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Walker Jenkins was selected as the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Twins in the MLB draft. Jenkins has ties to Washington, NC because most of his family is from there.

Jenkins is from Oak Island, NC where he played baseball for South Brunswick High School. His parents, Clay and Tana Jenkins, are both from Washington, NC. His grandparents, George and Ceresy, are also from the area.

They lived in Washington, NC and moved to Oak Island, NC to be closer to Walker and the rest of the family. They both attended Washington High School when they lived in Washington, NC. Jenkins’ other grandmother, Tracy Black, has lived in Washington, NC her entire life. She lived with her husband Terry until he passed away in 2018.

“I’m excited for him,” Black said. “I am tickled to death for him. He has worked so hard to get to this point. He has improved so much over the years. He is a great, disciplined young man and a good kid.”

Black said that Walker has been playing baseball since he was six. He never played football or basketball and Black said he swam to stay in shape for baseball. Jenkins always wanted to be an MLB player and he worked hard to improve his game.

“My late husband and his father put up a batting cage and he was in it every day. Rain or shine, day or night he was always hitting. I went down there to be with him during the draft and before it began, he was out hitting in the cage. Eventually, he would hit at the school cage but he still uses the one we put up for him.” Black said.

Black said Jenkins has become much more mature over the years. “He has always been headstrong,” Black said. “But he has improved so much and has really grown up. I know he will continue to do great things.”

His grandfather George Jenkins is also very proud of him. Jenkins said that because the whole family is from Washington, Walker has lots of ties with the area. “He loves to go back and do some hunting and fishing. He has plenty of memories there because of the family ties to Washington. I am very proud of him,” Jenkins said.