Twins’ top prospect Walker Jenkins sets sights on making 2026 Opening Day roster

Walker Jenkins emerged from the CHS Field dugout about 20 minutes before first pitch Tuesday evening, readying for his first home game with the St. Paul Saints, and he signed a few autographs before he ran onto the field to begin stretching.

Once he was done stretching, he took another couple of minutes to sign autographs next to the dugout.

It’s easy for fans to imagine Jenkins, a 20-year-old outfielder, doing this routine before Twins games at Target Field next season. And Jenkins admits he has thought about it as well, unafraid to say his goal is making the Twins’ 2026 Opening Day roster.

“You have to set far-fetched goals and set aspirations that you think are going to be tough to achieve just to push yourself,” Jenkins said. “Ultimately, I want to be on the Twins team and play there for a long time.”

Jenkins, the consensus top-ranked prospect in the Twins farm system, is moving quickly through the organization. He hasn’t played 60 games at any minor league level because he looks superior to his competition.

“How old is he? 20?” asked Twins pitcher Pablo López, who made a rehab start when Jenkins debuted with the Saints in Toledo, Ohio. “He’s a strong 20-year-old.”

Jenkins had one hit in his first 20 at-bats at Class AAA with four walks and six strikeouts. In his second week at the highest level in the minor leagues, Jenkins had 13 hits in 25 at-bats (.520 batting average) with four extra-base hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

The biggest knock against Jenkins is his injury history. He missed two months last year because of a hamstring strain, and he was sidelined for two months this season with a high ankle sprain.

Jenkins makes everything else seem like he was built in a lab. He’s listed at 6-3, 210 pounds, and he wouldn’t look out of place in an NFL locker room. His lefthanded swing evokes images of Joe Mauer. He played only 52 games at Class AA Wichita before he was promoted to St. Paul because he didn’t have much else to prove.

He had a .309 batting average and a .426 on-base percentage with nearly as many walks (33) as strikeouts (44). He started to hit for more power with seven homers, posting a 1.121 OPS over his last 21 games. He received high internal marks for his defense in center field.

Once he was promoted, he became the youngest position player to appear in a Class AAA International League game this year.

“I feel like this is the first time I’ve been able to go out and play without reservations,” Jenkins said. “Even last year having some soft-tissue injuries always in the back of your head.”

Now, his power is starting to tick up. He hit his first AAA homer Sunday, a 414-foot blast off former Twins first-round pick Chase Petty, who debuted for the Cincinnati Reds earlier this year. In the 2-1 loss to the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday night, Jenkins went 0-for-4 in the leadoff spot, striking out twice.

Part of the power surge is he feels healthier, Jenkins said. And he’s learning to take more aggressive swings.

“I hate striking out,” Jenkins said. “Everyone with the Twins knows it. All the hitting guys know it. I hate it, man, probably more than anything else in this game. But we had some conversations, like, I’ve got to be OK thinking catching the ball out front, hit it a little harder, elevate to pull side or all fields.”

No matter what moves the Twins make this winter during a rebuilding stage, Jenkins is a big part of their long-term plans. After his season ends in two weeks, he plans to continue working out with Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers in North Carolina.

Jenkins was the No. 5 pick in the 2023 MLB amateur draft, a potentially star-studded draft class. Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick, is a contender for the National League Cy Young award. Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson was the No. 6 pick and made this year’s All-Star team.