Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Twins (@Twins – X)
Minnesota Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins is headed to the big leagues. The superstar prospect is set to make his major league in just a matter of minutes, at Target Field, against the Chicago White Sox.
After batting .411 with an OPS over 1.200 across 18 games in August, his new manager Derek Shelton hopes Jenkins can fire up the Twins’ bats, which have been on ice since the All-Star break.
A big reason why Walker Jenkins made the leap up to No. 6 on our top 100 update was the power uptick everyone’s been waiting on.
The hit and approach have always been there, but both his average exit velocity and 90th percentile exit velocity have jumped 3 MPH this year. https://t.co/wGuN4W2GrS pic.twitter.com/Bc0kNXpl15
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) August 28, 2026
Belief in MN Twins Walker Jenkins runs high
You have to believe Shelton is excited to coach and help develop one of the most talented young prospects in baseball. But those who have already coached the No. 15 overall prospect see Jenkins getting off to a fast start, and never looking back.
Right before Walker’s big league debut on Friday, I was able to touch base with his high school coach at South Brunswick in Southport (NC), Chris Sotriffer, who has kept close tabs on his former understudy since stretched his wings and flew the coop three years ago.
Asked how he’s feeling about Jenkins’ debut, Sotriffer oozed confidence. Why? Because this kid is grounded in a way that most 21-year-old’s wouldn’t be, given his situation. Add in all that five-tool talent… and Walker Jenkins is just different, something that he and his former coach credit to his faith in God.
“Walker had all the tools while in high school and the exciting part is seeing him grow and develop into his body. Heck he’s still just 21 and will continue to develop and I think you’ll see a jump in his power numbers. But the amount of extra work he does on his own, because he wants to be the best player ever, is relentless and unmatched.”
“Aside from the intangibles, the maturity level is out of the roof and his unwavering faith in the good Lord will help him succeed in the big leagues. There was never a doubt in my mind if he was ready for this level and in my opinion should’ve happened sooner.
I know I told you back three years ago, he’s an amazing baseball player, but an even better person. It’s hard not to love, support, and pull for a young man like that!”
It would be unfair to immediately believe Jenkins will boast the .940 OPS he did at Triple-A. However, Kaelen Culpepper — who’s batting .333 and has a .907 OPS through his first 16 major league games — has already provided the roadmap to success for his fellow top prospect.
If the Minnesota Twins are going to make a miraculous playoff run, it’ll have to be the youngsters who carry them, especially with All-Stars Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton fighting injuries.
Byron Buxton staying on active Minnesota Twins roster
Still, it was somewhat of a surprise when Jenkins’ call-up did not coincide with a Buxton IR designation. At least for now, the injured Buck remains on the 26-man roster, though he is not available tonight after re-injuring his hip on Thursday back in Sacramento, against the A’s.
Instead, the Twins demoted Alan Roden back to Triple-A, after 28 games in the big leagues produced an underwhelming .647 OPS. To free up a spot on the 40-man, Minnesota designated Woo-Suk Go for assignment.
The last time we heard his name mentioned was when he was ejected from his first Saints game, before ever throwing a pitch.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/3fJNeoEjfi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 28, 2026
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