Byron Buxton (hip) out again, Walker Jenkins in CF

Jenkins is just 4-for-41 as a major leaguer. He did make good contact the one time he put a ball into play today, hitting a ball 100.4 mph to center, but it was still an easy play for Steven Kwan. Now that Byron Buxton has been ruled out, Jenkins figures to finish out the season as the Twins’ center fielder. However, in light of his struggles, he probably will do some sitting against left-handers.

Jenkins takes a seat with Emmanuel Rodriguez making his big-league debut in center field. The 21-year-old top prospect is hitting .108 (4-for-37) with one homer, five RBI and one steal in 13 games since arriving in the majors last month. It’s not uncommon for an elite prospect to experience an adjustment period as they acclimate to everyday life at the highest level. Jenkins is the type of talent that fantasy managers shouldn’t be concerned about long-term, even if he struggles down the home stretch.

This doesn’t come as a major surprise as Buxton was always expected to require the procedure, though the Twins were holding out hope that he could return and contribute at some point down the stretch. The details of the procedure are not yet known, but Buxton should have plenty of time to recover before the start of the 2027 campaign.

It’s unclear if Jenkins is sitting just because the Twins are facing a left-hander, or if they just wanted to give the 21-year-old outfielder a breather after starting in seven straight games. He has struggled at the dish thus far, slashing .130/.286/.304 with one homer, three RBI, one stolen base and a 6/5 K/BB ratio over 28 plate appearances to begin his MLB career.

The exact timing remains unclear with Shelton adding that they’re trying to figure out a way for Buxton to contribute at some point before the regular season concludes. It certainly sounds like Buxton, who has been battling lingering hip issues for the past few months, can be safely dropped in all redraft fantasy leagues. There should be a definitive update regarding the exact type of procedure and recovery timeline at some point in the early stages of the offseason.

Jenkins is hitting .188 (3-for-16) with one homer, three RBI and one steal in five games since being promoted from Triple-A last week. It’s worth noting that the homer came off position player Zach McKinstry in garbage time during a blowout. The 21-year-old top prospect checks every conceivable box from a physical projection and raw talent standpoint, which makes him worth rostering in all fantasy formats. It’s not uncommon for hitters to struggle with the leap to the majors and it could take Jenkins a little while to find his footing. He’s the type of talent that is worth stashing even when things aren’t going his way.

Jenkins remains at the bottom of Minnesota’s lineup after going 2-for-9 with one RBI and a stolen base in three games since being called up from Triple-A last week. The 21-year-old top prospect projects as an extremely impactful fantasy contributor based on his talent and minor league production. The early results haven’t quite been there, but he’s put together some quality at-bats and hasn’t looked overmatched at all so far.

The Twins took it on a day-to-day basis with Buxton, but ultimately, it made the most sense to sit him down. The expectation is that he’ll require surgery in the offseason to correct the issue. Look for Walker Jenkins to handle the bulk of the action in center field while Buxton is shelved.

The RBI came in the second after he beat out a potential double play grounder with runners on the corners and one out. He then stole second afterwards. He’s reached five times in two games for the Twins.

Jenkins scalded a 102.3 mph single to right field in the fourth inning after flying out to deep center field in his first at-bat. He also drew a walk in the sixth, reaching safely in two of his four plate appearances. The 21-year-old top prospect, who was selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, boasts a plethora of fantasy-relevant skills and projects as an immediate five-category contributor heading into the final month of the season, especially with Byron Buxton battling a lingering hip issue. He slashed an impressive .321/.417/.559 with 14 homers and 17 steals in 324 plate appearances at the Triple-A level earlier this season. Jenkins has missed time with various injuries, including a shoulder issue earlier this year, since being drafted. However, he’s the type of impact talent that offers significant fantasy upside. He should be rostered in all leagues until further notice.