Twins News: Emmanuel Rodriguez suffers another injury, latest Walker Jenkins update
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On Wednesday night Royce Lewis hit his third home run of the season, which means he's now homered in every single game he's played in this year. It's an absolutely unreal display of his power, even if it ended up coming in a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees.
The loss on Wednesday marks the fifth time this season the Twins have failed to find a way to beat the Yankees, but at least the bats managed to come to life in ways we haven't seen this year. Coming into the game, Minnesota had scored just two runs in four games against New York, but broke free by racking up five runs.
It wasn't enough to win, but it might be a sign that the Twins offense is coming to life with Lewis back in ways we've been waiting for all season. There have been stretches where the twins have shown some power, but having Lewis back gives the team a whole new level of confidence and the groundwork might have been laid on Wednesday night for a surge that will carry them into the All-Star Break.
Lewis helping give Twins fans something to cheer about wasn't all that happened on Wednesday, although not everything will leave fans with a good feeling.
Emmanuel Rodriguez suffers another injury in first game back
In what has become a depressing common refrain for the Minnesota Twins, a top young player has suffered yet another injury. Emmanuel Rodriguez was making his return to the Wichita Wind Surge lineup on Wednsday after having missed some time with a hand injury, but things went south in a hurry.
Rodriguez seemed to aggrevate his hand injury while sliding into second and was removed from the game in the fourth inning.
Emmanuel Rodriguez, who just returned to Wichita's lineup, has exited in the fifth inning.
— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) June 6, 2024
Tough to say, but it appeared he may have aggravated the hand injury he was coming back from on a slide. You can see toward the end of this clip that his right thumb had been bandaged. pic.twitter.com/kBTMxaSkvv
This would be the third time this season that E-Rod will miss time due to an injury. He sat out some games in late April, something that didn't stop him from being named Minor League Player of the Month, and most recently battled a hand injury.
He was talked about as a potential call-up candidate in the coming months, but injuries are very quickly getting in the way. It's unfortunately a tale as old as time for the Twins.
Walker Jenkins is showing off the goods in his rehab assignment at Fort Myers
Speaking of injured Twins prospects, Walker Jenkins is providing a flipside to the Emmanuel Rodriguez coin.
Jenkins left his first game of the season after coming up limping following a diving catch at the warning track. It wasn't the first time he's missed action due to an injury, as he sat out the Spring Breakout Game with a quad strain.
His Opening Day injury held him out of action until last week, but he's making the most of his time back in Single-A. Jenkins turned in another phenomenal performance on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double, which is the surest sign yet that he's officially back.
Walker Jenkins, the No. 7 prospect in @MLB, tallied his first two non-rehab hits of the season today for the @MightyMussels in the win💥
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) June 5, 2024
He went 2-4 with a 2B, a BB, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored
The double was hit 101.3 MPH 🚀#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/SIpVr5fgtP
Unlike the Twins other Top 100 prospects, Jenkins isn't going to be in the MLB picture for at leas ta few years. That's what made his injury so tough to see, as his time in the farm system is all about development and he needs to be healthy for that.
He's slowly working his way back, but if Wednesday is any indication of where things are headed then Twins fans are in for a treat over the next few months.
Brooks Lee turned in a web gem in St. Paul on Wednesday
The most likely prospect to get called up next is Brooks Lee, who is also working his way back from injury. He might already be on the MLB roster had it not been for a herniated disc that derailed the start of his season, but all signs seem to point toward him having officially recovered.
Lee is already back at Triple-A St. Paul and is showing the tye of flash that suggests he could be nearing his MLB debut.
MLB's No. 14 prospect Brooks Lee flashes the leather AND his bat in his return to Triple-A!@Twins | @TwinsPlayerDev | @StPaulSaints pic.twitter.com/Q1u7uuytzG
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 6, 2024
Much like Royce Lewis, we've seen Brooks Lee flex with his bat but seeing him look so stellar on defense is something to get excited about. At the very least, St. Paul is bustling with talent that ranges from Lee to Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner, Yunior Severino, and David Festa.
All of those guys are top prospects who have. been discussed as potential call-ups, but the line seems to start behind Lee. He showed why on Wednesday, and it's yet another sign of how strong Minnesota's youth movement is.
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