MINNEAPOLIS -- Rarely does a player get a standing ovation after flying out to center field. Sure, if it’s a sacrifice fly to tie or win a game, that will earn an eruption of cheers from the crowd.
But Walker Jenkins was the exception as he received a standing ovation from the crowd at Target Field before he even saw a pitch.
“It gave me straight chills,” Jenkins said postgame. “Having fans and people that come and support me and support this team like that is incredible. I’m playing baseball, hitting a ball with a stick and you’ve got people that come out like that and support you. It’s truly amazing.”
Two pitches later, he drilled a ball 380 feet to the center field warning track, which Tristan Peters caught. And even though it resulted in the second out of the inning, Twins Territory showed their appreciation for their next superstar, who has been dubbed "Joe Mauer with more Power."
The Twins would lose this one, 7-4, but the organization's top prospect didn’t disappoint in his MLB debut, going 1-for-3 with a walk and strikeout in the bottom of the ninth.
“It was good swings,” said manager Derek Shelton on the rookie’s debut. “Really impressive. He hit the first ball right on the screws. He had his first hit. The walk was a really good at-bat. Overall, very impressive.”
Jenkins was also happy with his first taste of The Show.
“I thought I attacked really well early in some counts," he said. "Some of the later at-bats I wish I would have gotten on the heater a little sooner and missed a couple good ones, but was able to fight and go deep in counts and so I thought overall, it was a solid night."
In his second at-bat, Jenkins didn’t waste any time and pulled a first-pitch changeup from Luis Castillo for his first MLB hit.
The hit was met with another standing ovation from the crowd as the broadcast caught owner Tom Pohlad pointing to his family and friends, who were all treated to some of the best seats in the park as he gifted them the owner’s suite for the night.
“He had no reason to do that, and the fact that he was willing to do that for my family and all the friends that came, couldn’t appreciate it more.” said Jenkins.
Before the night was over, Jenkins was on pace for more standing ovations than hits in his debut, a feat reserved for only a few.
Coincidentally, the Twins' scoring all got started on a couple of 380-foot home runs from Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens in the first to turn a 4-0 deficit into a one-run game. Lee, who already extended his hitting streak to six games in the first, would get another RBI on a single in the second, but the Twins' opportunities at the plate went quiet thereafter.
In his third plate appearance, Jenkins drew his first walk battling back from a 1-2 pitcher’s count in the bottom of the sixth. A wild pitch in that count from fellow rookie Hagen Smith advanced Trevor Larnach to third, and Jenkins walked on the next pitch.
Luke Keaschall then came up with the best opportunity to cash in runs following Jenkins’ walk with just one out in the inning. But he drilled right at Munetaka Murakami at first, and Murakami caught Larnach trying to score and had an inning-ending double play that killed the best chance for the rookie to start a rally.
As good as Jenkins’ debut was, the Twins offense still came up short on the night with three double plays hit into and a costly passed ball in the top of the fourth and a wild pitch that got past Jeffers in the eighth to make it 7-4.
Despite the outcome of the game, Jenkins felt beyond blessed to finally see his dream come true and get his MLB debut. He met with 30-plus friends and family postgame, and after a long day that started with little sleep, he looked forward to much better rest and celebration for what looks to be a long career.
“Incredible, an absolute blessing to be able to come out here and play baseball at the highest level," Jenkins said. "Like you said, frustrating ending, but so much fun to be out here with these guys and play on this team.”