Walker Jenkins remaining level-headed as MLB draft nears
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (BVM) — The 2023 MLB Draft is slated to begin July 9 and will feature some of the best baseball talent in the country, including No. 4 overall prospect Walker Jenkins.
Jenkins’ high school baseball career ended May 16, but he recorded impressive numbers again this season, highlighted by a .480 batting average.
The Nationals have been scouting OF Walker Jenkins “extremely hard” for the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft per @JoeDoyleMiLB pic.twitter.com/hOIEteCL3D
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) May 17, 2023
“Going into the high school season, I was extremely excited,” Jenkins said. “When you come off of the offseason, you’re getting ramped up and getting ready to get back out on the field, and I was kind of anxious but ready to get back out there.”
Jenkins was coming off a year where he won the Gatorade North Carolina Baseball Player of the Year award, batting .527, hitting 10 home runs and recording 40 RBIs, according to MaxPreps. He also recorded an OPS of 1.660, solidifying his position as the best prep baseball player in the state, and was primed to lead the South Brunswick Cougars back to the state championship, but they fell short in the third round of the playoffs.
@DiamondHeels commit @WalkerJenkins6 after a tough loss in the NC State Championship. Greatness is in the details. Special dude on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/B9B8hBIYR1
— Leary Winslow (@LearyWinslow) June 4, 2022
“I was just glad to be out there with a bunch of my best friends, getting to play one last season and have as much fun as I possibly could,” Jenkins said.
While this past season will be fun to look back on, as a competitor, it’s bittersweet for Jenkins, and he’s now readying himself for the next chapter of his athletic career.
“It’s not fun losing. I wanted to go all the way, but that’s part of it,” Jenkins said. “Looking back on it, I thought it was an extremely fun season, and I’m glad I was with the guys I was with … but you got to move on to the next chapter.”
That next chapter could come in the form of an MLB career, or he could pursue collegiate success at North Carolina, where he’s been committed to since he was 15.
Congratulations to @WalkerJenkins6 and his family on signing his Nation Letter of Intent to the Carolina Tar Heels! Cougar Country is proud of you!!!@DiamondHeels https://t.co/3FYSx9KHpZ pic.twitter.com/fY1eIAjPdO
— South Brunswick Cougars Baseball (@SbhsBaseball) November 18, 2022
“I’m still trying to take it a day at a time,” Jenkins said. “I’m going to college until I’m not, but right now, I’m trying to get better. I’m hitting, working out and doing everything to prepare myself for the next level, wherever that may be. I’m excited for it, and no matter where this path takes me, I’m excited to play ball, and either way, it’s two great choices.”
It’s also likely Jenkins takes the professional route with his play drawing comparisons to North Carolina’s last No. 1 overall MLB draft pick, Josh Hamilton, and MLB.com ranking him as the No. 4 overall draft prospect.
“I didn’t grow up watching him as much as some other players,” Jenkins said. “But from what people have said, I feel like it’s a pretty fair comparison, and people said Josh was a good athlete coming out of high school and was an overall good player, and I feel like that’s similar to me.”
While I still see them going college player but with @JoeDoyleMiLB mentioning that the Nats are scouting Walker Jenkins extremely might as well enjoy this bomb. pic.twitter.com/RDEeWkEKp5
— Nationals Source (@NationalsSource) May 17, 2023
Both paths provide Jenkins chances to flourish, and as his offseason begins, he will look to recover, and he could do that by continuing to swim.
South Brunswick @athletics_sbhs Walker Jenkins, Evan Sevast, Cade Needham and Chance Mason (lane 4) win 200-yard freestyle relay in automatic regional time in season-opening swim meet at Dinah E. Gore Aquatics Center. pic.twitter.com/oj76BLLoNr
— Michael Paul (@MichaelGPaul) November 18, 2022
Great season for the SBHS Swim Team. I really appreciate the coaches hard work and enjoyed watching everyone compete! @WalkerJenkins6 pic.twitter.com/EmvcbjdAkU
— Clay Jenkins (@ClayJen98289097) February 14, 2023
“It’s something I did to help keep the body in shape and to stay competitive,” Jenkins said. “Swimming is such a good cardiovascular sport and good on the muscles, the ligaments and tendons and loosens everything up. It was extremely beneficial going into this year.”
It’s clear that Jenkins will do anything to better himself and his play on the baseball field. That includes listening to his parents, who have always given him sound advice.
“[They’ve said] just to be me,” Jenkins said. “Don’t go out and change the person you are. Don’t act any differently and trust the hard work you’ve put in and keep your faith in the Lord, and control what you can control. You can go out in the baseball game, hit the ball hard, and go 0-for-4, but that’s just part of baseball.”
Regardless of where Jenkins ends up, it will be a continuation of his extraordinary journey, and while some tough decisions lie ahead, he’s always going to take the field, eager to compete and give everything he can.
“Seeing where this has taken me and where I’m at now is kind of surreal,” Jenkins said. “It almost feels like a dream. But now I’m going to keep working hard and keep doing what I can do to be the best. That’s something I’m going to continue to do no matter what level I’m at.
