Geoff Jenkins

[Matt Breen]

The list of developmental shortcomings includes Ty Hill, Ken Henderson, Gabby Martinez, Todd Dunn, Antone Williamson, Chad Green, J.M. Gold, Kyle Peterson, Ken Felder... you get the picture. However, the decade found a couple of gold nuggets in the first round. This included pitcher Ben Sheets in 1999 and outfielder Geoff Jenkins in 1995 - who would go on to have a stellar 10-year career with Milwaukee. 

Geoff Scott Jenkins was born in Olympia, Washington, on July 21, 1974. He was an outstanding athlete - growing up in Rancho Cordova, California. He attended USC to play college baseball and led the Trojans to the College World Series. He finished his career as one of the school’s best sluggers.

The Brewers selected the left-handed hitting Jenkins in the first round of the 1995 draft - the 9th overall pick. He was seen as an advanced hitter with a good arm who could quickly climb the minor league ladder. 

He did well his first two seasons, then struggled during his first year at Triple A. However, he pounded opposing pitchers the following season and received a call to the big leagues. He hit a modest .229 in 84 games that season but broke out big the following year, hitting .313 (a career-high) with 21 home runs in 138 games. 

The following season, he hit 34 homers for a .303 average and Jenkins appeared to be a perennial All-Star in the making. 

Mainly playing left field, Jenkins quickly demonstrated several qualities (good and bad) that would mark him for most of his career.

First, when healthy, he was a very good hitter. However, he was not a great hitter. He didn’t take a lot of walks, and he often struggled against the left-handed pitchers. Against the latter, he managed only a .712 OPS compared to a .871 average against right-handers. His struggles against lefties kept him from becoming an elite hitter. 

Second, Jenkins was constantly dinged by injuries throughout his career. He played the game hard, and he was often nursing nagging injuries. In 2002, he dislocated an ankle, causing him to miss more than half the year. 

Jenkins returned in 2003 to have an outstanding season - and make his only All-Star appearance.

Jenkins continued to be a productive player for Milwaukee throughout his ten-year run and gamely switched to right field for two years to accommodate the acquisition of Carlos Lee in 2005. The fans appreciated his hard-nosed performances, not to mention the 200+ homers he hit for the club. 

Jenkins continued to produce at the plate as he moved into his 30s. However, his inability to hit lefties became more pronounced - and he often sat against southpaws.

After the 2007 season, with his contract up, the Brewers elected to let the 32-year-old Jenkins go as a free agent after ten years with the club. He signed with Philadelphia and began the season as their left fielder. However, as the season progressed, and he struggled at the plate he found himself on the bench more and more. Jenkins’ numbers were not good that year, and by the time the postseason came around (the first time Jenkins had ever been in the playoffs), he was strictly a benchwarmer - and there was even talk of keeping him off the postseason roster.

Jenkins got only four at-bats in the 2008 playoffs and only a single hit. But that hit was a memorable one. In the series finale, he crushed a key double and scored a run, helping the Phillies win the World Series.

Philadelphia released Jenkins the following March, and his playing career was over. He was 34 years old. He officially retired in 2010 after signing a one-day contract with the Brewers.

Geoff Jenkins was one of the most productive members of the Brewers organization during his 10-year tenure. For his career, he ranks 10th in bWAR, 7th for games played, 6th in hits, 5th in doubles, and 4th in HRs. He hit .300+ twice and represented the Brewers at the All-Star game. 

Of note: Jenkins is one of only eight players in major league history to strike out six times in a game. Also, he was frequently misidentified as Packers quarterback Brett Favre. 

In retirement, Jenkins has become the owner of Arizona's sports fitness training facility, where he resides with his family.

Geoff Jenkins was a really good ballplayer for the Milwaukee Brewers. He played hard, put up solid numbers, and stayed loyal to the franchise and the fans. He tended to go into slumps and struck out a lot - frustrating many - but as his .843 OPS and 200+ home runs attest, he could hit. 

The tough thing for Jenkins was having to be a part of so many bad teams during his tenure. In his time in Milwaukee, only one team - his last - was above .500. He never made it to the playoffs with the franchise. While his one year in Philadelphia was not the most memorable, he came away with a World Series ring - a nice way to top off a career.

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