Jenkins flirts with cycle in best day since return from injury

Walker Jenkins just put together his best game since returning to Triple-A St. Paul.

Jenkins, the Twins’ No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 overall, finished a home run shy of the cycle on Tuesday in a 12-6 win over Buffalo at CHS Field. Jenkins went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base.

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The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 Draft singled through the middle on an 0-2 fastball to start his day, promptly stealing second base. He later scored on a Gabriel Gonzalez single.

In the fourth inning, Jenkins then laced a base hit the opposite way to left field. Davis Schneider failed to make a diving play, allowing Jenkins to stretch it to a double. It scored Ben Ross for Jenkins’ only RBI of the game. Jenkins came around to score again on a Matt Wallner homer.

Jenkins recorded his triple in the sixth. The outfielder went to the opposite field again, this time one-hopping the ball off the wall at 96.6 mph. Orlando Arcia drove Jenkins in with a single.

Though Jenkins was retired in his final plate appearance, it was a 106.6 mph groundout.

Out since May 3 with a left shoulder AC joint sprain, Jenkins has now hit safely in four of five games since getting back to the Saints. He’s gone 7-for-20 overall in the span with four extra-base hits, building on a solid .830 OPS through 30 Triple-A games this year.