The Twins picked the right time to steady themselves, and now they’re at the point where a front office decision has to match the urgency on the field.
Minnesota beat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Tuesday night, its second straight win and a series clincher against one of the National League’s strongest contenders. Josh Bell gave the Twins their early punch, Ryan Jeffers added two insurance runs, and Zebby Matthews handled the Braves for one run over 5 2/3 innings.
That pushed Minnesota to 62-65. The club is still four games back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, but the more pressing chase is in the Wild Card race, where the Twins are only one-half game behind the Texas Rangers for the final spot.
That margin is thin enough to demand action, and the move sitting in plain sight is Walker Jenkins.
The Twins’ No. 1 prospect is already at Triple-A St. Paul, and if Minnesota wants to make a real push over its final 35 games, he should be the next call.
Jenkins is not being asked to rescue the season. A 21-year-old in his first major-league look should never be treated that way.
But the Twins are close enough to a playoff spot that leaving a potential boost untouched starts to look like a mistake.
The race around them is packed. Minnesota’s 62-65 record matches Toronto’s, and the Rangers are being chased by the Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers, all within one game. That makes every useful bat matter a little more.
And the schedule gives the Twins chances to matter. They still have six games with the White Sox, six against the Tigers, three with the Guardians and a three-game season-ending set against the Rangers. Those games can reshape both the division and the Wild Card picture.
They also make waiting more expensive.
Jenkins has already earned a serious look on performance alone. In 273 plate appearances for St.
Paul, he has hit .289/.388/.477. Add in four rehabilitation games, and the line jumps to .307/.400/.510 with nine home runs.
That’s not just a hot batting average. It’s a hitter getting on base, controlling at-bats and doing damage.
The 2023 fifth overall pick is also ranked No. 15 in baseball, and his profile gives Minnesota something it needs: contact ability, developing power, plate discipline and athleticism. That’s a more complete offensive package than the Twins are getting from some of their current corner-outfield options.
There’s also a practical fit here. This does not have to mean moving Byron Buxton out of center field. The easier path is in left or right, where Austin Martin’s hamstring injury has created a hole.
Alan Roden has posted a .589 OPS in the majors. Luke Keaschall has hit better, but his outfield defense has created another issue for Minnesota. Jenkins could take on regular corner-outfield work while letting Keaschall spend more time in the infield.
That setup helps in multiple ways. It raises the offensive ceiling, gives the Twins more defensive flexibility and keeps Keaschall’s bat in the lineup without forcing him into a spot that doesn’t fit cleanly.
Of course, the promotion only works if Jenkins actually plays. Calling him up just to park him behind veterans would help nobody. If Minnesota brings him up, it should be with real plate appearances and a real opportunity to contribute.
There is a reasonable case against rushing him. He’s still only 21, and he has fewer than 300 Triple-A plate appearances this season. The jump from Triple-A to the majors can be brutal, and development still matters.
But development can’t be the excuse for putting off every meaningful move, either.
Jenkins has already reached the highest level of the minors and produced there. His approach gives him a steadier base than a prospect built only on power or speed.
Big-league pitchers will challenge him in new ways, but another few weeks in St. Paul won’t erase that test.
There’s no promise he changes the Twins’ season. He could struggle. Minnesota could play well and still miss October in a crowded American League field.
But Tuesday was a reminder that the season is still there to be chased. The Twins bounced back from being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, beat a 74-win Braves team twice, and moved within one result of a playoff spot. They have meaningful games left and one of baseball’s best young talents already nearby.
Keeping Jenkins in St. Paul carries risk. So does doing nothing while the chance fades.
If the Twins think this season still matters, the next move should be obvious: call up Jenkins.
In Other News...
Joe Ryan Just Gave Twins Fans Reason To Watch September Closely
Joe Ryans road back from the injured list took a meaningful step this week, and for a Twins club that has spent plenty of time piecing together the back end of the rotation, it was the kind of update worth circling. The right-hander, who has been out with a strained left glute muscle, got back on the mound for the first time since his Aug. 4 outing and worked through a short bullpen session as he continues his recovery.
Derek Shelton called the throwing session encouraging, which is about as much as Minnesota can ask for at this stage. The larger question is still when Ryan will be ready to rejoin the staff, and for now there is no set timetable, leaving his return one of the more closely watched developments as September unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Need To Start Planning For Life After Buxton In Center
Byron Buxton has spent his entire major-league career in center field, and even with the defensive regression that has shown up over the past two seasons, he still looks playable there for Minnesota heading into 2026. The decline has been most noticeable on balls hit laterally and in the value of his arm, which is enough to make the position worth watching more closely than it once was.
Walker Jenkins is the reason that conversation is starting to feel more than theoretical. The top prospect is performing well in Triple-A and is viewed as the organizations center fielder of the future, with 2027 looking like the clearest path for that changeover. For the Twins, the question is no longer whether Buxton can handle the spot right now, but how long they can afford to wait before planning for the next one. [Read more 🡒]