Walker Jenkins remaining level-headed as MLB draft nears
SOUTHPORT, N.C. (BVM) 鈥� The 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鈥� 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 鈥渆xtremely hard鈥� for the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft per
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes)
鈥淕oing into the high school season, I was extremely excited,鈥� Jenkins said.聽鈥淲hen you come off of the offseason, you鈥檙e 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.鈥�
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 . He also recorded an 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.
commit after a tough loss in the NC State Championship. Greatness is in the details. Special dude on and off the field.
— Leary Winslow (@LearyWinslow)
鈥淚 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,鈥� Jenkins said.聽
While this past season will be fun to look back on, as a competitor, it鈥檚 bittersweet for Jenkins, and he鈥檚 now readying himself for the next chapter of his athletic career.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 not fun losing. I wanted to go all the way, but that鈥檚 part of it,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淟ooking back on it, I thought it was an extremely fun season, and I鈥檓 glad I was with the guys I was with 鈥� but you got to move on to the next chapter.鈥�
That next chapter could come in the form of an MLB career, or he could pursue collegiate success at North Carolina, where he鈥檚 been committed to since he was 15.
Congratulations to and his family on signing his Nation Letter of Intent to the Carolina Tar Heels! Cougar Country is proud of you!!!@DiamondHeels
— South Brunswick Cougars Baseball (@SbhsBaseball)
“I鈥檓 still trying to take it a day at a time,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to college until I鈥檓 not, but right now, I鈥檓 trying to get better. I鈥檓 hitting, working out and doing everything to prepare myself for the next level, wherever that may be. I鈥檓 excited for it, and no matter where this path takes me, I鈥檓 excited to play ball, and either way, it鈥檚 two great choices.鈥�
It鈥檚 also likely Jenkins takes the professional route with his play drawing comparisons to North Carolina鈥檚 last No. 1 overall MLB draft pick, , and MLB.com ranking him as the draft prospect.
鈥淚 didn’t grow up watching him as much as some other players,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淏ut from what people have said, I feel like it鈥檚 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鈥檚 similar to me.鈥�
While I still see them going college player but with mentioning that the Nats are scouting Walker Jenkins extremely might as well enjoy this bomb.
— Nationals Source (@NationalsSource)
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.聽
South Brunswick 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.
— Michael Paul (@MichaelGPaul)
Great season for the SBHS Swim Team. I really appreciate the coaches hard work and enjoyed watching everyone compete!
— Clay Jenkins (@ClayJen98289097)
鈥淚t鈥檚 something I did to help keep the body in shape and to stay competitive,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淪wimming 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.鈥�
It鈥檚 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.聽
鈥淸They鈥檝e said] just to be me,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 go out and change the person you are. Don鈥檛 act any differently and trust the hard work you鈥檝e 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鈥檚 just part of baseball.鈥�
Regardless of where Jenkins ends up, it will be a continuation of his extraordinary journey, and while some tough decisions lie ahead, he鈥檚 always going to take the field, eager to compete and give everything he can.
鈥淪eeing where this has taken me and where I鈥檓 at now is kind of surreal,鈥� Jenkins said. 鈥淚t almost feels like a dream. But now I鈥檓 going to keep working hard and keep doing what I can do to be the best. That鈥檚 something I鈥檓 going to continue to do no matter what level I鈥檓 at.
