Walk it Off Jenkins! Top Prospect Sinks Daytona 3-2 in 10 Innings

VIDEO: #MNTwins 1st round pick Walker Jenkins (@WalkerJenkins6) walks it off with a 10th inning, 2-out single to center in just his second game with the @MightyMussels pic.twitter.com/GNtOyN6lSM

— John Vittas (@JohnVittas3) August 26, 2023

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 25, 2023) – Walker Jenkins drove in both the tying and winning runs in just his second Low-A game Friday, leading the Mighty Mussels to a 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Daytona Tortugas at Hammond Stadium.

Jenkins finished 3-for-6 with a double and two RBI. He was selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft on July 9.

In the tenth inning, Jenkins came to the plate in a 2-2 game with two outs and two men on against Daytona (51-64, 22-28) left-hander Joseph Menefee (6-5). On a 2-2 pitch, he lined a slider into center field to score Alec Sayre and seal the Mussels’ (59-59, 25-27) second consecutive walk-off win.

The North Carolina native also proved clutch in the bottom of the seventh. After Daytona plated two runs to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, Luke Keaschall pulled a double into the left field corner. The next batter was Jenkins, who sliced a double down the left field line to plate Keaschall and tie the game 2-2.

Mussels’ starting pitcher John Klein was dominant, turning in six shutout innings for the second consecutive start. He allowed just one hit and three walks while fanning nine. Over his last two starts, he’s surrendered just two hits over 12 innings while fanning 17. The Minnesota native got 13 whiffs on his fastball, which topped out at 94.5 mph.

After winning three out of four in the series, the Mighty Mussels will go for the series win at 6 p.m. on Saturday. RHP Jose Olivares (2-4, 6.43) makes the start for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Ryan Cardona (2-2, 3.04) of Daytona. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.