MINNEAPOLIS — With the Twins slipping out of the playoff race, the club is hoping prized outfield prospect Walker Jenkins can help save their season.

Jenkins was promoted to the major leagues and will join the Twins for Friday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Jenkins, 21, is the consensus top-rated prospect in the club’s farm system.

The Twins have an opening in center field after Byron Buxton exited Tuesday’s game in Sacramento because of recurring discomfort in his right hip. Jenkins was batting .344 with nine homers, 15 RBIs and 27 runs over his last 31 games at Class AAA St. Paul while posting a 1.072 OPS.

Jenkins will wear No. 11.

“It’s been great, man,” Jenkins said Tuesday in St. Paul. “The Lord has blessed me to stay healthy, which has just been amazing to feel good and to be able to go play ball.”

Jenkins was the No. 5 pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of South Brunswick High School in Southport, N.C., a pick the Twins lucked into after jumping eight spots in the inaugural MLB draft lottery.

He’s dealt with multiple injuries and has yet to play more than 84 games in a season. A shoulder strain sidelined him for two months this year after he collided with the wall following a catch in center field.

But Jenkins has been an excellent hitter whenever he’s been on the field. The power in his swing ticked up this month. He’s hit eight home runs in his last 15 games and has three multi-homer games since Aug. 6.

“The hitting coaches, we’ve been working really hard on some swing stuff,” said Jenkins, a left-handed batter. “They’ve had some fantastic ideas and I think they really helped clean some of the directional work up. I really feel like it’s translating. Some of the same swings I’m taking is just elevating the ball a little bit more.”

When Jenkins, who doesn’t turn 22 until February, appears in his first game, he will be the youngest Twins player to make his debut since Brusdar Graterol (21 years, six days) in 2019 and the youngest Twins position player since Buxton (21 years, 178 days) in 2015.

Jenkins, listed at 6-3, 210 pounds, is viewed as one of the top minor league players in the sport. Baseball America has him ranked as the No. 10 prospect and MLB Pipeline lists him at No. 15 overall.

“I think I’m better for it going through some of the injuries and learning the ropes of pro ball, how to handle the routine and the everyday wear and tear of play,” Jenkins said. “Ultimately, I’m thankful it happened. I’m glad that I’ve learned from it.”

The Twins promoted Kaelen Culpepper to be their everyday shortstop earlier this month, and he’s played well through three weeks.

Now another player the Twins expect to be part of their long-term core is headed to the big leagues during a playoff push.

“It’s awesome to play good here,” Jenkins said in St. Paul, “but ultimately it matters you have to play good up there,” in the majors.

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