'Like a kid on Christmas morning': Jenkins enjoying return and his first multihomer game
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Walker Jenkins had a terrible batting practice Thursday night. It didn't mean a thing once he got into the batter's box during the game.
MLB’s No. 14 prospect swatted two homers for the first time in his pro career en route to Triple-A St. Paul’s 5-4 victory over Louisville at CHS Field. And it exemplified an eight-game hot streak in which Jenkins is batting .364 with four extra-base hits.
“It’s funny, I think BP today was the worst BP I have taken in my professional career,” he said after the game with a laugh. “I just told myself not to overthink and just go out there and have fun, and that’s what I did. Today was one of those days I could have been 0-for-5 or 5-for-5, and I was going to be thankful to be out there playing ball.”
The Twins' No. 1 prospect wasted no time showcasing his 60-grade power. Squaring off against rehabbing big leaguer Brandon Williamson (Reds) in the first inning, Jenkins stayed on a 1-0 cutter from the left-hander, and drilled the offering over the left-field wall for his seventh homer of the year -- fifth at the Triple-A level.
“He’s got a great cutter, and I know he likes to work firmer earlier, so that’s what I was trying to look for,” Jenkins said. “Honestly, the pitch wasn’t even in my go zone, but it’s a pitch that I picked up out of his hand, stayed on it and shot it the other way.”
Throughout his pro career, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 Draft has shown the ability to reach base regularly against southpaws with a career .285 average and a .376 OBP when facing left-handers.
“When I’m facing a left-hander, I just try to go up there and react,” Jenkins said.
MLB’s No. 5 outfield prospect returned to the dish in the fourth looking to do more damage. Ahead in the count, 1-0, Jenkins got a changeup over the heart of the plate from right-hander Jose Acuna and didn’t miss it. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound outfielder turned on the pitch and blasted it 400 feet onto the concourse in right. The mammoth homer left Jenkins bat at 108.2 mph, per Statcast.
Despite a late start to the season, Jenkins has done an exceptional job in hitters' counts across three levels this year, posting a 1.048 OPS and collecting 11 extra-base hits when ahead in the count.
“In certain counts, I want to get it off, and that was definitely one of those counts where I was ready to go and was trying to close the barrel and hit something hard," he said.
Since returning to the St. Paul lineup on June 23 after missing seven weeks with a shoulder sprain, Jenkins has continued to be an extremely consistent offensive producer. The 21-year-old ranks in the top 10 among qualified hitters in the Twins system since late June in hits (36, third), extra-base hits (16, tied for second), average (.303, fifth) and OPS (.887, eighth).
“When I came back off the injured list, I was like a little kid on Christmas morning," Jenkins said. "I was just ready to go play ball. And it’s funny how you sometimes play better in those moments or you have more confidence because you’re not overthinking it.”
Next week, that kid who just wants to play ball will be evident when Jenkins and St. Paul take on the Iowa Cubs at the MiLB at Field of Dreams 2026. The Aug. 11 game will be aired live on MLB Network from Dyersville, Iowa.
"I think that is going to be one of those perspective days," Jenkins said, "I'm just going to go out there, enjoy that moment and soak it all in playing in a place like that."