Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Avoids Serious Injury

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Walker Jenkins, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK

If the Minnesota Twins haven’t kneecapped themselves by tearing down the roster, they have seen it happen due to unfortunate injuries. That hasn’t been exclusive to the big league roster either.

On Friday it was reported young pitching prospect Charlee Soto is officially done for the season. I guess maybe that’s the trade off for fellow star pitching prospect Connor Prielipp earning a promotion to Triple-A.

No one on the farm though, which is now ranked among the best in baseball, has been hotter than Double-A hitters Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper. The former was plunked on the hand Thursday and left the game.

Walker Jenkins ok after beanball

Playing against the Springfield Cardinals, Jenkins stepped in for his second at bat of the evening. Immediately following Culpepper’s ninth Double-A blast, and 18th of the year, Jenkins took a pitch up and in that got him on the hand.

After checking in on the status of his injury, it sounds like he won’t be slowed for long. Wichita plays Springfield again on Friday, and Jenkins won’t be in the lineup. He could miss just a single game though with a couple being the likely maximum.

Checked out postgame, it was revealed that Jenkins avoided any fractures or structural issues. That’s obviously great news for a guy who started behind after a hamstring injury.

In 46 Double-A games this season, the Minnesota Twins top prospect has batted .304/.411/.480 with ten doubles, a triple, and six home runs. He has continued to show a strong level of plate discipline despite the level up, owning a 38/28 K/BB.

Jenkins owns a .916 OPS since July 1 (34 G), and a 1.023 OPS across his last 23. As mentioned, he and Culpepper (38 G .906 OPS) are tearing up the opposition for Wichita. The more they can remain in the lineup, the better.

Promotions for MN Twins top prospects not unexpected

Not only is it great that Jenkins avoided injury for himself personally, but Minnesota Twins fans could soon see both he and Culpepper at Triple-A St. Paul. It would be an aggressive promotion strategy, but both have shown to be better than the competition thus far.

Like their parent big league club, the Saints and Wind Surge aren’t going to make the postseason. However, the Triple-A season is marginally longer and would be the final step prior to a major league call up.

Related: MN Twins Promote Star Pitching Prospect

At this point, it would take an unfortunate development for both Culpepper and Jenkins not to debut with the MN Twins next season. The sooner they get to Triple-A and acclimate, the further that potential timeline moves forward.

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