WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Wichita Wind Surge has its season opener Friday against the Springfield Cardinals. This year’s roster features one of the top-ranked baseball prospects in 20-year-old centerfielder Walker Jenkins. In this week’s Competitive Drive, KSN caught up with Jenkins about being in Wichita and how he welcomes the pressure that comes with expectations.
“I think it’s a blessing to have expectations on you,” Jenkins explained. “I want to live up to them. And, you know, you don’t always do it, but I fully intend to do that.”
Jenkins could soon be one of the faces of baseball. The 20-year-old was the fifth overall pick in the MLB Draft 2023 and is now ranked as the third-best prospect in the minor leagues.
“He has all the tools for a young 20-year-old player,” Wind Surge Manager Brian Dinkelman said, “So just getting him the experience of getting on the field every day and playing professional level. And, you know, he’ll be exciting to watch all summer.”
Jenkins has the chance to spend most of this year in Wichita, and he’s looking to leave his mark on this franchise.
“Just continuing to build a routine,” Jenkins added. “It’s a long season, trying to stay healthy throughout it all, continue to get better while you’re doing it, and you just continue to pick up little, little tidbits here and there of how to learn and make myself a better ball player.”
Regardless of his individual growth, Jenkins wants to help get the surge back to their winning ways and back into the Texas League Playoffs after missing the postseason in 2024.
“Whatever team I’m on, I want to go out and win,” Jenkins exclaimed. “I want to do the best I can while I’m there. You know, you can’t move on until you do good where you’re at. So I think that’s a big thing, I remind myself.”
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