In his first game action in nearly six weeks, Walker Jenkins picked up right where he left off.
The Twins' No. 1 prospect -- and No. 11 overall, per MLB Pipeline -- rapped out four hits in the first game of his rehab assignment for Single-A Fort Myers in a 15-5 loss to Dunedin on Saturday night. Jenkins had been sidelined since May 3 with a left shoulder AC joint sprain he suffered while running into a wall attempting to make a catch.
Batting out of the No. 2 hole and serving as the designated hitter, Jenkins began his night with a well-struck single to center field in the first inning. He added another base knock -- this time to right field -- in the third, before later tacking on a left-on-left double in the eighth.
COMPLETE TWINS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Jenkins, 21, saved his biggest hit for last. Leading off the ninth inning, he turned around a 1-0 sinker and deposited it beyond the right-field bleachers for a solo home run. The shot left the bat with an exit velocity of 105.9 mph -- the sort of loud contact and pull-side power that Jenkins is known for.
The Twins originally selected Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 Draft out of high school in Southport, North Carolina. He was hitting .256 with a .785 OPS in 25 games for Triple-A St. Paul before getting hurt. Injuries have unfortunately been a part of the story for Jenkins in his Minor League career, as he's never played more than 84 games in a single season.
But Jenkins sure looked the part in his return to the field on Saturday. He took a six-game hitting streak with him to the injured list, and he didn't appear to miss a beat while starting his rehab assignment.