Minnesota Twins Select North Carolina High Schooler Walker Jenkins No. 5 in MLB Draft

The Minnesota Twins have selected prep outfielder Walker Jenkins No. 5 in the MLB Draft.

The Minnesota Twins selected North Carolina high school outfielder Walker Jenkins No. 5 in the MLB Draft on Sunday night.

While he's years away from making the majors, he could be a centerpiece of the Twins system and roster for years to come.

He was ranked No. 4 overall by MLB.com in terms of draft prospects. Here's a portion of his MLB.com profile:

Gatorade's North Carolina player of the year in both 2022 and 2023, Jenkins is built to hit for power with a strong 6-foot-3 frame and a quick left-handed stroke. He already shows the ability to turn on quality fastballs and drive them out of the park to right field, and his pop extends to the opposite field as well. While his hitting ability doesn't stand out quite as much as his double-plus raw power, he has a sweet swing and makes consistent hard contact.

Though Jenkins displayed plus speed earlier in his high school career, he has slowed a bit as he has gotten stronger and now is more of a solid runner. His instincts may allow the North Carolina recruit to remain in center field, with his reads and routes enhancing his range. If not, his plus arm strength will help him to fit the profile of a slugging right fielder. 

Minnesota's selection of Jenkins follows Paul Skenes (No. 1, Pirates), Dylan Crews (No. 2, Nationals), Max Clark (No. 3, Tigers), and Wyatt Langford (No. 4, Rangers)

At the major league level, the Twins are currently 45-46 and in second place in the American League Central. They trail the Cleveland Guardians, who are 45-45.

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