Walker Jenkins named Gatorade NC Baseball Player of the Year

Michael Cuneo
Wilmington StarNews

For the second year in a row, Walker Jenkins is the North Carolina Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.

The South Brunswick center fielder has exploded in notoriety this spring, overtaking Indiana's Max Clark as the nation's top high school baseball prospect, with some projections having him as high as No. 3 overall.

He was also recently named the top player in the country born in 2005 by ESPN.

Jenkins' high school career ended as South Brunswick fell to top-seeded J.H. Rose 14-8 on May 16 in the third round of the NCHSAA Class 3A playoffs. Despite being the target of an area-high 32 walks this spring, the 18-year-old finished his senior season batting .417 with 33 runs scored.

Jenkins is the first area-N.C. Gatorade Player of the Year since New Hanover boys soccer player Aidan Payne earned the honor in 2022.

THE MAKINGS OF WALKER JENKINSThe making of Walker Jenkins: How the South Brunswick baseball star grew into the nation's top high school prospect

ESPN RANKS JENKINS HIGHESPN ranks South Brunswick's Walker Jenkins No. 1 baseball player born in 2005

HOW JENKINS OVERCAME INJURIESFrom hand injury to national attention, Walker Jenkins reflects on eventful offseason