For someone who didn’t like baseball at first, Quincy Jenkins is doing pretty well for himself.
Born in Chicago, he remembers being in the car with his parents at nearby Northwestern University when another sport caught his eye.
It was lacrosse, which captured Jenkins’ attention so much that he received his first lacrosse stick at the age of four.
Determined to show their son as many sports as possible, he was exposed to baseball a couple of years later, but it didn’t go well – at least at first.
“I was pretty upset at first,” Jenkins told Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast. “As I went to more practices and made more friends, I started to grow a love for the sport.”
The multi-sport athlete kept up with it through moves to St. Albert and Okotoks, leading the way to several high-profile games and tournaments.
His passion and athleticism has culminated in a commitment to NCAA Division I University of Michigan.
YOU GOT A FRIEND IN ME
Jenkins and his family made their way to Alberta for the first time in 2017, settling in St. Albert where the multi-sport rising star played with the minor baseball program.
It was there where he became friends with Eric Hartman, who was a year older, but became teammates for a year in bantam.
After that season, Hartman made the move to join Dawgs Academy in Okotoks.
The younger infielder was also approached by Dawgs general manager Tyler Hollick and assistant general manager Val Helldobler to come for a visit.
“I was a little skeptical at first, moving away from home for the first time,” Jenkins admitted. “My dad talked me into it, as he was like ‘if you really want to continue this, you’re going to have to take the next big step.’”
At the age of 15, he took the plunge and moved south to join Hartman and the Dawgs.
LEARNING CURVE
While the Dawgs continued to play stellar baseball during the 2022 season, Jenkins says his transition didn’t go the way he had hoped.
He called it his hardest year in baseball.
“I wasn’t hitting well and I didn’t field too well,” Jenkins said. “So that off-season, I was like, ‘I have to change something as I can’t let this happen again.’”
The 6-foot, 170-pound infielder went to work with his father and brother, taking ground balls and hitting in the batting cages every day in hopes of getting out of his funk.
Jenkins returned with a renewed confidence and became one of the best players on the team, earning an invite to his first Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase.
The opportunity opened his eyes to his own potential, leading him to aim even higher in 2024.
After showing off his skills again with the Dawgs, Jenkins took his talents to the Prep Baseball Senior Future Games in Atlanta.
“I learned that I’m better than I thought I was,” he said. “I don’t like to think of myself as a crazy baseball player, but going and playing against some of the best uncommitted talents from the U.S. definitely changed my perspective.”
“I’m actually closer to my dreams than I thought I was.”
Jenkins was also invited back to his second Canadian Futures Showcase, where his plan was to stick with his same approach and “not let good strikes go by.”
Suiting up with Team Grey, he went 3-for-9 with two walks, three runs batted in and three stolen bases.
BULKING UP
Viewed as one of the “most athletically gifted players on the West Coast” by Prep Baseball, it was only a matter of time before Jenkins went from “uncommitted” to “committed.”
Several schools had been asking around, allowing the Class of 2025 product to be picky about where he wanted to play.
“Ideally, I’m looking for a school with a good atmosphere and a good coaching staff,” Jenkins said. “I want to go into either kinesiology or business.”
The 17-year-old was also looking for a school that would help him focus on nutrition, as he wants to build on his smaller frame.
With a protein shake (cookies and cream is his preference) likely in hand, he announced his commitment to the University of Michigan on Oct. 29.
“I want to thank my Mom, Dad, brothers, and all the coaches as well as my friends and family who have endlessly supported me throughout this new journey,” Jenkins wrote in his social media post. “Lastly, I would like to thank Coach (Tracy) Smith and Coach (Jake) Valentine along with the rest of the Michigan staff for giving me the opportunity to start this new chapter in my life.”
It’s also the same school Hartman was planning to attend before he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves over the summer.
Jenkins gives credit to Hartman and the other older Dawgs players for taking him under their wings and letting him ask questions along the way.
He hopes younger players aren’t afraid to do the same so they can one day end up in his shoes.
“Baseball is my life now,” Jenkins said. “Whether I’m eating breakfast or at school, there isn’t a minute that goes by where I’m not thinking about it.”
It’s a far cry from the days of being upset coming to the diamond.
