Minnesota Twins Call Up Top Prospect Walker Jenkins Amid Byron Buxton Injury Concerns
The Minnesota Twins have announced the promotion of top prospect Walker Jenkins for their upcoming series against the Chicago White Sox, as questions linger regarding outfielder Byron Buxton’s availability due to a hip injury. The team revealed the decision on Thursday.
Jenkins, 21, has demonstrated impressive performance at Triple-A St. Paul, posting a .308/.407/.532 slash line along with 12 home runs, 17 doubles, 28 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases across 307 plate appearances, despite facing hamstring and shoulder injuries. His standout month of August saw him hitting .411/.488/.795, including 8 home runs and 7 stolen bases.
Ranked as Minnesota’s No. 1 prospect by MLB.com and the 15th overall, Jenkins was selected by the Twins with the fifth pick in the 2023 draft, coming from South Brunswick High School in North Carolina.
Byron Buxton, 32, recently aggravated a right hip injury during Tuesday’s 4-2 defeat against the Athletics, an incident that occurred while he was running for a hit in the seventh inning. Following a triple by teammate Henry Bolte, Buxton was visibly in pain and left the game, further complicating the Twins’ lineup.
The veteran has struggled this season, limited to just 93 games due to a right hip impingement, which has required two trips to the injured list. Consequently, Buxton participated in only nine games from July 4 through August 13.
Despite these challenges, Buxton has managed a .254/.319/.511 batting average with 25 home runs, 22 doubles, and 46 RBIs in 408 plate appearances. His defensive skills in center field have also earned him recognition, with one Defensive Run Saved and three Outs Above Average, according to advanced metrics.
As of now, no corresponding roster move has been announced for Jenkins’ promotion, leaving Buxton’s potential return to the injured list uncertain. Jenkins becomes the second top prospect the Twins have brought up this August, joining shortstop Kaelen Culpepper.
With a record of 64-70, the Twins find themselves four games behind the American League’s third wild-card playoff spot. They trail the Chicago White Sox by 6.5 games in the AL Central, making the wild card their most viable path to reach the postseason.
The Minnesota Twins are calling up top prospect Walker Jenkins for this weekend’s series with the Chicago White Sox amid uncertainty regarding Byron Buxton’s availability due to a hip injury. The team announced the move on Thursday.
Jenkins, 21, had a .308/.407/.532 slash line with Triple-A St. Paul, adding 12 home runs, 17 doubles, 28 RBI and 17, stolen bases in 307 plate appearances while dealing with hamstring and shoulder injuries. In August, he is slashing .411/.488/.795 with 8 home runs and 7 steals.
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Ranked as Minnesota’s No. 1 prospect by MLB.com (and No. 15 overall), Jenkins was the Twins’ 2023 first-round draft pick (fifth overall) out of South Brunswick High School in North Carolina.
Buxton, 32, aggravated a right hip injury in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Athletics while running and reaching down for a hit into the right-center gap during the seventh inning. Following the triple by Henry Bolte, Buxton was in obvious discomfort, favoring his right leg and came out of the game.
The 12-year veteran has been limited to 93 games this season because of a right hip impingement. The issue has resulted in two stints on the injured list, making Buxton available for only nine games from July 4 to Aug. 13.
When he’s been in the lineup, Buxton has been productive with a .254/.319/.511 slash average with 25 home runs, 22 doubles and 46 RBI in 408 PAs. He’s also played well in center field according to advanced metrics, crediting him with 1 Defensive Run Saved and 3 Outs Above Average.
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No corresponding move for Jenkins’ call-up has yet been announced, so Buxton returning to the IL for a third time is not a certainty.
Jenkins is the second top prospect that the Twins have called up in August, joining shortstop Kaelen Culpepper.
At 64-70, the Twins are four games back from the American League’s third wild-card playoff spot. However, five teams are ahead of them in the standings, including the Cleveland Guardians who currently hold that third spot at 68-66.
Trailing the Chicago White Sox by 6.5 games in the AL Central, the wild card is likely the only parth for Minnesota to get to the postseason.
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