Donovan Walton

Donovan R. Walton (born May 25, 1994) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Donovan Walton
Seattle Mariners – No. 8
Infielder
Born: (1994-05-25) May 25, 1994
Dallas, Texas
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2019, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Batting average.196
Home runs2
Runs batted in12
Teams

Amateur career

Walton attended Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1] Walton was drafted by the New York Mets in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB draft, but did not sign.[2] Walton attended Oklahoma State University, where he played college baseball for the Cowboys.[3][4] In 2014 and 2015 he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox,[5][6] where he was named East Division MVP of the league's all-star game and co-MVP of the playoffs in Yarmouth-Dennis' 2015 championship season.[7][8]

Walton was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round of the 2015 MLB draft, but did not sign and returned to OSU for his senior season.[4] Walton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 5th round of the 2016 MLB draft and signed with them.[9]

Professional career

Walton played for the Everett AquaSox with 2016, hitting .281/.361/.421/.782 with five home runs and 23 RBI.[10] He split the 2017 season between the AZL Mariners and the Modesto Nuts, hitting a combined .271/.349/.388/.737 with four home runs and 29 RBI. In 2018, he split the season between Modesto and the Arkansas Travelers, hitting a combined .273/.365/.381/.746 with four home runs and 41 RBI. He returned to Arkansas for the 2019 minor league season, hitting .300/.381/.427/.808 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI.[11]

The Mariners selected Walton's contract and promoted him to the major leagues on September 10, 2019.[12][13][14] He made his major league debut that night as a defensive replacement versus the Cincinnati Reds.[15] In 2020, Walton recorded 2 hits in 13 at-bats across 5 games.[16]

On May 31, 2021, Walton hit his first career home run, a three-run shot off of James Kaprielian of the Oakland Athletics.

Personal life

Walton’s father, Rob also played baseball at Oklahoma State prior to a minor league career with the Baltimore Orioles, eventually returning to OSU to serve as the pitching coach. His brother, Davis played football at the University of Tulsa.

References
  1. Eric Bailey (May 24, 2016). "Donnie Walton's outstanding baseball career has Tulsa roots". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  2. Thomas Hatch (June 10, 2016). "Five Cowboys Picked On Day Two Of MLB Draft". okstate.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  3. John Helsley (May 29, 2013). "Oklahoma State baseball: Donnie Walton proves himself". The Oklahoman. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  4. Nathan Ruiz (May 16, 2016). "'I gave it my all': Walton completing all-time great OSU career". ocolly.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  5. "Donnie Walton". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  6. "#16 Donnie Walton". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  7. "Y-D's Walton crowned East MVP of All-Star game". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  8. "Y-D's Walton, Bowden given Star of Stars Award". capecodbaseball.org. August 13, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. "5 from Oklahoma State chosen in Major League Baseball draft". Fox 25. Associated Press. June 11, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  10. Jesse Geleynse (August 4, 2016). "Dad had a front-row seat for AquaSox player's college career". The Herald. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  11. Tim Cooper (September 4, 2019). "Travelers' Walton familiar with Tulsa". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  12. MarinersPR (September 10, 2019). "Mariners Select Justin Dunn, Kyle Lewis, Donnie Walton and Art Warren from AA Arkansas". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  13. Donnie Walton (September 9, 2019). "Walton Gets The Call To The Big Leagues With Seattle". okstate.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  14. Kate Preusser (September 9, 2019). "Mariners to call up Kyle Lewis, Donnie Walton from Double-A Arkansas". Lookout Landing. SB Nation. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  15. Greg Johns (September 11, 2019). "Lewis' 1st homer 'like an out-of-body experience'". MLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  16. "40 in 40: Donovan Walton". 24 February 2021.
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