Walker Jenkins Looks MLB-Ready, But Where Does He Play?

The fifth overall pick in an extremely top-heavy 2023 draft class, Walker Jenkins has been one of the minor leagues’ top bats since the day he stepped into pro ball.

All the while, Jenkins has climbed quickly, rising to Triple-A in just his second full season. His offensive polish has been on full display, consistently competing against players three to four years his elder.

Despite rising rapidly throughout his career, it’s been far from smooth sailing for Jenkins. In 2024, he dealt with a hamstring strain and an ankle sprain the following year. This year, Jenkins missed more time with a hamstring injury and, most recently, an AC joint sprain after crashing into the center field wall.

Jenkins’ elusive health has caused turbulence in his stock, but his production in Triple-A has squarely placed him within the top 10 of consensus prospect rankings. Over 66 games, Jenkins is slashing .298/.396/.496 with nine home runs and 20 more extra-base hits at the highest level of the minor leagues.

Mixing a 105.9 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity with a 92.5% in-zone contact rate and 23.3% chase rate, Jenkins is certainly MLB-ready. He’s only been heating up as of late, slashing .324/.409/.568 since returning from a short stint on the injured list. As a bonus, Jenkins has even splits against lefties and righties, with no need to be sheltered against left-handers to start his career.

Jenkins is ready to contribute for the major league club, but how does he fit on the playoff-pushing Minnesota Twins?

Finding Space For Jenkins

The offense has been far from a problem for Minnesota, running a 103 team wRC+. And it doesn’t help that Byron Buxton, Luke Keaschall, and Trevor Larnach have been three of the Twins’ five top performers this season.

At the moment, the Twins don’t have a pressing need to fill on offense. All nine of their starters against right-handed pitching have been league-average or better bats this season. But should Jenkins produce as he’s expected to, he would provide a significant boost to a squad on the outside looking in.

Luckily, Minnesota boasts a versatile position-player crop. It’ll take some shuffling of pieces to get it done, but keeping Jenkins’ bat in the minor leagues would be disadvantageous to their playoff hopes.

Defensive Fits

Keaschall, Kody Clemens, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis all have experience at three different positions. The latter two are capable of playing both on the grass and on the dirt.

Jenkins looks to play at least an average corner outfield spot, so there’s no issue with plugging him there.

Worries come in the form of Keaschall on the dirt, who has been one of the worst defensive second basemen in the league, prompting a move to the outfield. He hasn’t played third or first base in the major leagues, so those options are unlikely.

The current second baseman, Clemens, has played above-average defense there, at first base, and at all three outfield spots. He’s certainly the most malleable defender on the squad.

Lee can play third base, shortstop, and second base. The same goes for Lewis, with the addition of first base, which has been his home as of late.

Josh Bell could also take more starts at first base, opening up the designated hitter spot that he’s held for a vast majority of the season.

The Odd Man Out Offensively

Looking specifically at splits against right-handed pitchers, Lewis has been the worst batter by a slight margin. But since the start of July, Lee has posted just an 84 wRC+, compared to Lewis’ 122.

Though Lee has had production against right-handers — on his way to a 20-home run season — his peripherals don’t suggest sustained production. Driven primarily by a high air-pull rate, Lee runs well below-average contact-quality metrics.

Rearranging the Starting Nine

With Lee out of the lineup, the Twins would have to shift around the defense to fill in at third base. Lewis can jump back to third base, with Bell or Clemens able to take over starting first-base duties.

The question is whether Minnesota would be willing to move Keaschall back to second base, where he’s played just once since the start of July. Designated hitter is likely out of the question, considering he hasn’t gotten a single start there.

Larnach has gotten a handful of starts at DH and has been a negative defender in left field, so moving him off the field would make some sense with a Jenkins promotion.

With that, here’s how the Twins could align with a Walker Jenkins promotion:

RF – Luke Keaschall

CF – Byron Buxton

C – Ryan Jeffers

1B – Josh Bell

2B – Kody Clemens

3B – Royce Lewis

DH – Trevor Larnach

SS – Kaelen Culpepper

LF – Walker Jenkins

With the success of Kaelen Culpepper and exciting young talent like Jenkins coming through the pipeline, Minnesota is ready to open up its contention window. Just a year removed from an 18-man firesale, the Twins are ready to take the next step toward winning baseball.