Twins' top prospect Walker Jenkins is dominating for Triple-A St. Paul after slow start with Saints
Outfielder Walker Jenkins, who ranks as MLB's No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, struggled upon his promotion to Triple-A St. Paul on Aug. 25, collecting just one hit and four walks in his first 25 plate appearances with the Saints. However, Jenkins has recently returned to the version of himself that dominated Double-A this season; since Sept. 1, Jenkins has gone 16-for-45 with two homers, three doubles, one triple, four walks and five RBIs for the Saints.
We have our first @WalkerJenkins6 home run at @CHSFieldStPaul. This one goes a Lowertown mile up on top of the Operations and Maintenance Facilities Building in right. A two-run shot, his 2nd with the Saints, caps off a six-run fourth inning pic.twitter.com/26m2W0Y8ZC
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) September 14, 2025
Jenkins earned the promotion to Triple-A St. Paul following a strong return to Double-A from his ankle injury that kept him sidelined for a large portion of the season. In 235 plate appearances for the Wind Surge this season, Jenkins slashed .309/.426/.487 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs.
When will Twins' top prospect Walker Jenkins make his MLB debut?
It obviously would've been more ideal for Jenkins to start his Triple-A career hotter, but his recent stretch has made up for his slow start. And at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how Jenkins did in his first 25 plate appearances, as it's a small sample size. What really matters is that it appears Jenkins has already acclimated to Triple-A pitching, which is likely exactly what the Twins wanted when they promoted him to the Saints in late August. Now, Jenkins has the opportunity to make the Twins' 2026 opening day roster if he continues to light it up for the Saints and has a strong spring training.
If Jenkins continues to shine offensively, the Twins' 2026 opening day outfield will likely consist of Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner and Jenkins. Fans can expect Jenkins to play left field for the Twins, as Buxton has center field locked down and Wallner's arm makes him valuable in right field. With Jenkins' MLB debut on the horizon, and outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez expected to be promoted to the major leagues sometime next season, Trevor Larnach may find himself on a new team in 2026. If the Twins want to make the postseason next year, they must rely on their young talent, led by Jenkins, as the Pohlads are likely to spend relatively little this offseason.