The New York Mets have signed a veteran infielder who also recorded a 2.25 ERA in 12 Triple-A innings last season.
Walton, 30, brings 70 games of big league experience, nine of which came with the San Francisco Giants in 2024. He was previously selected by the Mets in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB Draft but did not sign, ultimately landing with the Seattle Mariners as a fifth-round pick in 2016 after a four-year collegiate career at Oklahoma State University.
The lefty bat went 3-for-22 with one home run and two RBIs in the majors this past season, but recorded impressive stats in the minors. In 99 games with Triple-A Sacramento, Walton posted a .306/.380/.441 slash line with seven home runs, four triples, 51 RBIs, and 53 runs in 387 plate appearances. His 107 wRC+ indicates he was 7% above league average offensively.Home run no.
In 12 innings of relief, Walton went 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. He allowed five runs on 11 hits, striking out two and walking six. His first two appearances came in extra innings, where he earned wins after tossing two scoreless frames in each, despite inheriting a ghost runner. Walton also pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 14.
Also ahead of him is versatile prospect Luisangel Acuña, who impressed during his first 39 MLB at-bats to close out the regular season and earned a spot on the postseason roster as a bench option during the Mets' NLCS run. Mets' No. 2 prospect Jett Williams, who is not on the 40-man roster, also plays shortstop but spent most of his recent Arizona Fall League stint in center field.John Sparaco is a contributing writer for the Yankees and Mets websites On SI.
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