The Minnesota Twins made a surprising decision with their No. 5 pick in MLB’s draft lottery. Despite speculation that they would go for a college player, they chose high school slugger Walker Jenkins. Jenkins, a 6-foot-3 outfielder with a smooth left-handed swing, is known for his huge power potential. He is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the draft class by Keith Law of The Athletic and is compared to a young Larry Walker.
Jenkins’ bat is his biggest draw, but he is also a good athlete with enough speed to handle center field. However, he is likely to profile best as a strong-armed right fielder in the majors. Baseball America states that in many years, Jenkins would be a legitimate No. 1 overall pick. Scouts have compared him to Josh Hamilton, the 1999 No. 1 overall pick.
The Twins’ decision to draft Jenkins also pays tribute to Mike Radcliff, the longtime scout and vice president of player personnel who passed away in February. Radcliff scouted Jenkins multiple times and gave him the highest possible grade in his report. The Twins wore white visors, which were Radcliff’s signature look, in their draft bunker as a tribute to him.
Jenkins is not only talented on the field but also off the field. He is described as an All-American kid, academically smart, and a great teammate. He committed to play college ball at North Carolina but will turn pro if the Twins can meet his asking price. Jenkins is represented by agent Scott Boras, who has a history of representing Twins players.
The Twins have a total bonus pool of $14.3 million available, and the slot-recommended signing bonus for the No. 5 pick is $7.1 million. They specifically picked Jenkins for his long-term upside and high cost, rather than opting for a less expensive college player. Last year, the Twins signed their No. 8 pick, Brooks Lee, for slightly above the slot bonus, and he is now their top-ranked prospect.
Jenkins has a strong case for being the Twins’ No. 2 prospect and could quickly push Lee for the No. 1 spot if his anticipated pro debut goes well. However, due to his age and minimal track record against advanced pitching, his path to the majors will be slower. He is a big futures bet, which is what teams picking in the top five should prioritize.
In addition to Jenkins, the Twins also received the No. 34 pick as a competitive balance selection. They used it on Florida high school right-hander Charlee Soto, a 6-foot-5 converted shortstop with impressive stuff. Soto has an upper-90s fastball, along with a changeup and slider that have the potential to be above-average secondary pitches.
With their own second-round pick, No. 49 overall, the Twins selected Arizona State second baseman Luke Keaschall. Keaschall had a monster season, hitting .353/.443/.725 with 18 homers in 55 games. He is known for his power and ability to play all over the diamond.
Overall, the Twins made bold choices in the draft, selecting high-upside players with potential for greatness. Jenkins, Soto, and Keaschall have the talent to make a significant impact in the future. It will be exciting to see how they develop and contribute to the Twins’ success in the coming years.