When Oswego’s Kamrin Jenkins walked onto Rate Field, visions he’s had in his head came to life.
Invited by the Chicago White Sox to participate on July 2 in the Double Duty Classic, in honor of the legendary Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe, Jenkins played for the East All-Star team.
As he emerged from the dugout in his Negro League-inspired uniform, there it was.
“Someday,” Jenkins said, “I want to play here.”
With his pedigree, Jenkins may very well get that chance. Committed to Missouri since last October, he’s ranked No. 4 in the 2026 class for Illinois, according to Prep Baseball Report.
The 6-foot, 183-pound shortstop has elite speed on the bases or at the plate and plays slick defense, all traits that portend to a breakout spring next season as a senior.
“You watch him play, he has all the tools,” Oswego coach Joe Giarrante said of Jenkins. “He makes throws up the middle look easy. His name is prevalent, so teams will do all they can to not give him pitches to hit. He gets on base and he’s always a threat to take second and third.”
Jenkins, however, wasn’t always able to let it rip like he wanted to last season for the Panthers.
An injury limited him to duties as the designated hitter for much of the spring, a factor that Giarrante feels works against a five-tool player like Jenkins.
Plus, with his SEC commitment in hand, opponents didn’t want to pitch to Jenkins, leading to an increase in walks.
“He may not have the stats to prove it, but over time, when he gets to where he wants to get as a baseball player, this can only help him,” Giarrante said. “This past spring with him not starting in the field, he’s one of those guys that constantly has to be in the game.
“His bat will definitely improve when he’s playing the field.”
This summer, Jenkins is relishing his time with Top Tier West. In a lineup loaded with talent, teams have no choice but to put pitches across the plate. And he has been ready to pounce.
“I feel like more people try to attack me because I’m going to Missouri and I play in front of a lot of scouts,” Jenkins said. “They want to see if they can really play at that level.
“I love it because I get to hit some pitches and get everyone’s best stuff.”
Many scouts were on hand at the Double Duty Classic, an annual event designed to promote baseball in inner cities and honor the history of Negro League baseball. Dozens of college and professional scouts watched two all-star teams made up of rising seniors.
Troy Williams, who runs the White Sox’s ACE program and community baseball initiatives, pointed out that the goal of the game is multifold.
“You want to pay homage to the East-West game that was once played at Comiskey Park,” Williams said. “That’s why we wear the uniforms we wear. We’re trying to recreate the history of that game and give the kids a history lesson.
“We invite as many college and pro scouts as we can. They get a chance to get on a stage where they can be recruited. That’s the main goal.”
The significance of the game and its history wasn’t lost on Jenkins.
“It’s different for sure, looking around and seeing people that look like you,” Jenkins said. “You’re used to playing with all types of people. Having your own brotherhood makes it special.
“There’s so much talent out there that’s not recognized.”
Jenkins is already well-recognized. And once he started taking ground balls, he felt right at home.
“The field is big, but it’s almost the size of a regular field,” Jenkins said. ‘It was different seeing the bleachers and all of the sponsors. It was such an experience to play on a big-league field.”
In the future, maybe days like this will become the norm for Jenkins.
“I’m just trying to put my name out there, keep doing what I’m doing,” Jenkins said. “Hopefully, in next year’s draft, I’m in there.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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