There seems to be a consensus among Twins fans that Walker Jenkins should be up trying to help the big league team make the playoffs. In a sense, Jenkins doesn’t disagree.

The fifth-overall pick in the 2023 draft, Jenkins only turned 21 in February, but the outfielder said Tuesday, “I planned on being in the big leagues by now.”

Jenkins might be playing for the Twins right now had he not chased a flyball into the center-field wall at CHS Field on May 3. He suffered a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder and missed nearly a month and a half while rehabbing.

“Ultimately, I’m thankful it happened, and I’ve learned from it, and have been able to adjust to it,” Jenkins said before the Saints’ 8-3 victory over Toledo on Tuesday at CHS Field. “I still may have injuries, because I play hard, and that’s the nature of the beast sometimes.

“But whenever I have that opportunity, I’m going to be ready to go and work my butt off and be the best player I can be.”

In some ways, selecting Jenkins’ contract when active rosters expand to 28 on Tuesday seems like a no-brainer for the Twins. The 15th-ranked prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline was hitting .406 with seven home runs, 15 runs scored and 12 RBIs in August, heading into Wednesday night’s game in St. Paul.

But like most decisions in this life, it’s not that simple.

While Jenkins was rehabbing, and later posted a fairly average July in St. Paul, the Twins — with a surfeit of productive major league outfielders — refused to bow out of the American League playoff race. They’re 5 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago in the Central Division heading into Wednesday’s games, but only 3 out of a wild card spot, with the White Sox at Target Field for a weekend series starting Friday.

Jenkins is as hot as any hitter anywhere, but the Twins still must weigh whether he can carry that into the majors, and if they want to add a new bat to a lineup that has been one of the AL’s most productive.

And then there is that potential lockout.

Jenkins is not on the 40-man roster.

If that remains the case for the rest of the season, he will be able to play for the Saints starting March 26 if there is a lockout. If the Twins add him to the 40-man, he will be a member of the MLB Players Association and subject to a potential lockout. And once Jenkins is on the 40-man, the Twins won’t be able to take him off without passing him through waivers.

So, not happening.

With owners apparently committed to getting a hard salary cap, and both sides building war chests for a work stoppage, a lockout seems more likely than not. That would mean no spring training or games for major leaguers until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

It’s a lot for the Twins to chew on, but it all might have become moot late Tuesday in Sacramento when all-star center fielder Byron Buxton left the Twins’ 4-2 loss in the seventh inning after appearing to aggravate a hip injury that already has put him on the injured list twice this season.

That might open a spot for an outfielder, especially one with a hot bat.

After going 1 for 4 with a run scored on Tuesday, Jenkins is hitting .441 with five home runs, eight RBIs and nine walks in nine games heading into Wednesday. Seven of his 11 homers with St. Paul have come in August, and on Sunday he went 3 for 3 with two home runs, three RBIs and two walks in a loss at Omaha. One of those home runs traveled 108.3 mph off his bat.

The Twins called up Kaelen Culpepper in late July, and Jenkins said he has been thrilled for his former teammate — and closely watching his progress. He also acknowledged being a little bit jealous.

“A 100%,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s out of my control. I’m going to go out and compete, wherever I’m at, work hard and try to win.”

The Saints, incidentally, are closer to a playoff spot than the Twins, one game out on Tuesday morning; although there is only one available playoff spot in the International League. And it’s not the big leagues.

Jenkins said he doesn’t exactly have next Tuesday circled on his calendar, but that could change depending on Buxton’s health. The Twins are fading a little but will play 15 straight games against Central Division opponents starting Friday.

If the Twins believe Jenkins can help them make the playoffs, the roster machinations will take the backseat.

“It’s kind of one of those things; if it happens, it happens,” Jenkins said. “Like I said earlier, it’s out of our control. Just can’t do anything about it, so as cool as it will be, you just can’t control it.”