Walker Jenkins of South Brunswick shines at WWBA

Energetic slugger, who is committed to the University of North Carolina, is rated as the nation's No. 2 prep position player in by MLB Pipeline

JUPITER, FLORIDA – If the size and swing don’t get your attention, the swagger certainly will.

When you watch Walker Jenkins play a couple of innings, you can see why the left-handed hitting outfielder from Oak Island, N.C., is arguably the best player at the Perfect Game World Wooden Bat Championship.

The five-day wood bat tournament at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is one of the premier PG showcases, and Jenkins is up there with any player at the event. 

MLB Pipeline ranks the North Carolina commit as the No. 2 prep position player in the country.

One scout told SBLive Sports, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder draws comparisons to Hall of Famer Larry Walker and Paul O’Neill.

Walker Jenkins is committed to the University of North Carolina, but he is a potential Top 10 pick in next year's MLB Draft / Walker Jenkins photo by Joe Frisaro

Handling high praise is nothing new for Jenkins, who is as well known on the travel circuit as any player in the country.

Realistically, he could be a top 10 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

“I just try to go play my game,” Jenkins told SBLive Sports. “I feel like whenever I play like myself, people like it. First day you come out here, you’re feeling the nerves a little bit. As time goes on, everything starts to calm down. The heartbeat slows down. I’m trying to have fun. I try to tune [scouts] out the best I can and go and play my game.”

Jenkins’ game is more than just swinging the bat or standing in the outfield.

The left-handed hitting slugger is a presence. You can’t help but notice him because he’s engaged and energized throughout the game.

In the dugout, he’s rooting on his teammates. When he’s on deck, and there is a foul ball that goes to the backstop, Jenkins sprints to retrieve the ball for the umpire. If he’s in position to bring a teammates gear back to the dugout, he quickly does so.

Anyone who thinks baseball players just stand around waiting for some action should spend two hours watching Jenkins play for the South Carolina Panthers.

“That's just kind of how I was raised to play the game,” he said. “Part of it I feel like it’s respecting the game. But then I enjoy it. I play my best and have the most fun when I’m energetic. Keeps the dugout alive. Keeps the team alive. It allows the team and me to be successful. That’s one reason I think I try to keep a high energy when I’m playing the game.”

A star at South Brunswick High School, Jenkins is savoring every minute of what likely is his final travel ball tournament.

“I’ve always been a high energy kid,” the slugger said. “The mindset from the energy has kind of changed. Energy when you are younger kind of depends on how you play. Now, I try to have the high energy, whether I’m playing great or struggling a little bit. It’s more than just about yourself. I want to help my team succeed.”

Jenkins is an interesting case study. He bats lefty, and throws right-handed. He kicks a football with his left foot and shoots a basketball with his right and left hands.

“I’m all over the place,” he jokes. “It’s odd.”

Leadership is often tossed around in athletics. Some lead by words, while others by example.

Jenkins does both. It’s obvious when you watch him play, because his teammates are just as engaged. That’s a leader, someone who helps bring out the best in his teammates.

“I’ve had a lot of people come to me and say, ‘I want you to be the leader of this team,’ “ Jenkins said. “It’s one of those things. It’s almost kind of like an insult. I already try to. That’s kind of my goal. I want people to follow after me, and I’m going to try to lead by example.”

It’s easy to be upbeat when your team is winning. But what about dealing with adversity? Are you the same player regardless, win or lose?

Jenkins’ junior season ended with a disappointing setback in the state finals. After the game, Jenkins sat by himself in the dugout for a few minutes, processing what happened. Before he packed up and left, he made sure to pick up the remaining trash in the dugout.

“We lost a heartbreaking state championship,” Jenkins said. “And after, I was just kind of taking it all in, and a lot of my buddies had already headed out. I was just kind of sitting there. There was some trash laying around. I just started cleaning it up a little bit. It’s back to respecting the ball game.”

For Jenkins, the talent is obvious. The statistics speak loudly. As a junior he hit .527 with 10 home runs, 13 doubles, 49 runs and 40 RBIs.

The standout prep star developed his hitting base as a young child while working with his father, Clay, who played two years of college ball at North Carolina State.

“It started with the basics. I was a very simple hitter,” Jenkins said. “I still have a very simple approach. I don’t have a lot of movement going on. [Dad] said, ‘See the ball hit the bat, and keep everything simple.’ He wants to minimize head movement. As I got older, I started working with a lot of pro guys.”

Jenkins has received instruction at Coastal Athletics, owned by former pro player Fletcher Bates, and ex-big leaguer Trot Nixon.

“I tried to listen and learn as much as I could,” Jenkins said. “I wanted to allow myself to be as successful as I could. That was one way to do it. I wanted to be allow myself to be as successful as I could. I feel like that was one way to do it.

“I felt from a young age, I don’t know everything. Baseball is a sport where it’s always changing. Things are always happening. Little tweaks always need to be made. That was one of the biggest takeaways I took from a young age. I’m going to try to listen to these guys who have been through it, and learn from them. That’s what has gotten me to the point where I am, I don’t need to change anything up. I’m trying to go out there and have fun.”