Watch: Twins first-round pick Walker Jenkins rips double on first pitch as a pro

Walker Jenkins wasted literally no time in making his presence known at the professional level. 

Jenkins, making his professional debut Thursday for the Rookie League FCL Twins, hit the first pitch he saw over the third baseman’s head and legged out a double for his first professional hit.

On the first PITCH Walker Jenkins saw in his professional career, he laced an opposite field double over the 3B head#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/fkWGULyD03

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 3, 2023

He finished his day 2-for-4 with a double and reportedly hit a ball foul that would’ve been a homer if it had been fair. 

In his professional debut, first round pick Walker Jenkins, ended the game 2-4 with a double and a SB 💥

He had one ball in play that was hit 101 mph and he also had a foul HR

Here are some other angles of the double he hit on the first pitch he saw as a pro🔥#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/JXQcAFY79d

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) August 3, 2023

Jenkins was the fourth ranked prospect on MLB.com’s top prospect list for this year’s draft. The outfielder from North Carolina is considered the best prep position prospect to come from the state since Josh Hamilton went No. 1 overall to Tampa Bay in the 1999 draft

The hype around Jenkins is very real. Mike Radcliffe, the longtime Twins scouting director who died in February, had compared Jenkins to Hall of Famer Larry Walker and superstar Bryce Harper. The Athletic actually obtained a copy of his report on Jenkins and it goes as follows: 

“Impressive body/focus/presence…premium offensive ceiling — hitterish presence/swing to hit for avg and intent/leverage for top-of-scale power pot…will be a plus defender most likely in corner OF…Larry Walker/Bryce Harper comps…#1 pick candidate.”

The Triple-A St. Paul Saints jokingly tweeted for the 18-year old to be called up, saying, “Honestly, what are we waiting for. Call him up already. He’s done enough.”

Honestly, what are we waiting for. Call him up already. He's done enough. https://t.co/irQOl1wpSK

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) August 3, 2023

Related: Twins’ top prospect Brooks Lee promoted to Triple-A St. Paul