The Twins have had terrible luck with injuries this spring. Pablo López will miss the entire 2026 season after a UCL injury and David Festa is expected to start the season on the IL due to a right shoulder impingement. Joe Ryan was scratched in his first scheduled start of spring training due to a stiff back. Fortunately, he is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut soon. Royce Lewis also battled an injury last week but should be back on the diamond soon after an MRI revealed he is not suffering from anything serious.
To compound the Twins’ injury woes this year, top prospect Walker Jenkins suffered a left hamstring strain while trying to knock down a groundball double play against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. according to Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. He played another half inning in center field after sustaining the injury.
Twins’ top prospect Walker Jenkins continues to struggle to avoid injuries
Jenkins, an outfielder, is no stranger to injuries. The 21-year-old was sidelined for about two months last season due to a sprained left ankle that led to persistent pain. He also missed about six weeks in 2024 due to a left hamstring sprain.
Earlier in spring training, Jenkins said he’s “trying to stay healthy” to Declan Goff of SKOR North. The 2023 first-round pick added that he “tends to get carried away so early in spring training,” and thinks developing a routine early in the season is key.
It’s a shame that Jenkins continues to suffer injuries. It’s not like he’s trying to get hurt. He just keeps having bad luck. Hopefully the Twins can develop a plan with the highly touted prospect that will limit his injury risk in the future.
Jenkins appears to have talent on the level of Byron Buxton, Joe Mauer and other Twins stars. Unfortunately, at just 21 years old, he also seems to be just as injury-prone as those stars.
After hitting an RBI double against the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday, Feb. 20, Jenkins went 0-for-7 at the plate this spring training, the prospect’s first in major league camp.
Hopefully Jenkins will be ready for minor league opening day. The outfielder will likely start the year at Triple-A St. Paul, where he finished the 2025 season.
An above-average defender and runner with elite contact and power skills, Jenkins should be playing in the Majors sometime in 2026, likely around June or July, as long as he can stay healthy when he returns from his injury.
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