Twins News: Injury updates on Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Payton Eeles

Tampa Bay Rays v Minnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Rays v Minnesota Twins | Brace Hemmelgarn/GettyImages

Outfielder Walker Jenkins set to return

Jenkins, the Twins’ No. 1 prospect and MLB’s No. 6 per MLB Pipeline, was supposed to begin a rehab assignment yesterday, but the FCL Twins’ game was rained out, according to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Jenkins, who has been sidelined since April 6 with an ankle injury that began in spring training, is slated to be in the FCL Twins’ lineup on Tuesday. Jenkins received a cortisone shot for his ankle on April 30.

Jenkins, 20, began the season with Double-A Wichita and will more than likely return there once he finishes his rehab assignment. In 491 minor league plate appearances, Jenkins has hit .299/.395/.467 with nine home runs, eight triples, 27 doubles and 80 RBI. 

Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez placed on 7-day Injured List with a right hip injury

The Twins placed Rodriguez, the Twins’ No. 2 prospect and MLB’s No. 32, on the 7-day Injured List with a right hip strain, according to The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman. Rodriguez, known for his elite ability to draw walks, power hitting and high strikeout rate, also played through a nagging thumb injury earlier in the season. 

This season, Rodriguez, 22, has posted a .232/.400/.392 batting line with four homers, six doubles and a triple in 160 plate appearances with Triple-A St. Paul. In his career, he holds a .247/.419/.493 slash line with 360 strikeouts in 1176 plate appearances. 

Infielder Payton Eeles returns to Triple-A

A fan favorite, Eeles, 25, was reinstated from the Injured List by the St. Paul Saints, according to Gleeman, after a rehab assignment where he hit .318/.400/.409 for Low-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids.

Eeles, the Twins’ No. 22 prospect, signed with Minnesota after playing in the independent league in 2023. Standing at 5 feet, 5 inches, Eeles hit an outstanding .306/.435/.497 with 12 home runs, eight triples, 19 doubles and 60 RBI in 469 plate appearances last season in the Twins’ organization, jumping from Low-A to High-A before heading straight to Triple-A.

Twins set to play Game 2 against Athletics

Game 2 of the four-game series between the Twins and Athletics is scheduled to start at 9:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Right-handed pitcher Pablo López is slated to make the start for the Twins, and the Athletics have yet to announce their starting pitcher.

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