What the Minnesota Twins are getting in South Brunswick baseball's Walker Jenkins
The Minnesota Twins selected South Brunswick baseball's Walker Jenkins with No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday night in Seattle.
The center fielder has dazzled in events across the country and North Carolina during his high school career, putting together a senior season to remember this spring for the Cougars.
The 18-year-old solidified a standout high school career with an area-high 32 walks and inched further into the national spotlight. Jenkins was the second high schooler off the board Sunday; Indiana's Max Clark was selected No. 3 overall by the Detroit Tigers.
A household name for any baseball fan in the Wilmington area, Jenkins becomes the third area high school player in the last six years to hear his name called on Day 1. New Hanover's Blake Walston was a first-round pick of Arizona in 2019; Whiteville's MacKenzie Gore was taken No. 3 by the Padres in 2017.
With a swing that's impressed even the most critical scouts and the size and speed of a professional, here's what the Twins can expect in South Brunswick baseball's Walker Jenkins.
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Walker Jenkins' high school career
There was something different about Jenkins right from the start. While he had to sit out of baseball his freshman season due to hip surgery, the multi-talented athlete took up swimming and quickly impressed coaches.
But once he made his way to the baseball field as a sophomore, there was no doubt what the left-handed batter would be pursuing in the future.
Batting .436 with 21 runs scored that season, Jenkins' work ethic quickly impressed then South Brunswick baseball coach Mike Anderson.
"He's just built different," Anderson said earlier this year. "There would be times after away games that he would get in the car with his folks, and by the time we got back to school, he was already here in the hitting facility hitting after the game."
By his junior year, Jenkins had the attention of baseball scouts across the country, and he backed the recognition up by batting .527 with 40 RBIs, 40 runs scored, and 10 home runs as the Cougars finished as NCHSAA Class 3A runners-up.
This spring, the center fielder faced new challenges as many teams opted to walk him intentionally. Even so, Jenkins was trouble on the bases as he stole second countless times and scored 33 runs.
"My goal is to help the team win, no matter what," Jenkins said after a playoff game in May. "Some people think I'm a bigger guy (and) I'm not gonna be that fast but I feel like I prove them otherwise."
The senior's high school career ended in the third round of the state playoffs on May 16, a run that surprised most after a 12-9 regular season finish for the Cougars.
With a new professional home, Jenkins leaves behind a legacy at South Brunswick that won't quickly leave the minds of Southport natives. His undeniable skill and dedication to his hometown have made him a player that young and old fans alike will be supporting for years to come.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Minnesota Twins select Walker Jenkins No. 5 overall in 2023 MLB Draft
