The Minnesota Twins have called up top prospect Walker Jenkins, with the status of All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton unclear.
The Twins announced on social media on Thursday that they're bringing up the center fielder Jenkins from Triple-A St. Paul, where the 2023 first-round draft pick was batting .308 with 51 runs, 12 homers and 17 steals with a .939 OPS in 69 games. The 21-year-old native of North Carolina hit eight home runs in his last 15 games for the Saints. Jenkins was slotted 15th overall on Major League Baseball's prospect rankings for 2026.
The Twins were off on Thursday and did not announce any corresponding roster moves.
Jenkins, the fifth overall pick in 2023, will need to be added to the organization's 40-man roster as well as the active 26-man roster before the Twins begin a three-game series on Friday against the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
"Oftentimes when that player gets an early call up, say in late April or early May, then there's a little bit more pressure on that player to deliver a really strong season," said Derek Sharrer, the President of the Twins AAA affiliate in St. Paul. "I think Walker's gonna have a chance to sort of ease his way into this lineup. It's an exciting time. Certainly, I would understand the anxiety of fans in a playoff chase, but I think he's gonna have a great opportunity to ease his way in."
Buxton has been hampered by a hip injury over the last two months and was removed from Minnesota's game on Tuesday with another aggravation.
"The day before, I would have told you I was back to normal, and it was like, I felt like myself, normal," Buxton said about the hip. "Yesterday I was like, oh, a bad day, like it wasn't the same as the day before. But it wasn't bad either. Figured we'll have to manage it throughout the season, and then when we get to the end of the season, figure out where we need to go from that point forward. Sometimes it might not work too, so it's just one of those where hopefully it's just a little hiccup."
Chicago White Sox (70-63, first in the AL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (64-70, third in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Friday, 7:10 p.m. Pregame at 6:30 on 830 WCCO and the Audacy App (in-market only)
PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Luis Castillo (4-10, 5.19 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 105 strikeouts); Twins: Dean Kremer (2-4, 5.22 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)
LINE: Twins -119, White Sox -103; over/under is 9 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins will try to keep their three-game home win streak alive when they take on the Chicago White Sox.
Minnesota has a 35-31 record in home games and a 64-70 record overall. The Twins have a 44-16 record in games when they scored at least five runs.
Chicago has a 70-63 record overall and a 29-36 record on the road. The White Sox have a 48-25 record in games when they record at least eight hits.
Friday's game is the eighth time these teams square off this season. The White Sox have a 4-3 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brooks Lee has 21 doubles, three triples and 21 home runs for the Twins. Kaelen Culpepper is 14 for 36 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games.
Miguel Vargas has 29 home runs, 82 walks and 76 RBIs while hitting .251 for the White Sox. Tristan Peters is 12 for 32 with three doubles, five home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 4-6, .249 batting average, 5.19 ERA, outscored by 10 runs
White Sox: 5-5, .237 batting average, 4.84 ERA, outscored by three runs
INJURIES: Twins: Joe Ryan: 15-Day IL (glute), Byron Buxton: day-to-day (back), Austin Martin: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Mike Paredes: 60-Day IL (oblique), Cole Sands: 60-Day IL (elbow), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Mick Abel: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Banda: 60-Day IL (lat), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
White Sox: Huascar Brazoban: 15-Day IL (lat), Ky Bush: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Thorpe: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Leasure: 60-Day IL (flexor), Prelander Berroa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Davis Martin: 15-Day IL (finger), Chris Murphy: 15-Day IL (flexor), Joey Bart: 10-Day IL (hand), Kyle Teel: 10-Day IL (ankle), Tanner Murray: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brooks Baldwin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mike Vasil: 60-Day IL (elbow)
