Jenkins making a grand entrance for Twins
Walker Jenkins is off to a scorching hot start in his professional career. The 2023 fifth overall pick blasted a grand slam for his first professional home run in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday afternoon, giving the FCL Twins the edge in a 9-7 victory. Jenkins, who also
Walker Jenkins is off to a scorching hot start in his professional career. The 2023 fifth overall pick blasted a grand slam for his first professional home run in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday afternoon, giving the FCL Twins the edge in a 9-7 victory.
Jenkins, who also doubled, has been unstoppable to start his professional career. In his debut on Thursday, the 18-year-old smoked the first pitch he saw to the opposite field for a double. He’s slashing .462/.500/.846 with five RBIs in three games.
The North Carolina native recently wrapped up the Twins’ 2023 Draft signings as he inked a $7,144,200 bonus on July 25.
In his professional debut, first round pick Walker Jenkins, ended the game 2-4 with a double and a SB 💥
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 3, 2023
He had one ball in play that was hit 101 mph and he also had a foul HR
Here are some other angles of the double he hit on the first pitch he saw as a pro🔥#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/JXQcAFY79d
Heading into the Draft, Jenkins, who was No. 4 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft Prospects list, was viewed as a left-handed slugger with all five tools. The 6-foot-3 outfielder had 60 grades for his hitting, power and arm strength, along with a 55 for his fielding and running abilities. He was one the best prep prospects out of North Carolina since Josh Hamilton went No. 1 overall in the 1999 Draft.
Perhaps the most strongest part of Jenkins’ game is his swing. The lefty has the ability to turn on fastballs quickly and hit the ball out to any part of the field. His light-tower power is something opposing pitchers will have to be cautious of.
During his time at South Brunswick High School, Jenkins took home Gatorade’s North Carolina Player of the Year award in both 2022 and 2023. He slashed .388/.520/1.150 throughout his high school career, including a 2022 season where he hit .527 in 30 games.
Rookie-level Red Sox Red win Dominican Summer League title
Some 1,600 miles south of Fenway Park, the Red Sox won a championship on Saturday. With the big league club in the thick of the American League Wild Card chase, Boston's Red Sox Red club beat the Angels' affiliate, 6-0, in Game 3 of the best-of-3 finals in the Rookie-level
DSL Red Sox pitcher Felix suspended 56 games
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Boston Red Sox Minor League pitcher Anthony Felix, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance enhancing substance in violation of
DSL Cardinals' Perez, DSL Padres' Jimenez among three suspended
A pair of Dominican Summer League pitchers were suspended on Friday after testing positive for performance-enhancing substance, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. St. Louis Cardinals Minor League pitcher Kener Perez, who is currently on their Dominican Summer League roster, received a 56-game suspension without pay after
DSL Giants' Tandron suspended 56 games
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that San Francisco Giants Minor League shortstop Anthony Tandron, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Giants, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance enhancing substance in violation of Major
Watch for these 10 Complex league prospects
The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming out
DSL Pirates' Blanco, former DSL Rays righty Laureano suspended
NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Hader Blanco and free-agent right-hander Ismael Laureano were suspended for 56 games each Friday following positive tests under baseball’s Minor League drug program. Both tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, the commissioner’s office said. Blanco, 18, was on the roster of the
DSL Tigers' Acosta, DSL Rockies' Ugarte suspended
A pair of Dominican Summer Leaguers will miss time in 2024 after testing positive for banned drugs. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced Friday that two Minor League players -- Tigers pitcher Luis Acosta and Rockies infielder Ronny Ugarte -- have been suspended following their violations of the
DSL Mets' Larez suspended 56 games
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that New York Mets Minor League infielder Cristopher Larez, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Mets, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor
DSL Cubs' Mosquea suspended 54 games
The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced on Aug. 15 that Chicago Cubs Minor League pitcher Dalbert Mosquea, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Cubs, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the
DSL Red Sox no-hit themselves, well, sort of
When you play in a league with more than one team from your organization, every head-to-head matchup comes with bragging rights. The Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Red Sox Blue commandeered them on Thursday in pretty remarkable fashion – no-hitting organizational counterpart Red Sox Red in a 1-0 victory. That’s right:
DSL Guardians kick off season with 28-run barrage
There is nothing like Opening Day, and the Rookie-level Guardians Blue had one for the ages in the Dominican Summer League on Monday. Cleveland’s DSL affiliate came out of the gate swinging in its inter-organizational opener against the DSL Guardians Red … and swinging, and swinging and swinging. When they
Dominican Summer League returns for 37th season
Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the 2023 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 5 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Philadelphia Phillies’ Academy in Boca Chica. Dozens of dignitaries from the Dominican Republic political, business and sports worlds are expected to attend a pre-game ceremony
Complex League award winners and All-Stars
Minor League Baseball revealed its end-of-season award winners and All-Stars for each of the Rookie-level Complex Leagues. While the Arizona Complex League, Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League are all of the short-season variety, their value to a player's development is no less important. In the ACL, Milwaukee's Jace