So, Itch had Walker Jenkins 11th on his top 25 fantasy baseball prospects in January of 2025 — or the Big 25 in the Big 25. There he said, “A left-handed hitter at 6′ 3″ 210 lbs, Jenkins walked more than he struck out and slashed .282/.394/.439 in 82 professional games during his first full season. The sixth overall pick in the stacked 2023 class, Jenkins took the top spot on Minnesota’s list last year and is the odds-on favorite to claim it again next season unless the Twinkies really slam the gas on his development: an outcome he might invite with a hot start at Double-A, and let me slam a hot poker in Grey’s ear.” What? Then his top 50 fantasy prospects update in September saw Jenkins moved up to seven, i.e., that shine ain’t shone! Shine ain’t shone? Shine ain’t shined off? Shine ain’t shoned? That shine continues to shone? Meh, you get it. Then, this year, Itch had Walker Jenkins 16th in his top 50 prospects for 2026 fantasy baseball, and he went 14/17/.323 in the minors in 279 ABs. No foolin’, we’re movin’! So, what can we expect from Walker Jenkins for 2027 fantasy baseball?
He plays for the Twins. That’s both factual and code for where do you want me to start with the injuries? Twins need to examine what’s in the water at their complex in Fort Myers or maybe just stop drinking Cedar from the Rapids. You got 10,000 lakes there, you can’t find non-injury-inducing water? He battled injuries in 2024, 2025 and just had elbow surgery. Just incredible stuff going on in the training room of Minny-Soda. Fun fact! It’s Minny-Soda, but they call soda pop. Weird! Why not name your state Minny-Pop? Do you think ever? So, the good news for Jenkins is A) He should be healthy by Spring Training. (God–Or in Minny-Soda’s case, the Ghost of Kirby Puckett willing.) B) He was already promoted to the majors (4/1/.226 in 84 ABs), so there should be no issues with him being arbitrarily held down to start the year. C) There’s no C. Let’s look at some clips:
Make it back-to-back 3-hit nights for Walker Jenkins!
MLB’s No. 14 prospect (@Twins) drills his third big league homer at 105.2 mph off the foul pole. https://t.co/Qe4NO8fGYo
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 19, 2026
No idea how he kept that fair. Here’s another blast:
“Stay hot, Captain America!” 💥
MLB’s No. 13 prospect Walker Jenkins drills his 4th @Twins homer and is slashing .458/.480/.833 across his past seven games. https://t.co/3n64bhi3iu
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 23, 2026
Captain America? Is that sarcastic? Not sure you can just bestow someone the Captain America nickname. Feels like you have to earn it by, like, doing stuff. Here’s one more:
108.2 mph | 400 ft 👀
MLB’s No. 14 prospect Walker Jenkins collects the first multihomer game of his career!
@Twins | @StPaulSaints | @TwinsPlayerDev https://t.co/6c2fu4vVu7
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 7, 2026
He might be the most “is he trying to cash Joe Mauer’s checks at the bank by imitating his bating stance” guy I’ve seen in some time. Someone else thought that too:
walker jenkins x joe mauer https://t.co/FQzJqamo5l
— parker hageman (@HagemanParker) August 29, 2024
Walker Jenkins can sleep with Joe Mauer’s wife if he wants and no one would know. If she consents obviously, you creep! My big problem is derived from this impersonation he’s doing. Is he trying to have 12-homer power? Hitting like Joe Mauer is one way to do it. Also, a 12-homer catcher is a lot easier to swallow than a 12-homer outfielder. Thankfully, he has more of a young Joe Mauer’s attributes too. In the majors last year as a 21-year-old (insanely young), he had a 7.5 BB% and 20.4 K%. Both excellent numbers that will get better with more looks. In Triple-A as a 21-year-old (!), he had a 13.4 BB% and 15.4 K%. Those are ridonk.
So, Walker Jenkins could hit .330 like Joe Mauer and had 17 steals in Triple-A. That’ll do, Pooh, i.e., not poo. What are you saying, he’s nothing but Steven Kwan? Fair. Harsh, but fair. I want to hang a caveat on that though. A 21-year-old has to have power upside too. That caveat is huge. Kwan hit three homers last year and Jenkins hit four in under a month. They are not the same. A rookie who could hit 12 homers and .300 with 20 steals is an outstanding dynasty asset and a guy whose ceiling likely isn’t known yet. Assuming he stays away from the water they’re drinking up there that causes quad injuries. Him vs. other 2027 fantasy baseball rookies? Jenkins has a lot higher floor but his ceiling seems lower for this year, especially in power and speed. For 2027, I’ll give Walker Jenkins projections 74/12/61/.281/17 in 534 ABs with a chance for more.
