most prized minor league asset, outfielder Walker Jenkins, who sustained his latest injury while making a difficult catch at the wall last month with the St. Paul Saints.

But after a brief rehab assignment last week, the No. 11 overall prospect in all of baseball will rejoin his teammates in the the Saints lineup on Tuesday in Louisville.

When he returns to the Saints lineup this week, Jenkins will step in with a .256 average and .785 OPS. He has six doubles and two home runs in 25 games, but an even more impressive 18/19 K/BB.

The 21-year-old is looking to make his major league debut sometime this season, and a hot stretch could force the Minnesota Twins to consider that sooner rather than later.

Jenkins last played for St. Paul on May 3, but played in four rehab games between (Low-A) Fort Myers and (High-A) Cedar Rapids. He went 5-for-11 (.455) with a home run and 2/1 K/BB playing for the Kernels.

Related: MN Twins Young Starter Suffers Another Setback

St. Paul is on the road this week for a series in Louisville. The Minnesota Twins are at home for a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, capped off by a Shohei Ohtani pitching appearance on June 24.

Where does Jenkins fit for MN Twins?

As was the case at the beginning of the year, the Minnesota Twins have somewhat of a logjam in the outfield. Byron Buxton is playing at an MVP level, and won’t be ceding center field duties any time soon. Trevor Larnach is having a career year, and Kyler Fedko was just promoted after tearing apart Triple-A.

The Twins also should be looking at Matt Wallner, who is rocking a .957 OPS at Triple-A in 32 games since his demotion. Alan Roden is back after suffering a torn labrum, and now has a 1.095 OPS in 23 Triple-A games this season.

Related: MN Twins Promising Rookie Returns, Veteran DFA’d

Too many quality players is a good problem to have, and it’s a positive to have talent that can mitigate slumps like what Wallner went through, or Austin Martin may presently be dealing with.

There’s also the possibility that some of the veteran holdovers could be dealt at the deadline, whether the Twins operate as sellers or buyers. These sort of things have a tendency to figure themselves out. What Minnesota wants to see is a healthy Walker Jenkins.

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