Walker Jenkins added a different kind of highlight to his name on Tuesday night, and it had nothing to do with a bat.
Before the St. Paul Saints took on the Buffalo Bisons, a young fan fainted during the national anthem right in front of Minnesota’s top prospect. Jenkins reacted immediately, carrying the fan off the field so he could get first aid.
The Saints later identified the fan as Lincoln and shared an update saying he was doing well, while also showing off the new gear he received after the incident.
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear a #23 Saints jersey.
We are happy to share Lincoln is doing well, and even got some new merch🥹💙 pic.twitter.com/yGs3dcc4Kb
- St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) July 1, 2026
The moment spread fast beyond the Twins and Saints crowd. Baseball fans picked it up, plenty of people outside the sport did too, and even the Today Show posted about it on its website and social media.
Jenkins has a nickname already attached to him from former Twins fan favorite Michael Cuddyer: Captain America, as Benjamin Hill of MLB.com wrote. Tuesday’s scene made that label feel even more fitting.
And after the game, Jenkins backed up the off-field good deed with another strong showing on the field. He went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double, an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base as St.
Paul beat Buffalo 12-6. On Wednesday, he added another hit and another stolen base against the Bisons.
Those two games pushed his season line with St. Paul to .272/.390/.430 with a 116 wRC+. In 31 games for the Saints this year, Jenkins has two home runs, eight doubles, two triples, 19 RBI and seven stolen bases.
His season has also included a long interruption. Jenkins missed about seven weeks after suffering an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder on May 3, when he crashed into an outfield wall.
That injury is the latest in a short pro career that has already included three trips to the IL since he was drafted out of high school in 2023. MLB pipeline lists him as the No. 14 overall prospect, and he has played only 227 minor-league games across four seasons.
For now, though, the viral moment is the one that will stick. Fans already knew Jenkins could produce at the plate. On Tuesday, they got another reminder that he can also handle a crisis the right way, and do it in a hurry.
In Other News...
Walker Jenkins Made His Return Feel Bigger Than Just Baseball
Walker Jenkins return to CHS Field on Friday carried a little more weight than a routine rehab assignment. After nearly two months away, the Twins top prospect was back in St. Paul and back in the kind of setting where every at-bat gets watched a little closer, especially after a stretch that tested both his timing and his patience.
Jenkins made the night count once the game started, collecting three hits in five trips to the plate and looking every bit like a player trying to reestablish his rhythm. For Minnesota, the encouraging part is not just the production, but the way he handled the moment around it, with a return that felt bigger than the box score and a reminder that his presence can change the feel of a game before he even swings. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans May Need More Patience With Walker Jenkins Than Expected
Walker Jenkins has done plenty to reinforce why he remains the Twins top prospect, but the path from standout minor leaguer to big-league regular is still looking a lot longer than many fans hoped. Minnesota has not rushed him, and there are good reasons for that, starting with the way injuries have interrupted his development and the fact that the major-league outfield is already crowded enough to let the club be patient.
Jenkins also is not on the 40-man roster yet, which gives the Twins more runway before any decision becomes urgent. Add in the uncertainty around the next Collective Bargaining Agreement and the possibility of an offseason lockout, and the organization has even more incentive to avoid forcing the issue. For now, the focus remains on keeping Jenkins healthy and letting his talent keep doing the talking. [Read more 🡒]
How The Saints Keep Winning While The Twins Keep Pulling Talent
Even with the roster in St. Paul constantly being shuffled by injuries, call-ups and veterans choosing to opt out, the Saints have kept rolling through the first 80 games of the 2026 season. They sit at 46-34 and have become one of the most dangerous home run-hitting clubs in professional baseball, a run built on an offense that keeps finding new contributors as faces change around it.
Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Hendry Mendez, Gabby Gonzalez, Matt Wallner, Alan Roden, Ben Ross, Kala'i Rosario, Aaron Sabato and Tanner Schobel have all helped keep the lineup productive, and manager Brian Dinkelman has pointed to the clubs upbeat, connected atmosphere as a big reason it keeps winning. For the Twins, the Saints success is a reminder of how much talent is bubbling just below the majors, with five players already having been pulled up from St. Paul and more still knocking on the door. [Read more 🡒]