The Twins have already had awful injury luck this spring. Pablo López will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a UCL injury and David Festa is expected to begin the season on the IL due to a right shoulder impingement. Joe Ryan was scratched from his first scheduled spring training start due to back tightness. Luckily, he is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut soon. Royce Lewis also had an injury scare last week, but he should be back on the diamond soon after an MRI revealed he isn't suffering from anything too serious.
To worsen the Twins' injury luck this year, top prospect Walker Jenkins suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain while attempting to beat out a ground-ball double play against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale. He played another half-inning in center field after suffering the injury.
Twins' top prospect Walker Jenkins continues to struggle avoiding injuries
Jenkins, an outfielder, is no stranger to suffering injuries. The 21-year-old was sidelined for about two months last season due to a left ankle sprain that led to lingering soreness. He also missed about six weeks in 2024 due to a left hamstring sprain.
Earlier in spring training, Jenkins said he is "trying to stay healthy" to SKOR North's Declan Goff. The 2023 first-round pick added that he has "a tendency to want to get carried away" this early in spring training, and thinks developing a routine early in the season is vital.
It's too bad Jenkins keeps suffering injuries. It's not like he is trying to get hurt. He just keeps having bad luck. Hopefully the Twins can develop a plan with the highly touted prospect that will limit his injury risk going forward.
Jenkins appears to have talent on the level of Byron Buxton, Joe Mauer and other Twins stars. Unfortunately, he also appears to be as injury-prone as those stars at just 21 years old.
After hitting an RBI double against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday, Feb. 20, Jenkins has gone 0-for-7 at the plate this spring training, the prospect's first in big-league camp.
Hopefully Jenkins is ready for minor-league Opening Day. The outfielder will most likely begin the year with Triple-A St. Paul, which is where he ended the 2025 season.
Jenkins, an above-average defender and runner with elite contact and power skills, should be in the majors at some point in 2026, likely around June or July, as long as he can stay healthy upon returning from his injury.