The Mets signed Donovan Walton to a minor league contract, based on the infielder’s MLB.com profile web page. Walton elected to develop into a free agent initially of November when the Giants outrighted him off their 40-man roster — since Walton had beforehand been outrighted in his profession, he has the correct to decide at no cost company reasonably than settle for one other outright task.
The 30-year-old appeared in 9 video games after San Francisco chosen Walton’s contract to the lively roster in mid-September, which marked Walton’s first massive league taking part in time since 2022. Walton broke into the majors with the Mariners in 2019 and performed in 37 video games over components of 4 seasons earlier than Seattle traded him to the Giants in Might 2022. That season was lower quick by a shoulder surgical procedure that additionally stored him on the shelf for a superb chunk of the 2023 marketing campaign, as Walton spent everything of that season within the Giants’ minor league system.
If the 2023 season was nearly getting again to good well being for Walton, he regarded sharper this season in hitting .306/.380/.441 over 387 plate appearances with Triple-A Sacramento. This roughly matches his .287/.370/.454 slash line throughout 975 profession PA on the Triple-A stage, however Walton hasn’t been in a position to carry that manufacturing into the Present, as he has hit solely .174/.227/.305 in 205 PA with the Mariners and Giants.
Walton has largely cut up his time between the 2 center infield positions, although he has some expertise as a 3rd baseman and left fielder. Although his lack of offense limits his ceiling, Walton is a left-handed hitter who can play a number of positions, making him an fascinating possibility for groups trying to fill out a roster. The Mets may give Walton a glance throughout Spring Coaching and see what he can convey to the desk as a depth piece for both the massive league squad or at Triple-A.
