2023 Draft Profile: Walker Jenkins

School: South Brunswick High School; Class: Senior

Position: OF; B/T: L/R

Height: 6-3; Weight: 210

Previously Drafted: N/A

College Commitment: North Carolina University

Background: The top three college prospects (in no specific order) are well known at this point: Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes, and Wyatt Langford. And, likewise, the top two high school prospects (in no specific order) are well known as well, Franklin Community High School product Max Clark and, of course, South Brunswick slugger Walker Jenkins.

A standout, dynamic hitter in each of his four years with the Cougars, Jenkins begin his high school tenure with a scorching .417/.500/.583 slash line – though his damage was limited to just four games due to the COVID pandemic. The following year, 2021, the lefty-swinging centerfielder mashed .436/.582/.871 with nine of this 17 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, four homeruns). And he spent the following summer on Team USA’s 16U / 17U Development squad. He also appeared in seven games with the 18U Team, batting .182/.308/.273. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of North Carolina as well.

As a junior the 6-foot-3, 210-pound slugger shredded the competition to the tune of .527/.6228/1.032 with 13 doubles, two triples, and 10 homeruns in only 30 games. This season, in a repeat performance that earned him his second Gatorade Player of the Year award, Jenkins batted .417 with 33 runs scored.

Scouting Report: Well-built athlete with explosive movements and a thick lower body, Jenkins possesses impressive bat speed and matching raw power. He’s likely to move away from centerfield as his body continues to fill out in the coming years. He shows a bit of a propensity to chase pitches outside of the strike zone / expand the zone. He tends to roll over on offspeed pitches as well. He has the potential to develop into a perennial 30-home threat in the professional ranks.

Ceiling: 3.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

Grade: First Round