Mitch Walding

Mitch Walding
Walding with the Reading Fightin Phils in 2017
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 29
Third baseman
Born: (1992-09-10) September 10, 1992
Lodi, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 30, 2018, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Batting average .059
Home runs 1
Runs batted in 2
Teams

Mitchell S. Walding (born September 10, 1992) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his major league debut on May 30, 2018.

Early life

Walding was born in Lodi, California.[1] He attended St. Mary's High School in Stockton, California, where he was a starting pitcher and shortstop on the baseball team as well as an all-league quarterback on the football team, graduating in 2011.[1][2][3][4] In his senior year he batted .442 with a .584 slugging percentage, and as a pitcher he was 6-1 with a 0.63 ERA.[3]

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Walding was drafted in Round 5 (181st overall) of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. He signed for a signing bonus of $800,000, plus having the Phillies pay for his future college expenses.[5]

Entering the 2013 season, Walding was ranked #20 among Phillies prospects by MLB.com.[1]

In 2016 Walding was a mid-season Florida State League All Star with the Class High-A Clearwater Threshers, an FSL Player of the Week on both April 17 and June 12, a post-season FSL All Star, and an MILB.com Phillies Organization All Star.[1] For the season, he was tied for 8th in the league with a .440 slugging percentage, and tied for 10th in the league with 111 strikeouts (in 350 at bats).[6]

In 2017 he was a mid-season Eastern League All Star with the Class AA Reading Fightin Phils. In June 2017, Walding was Eastern League Player of the Month and Phillies Minor League Hitter of the Month, as he hit 13 home runs in 25 games.[1][2] For the season, he was fourth in the Eastern League with 25 home runs, fourth in the league in slugging percentage as well at .516, and sixth in the league in strikeouts with 127 (in 351 at bats).[7]

After starting the season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Class AAA International League, for whom he was batting .271/.379/.484 with 7 home runs and 54 strikeouts in 155 at bats, Walding was called up to the major leagues on May 30, 2018.[8][7]

Philadelphia Phillies

Walding made his Major League debut on May 30, 2018, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going hitless in all four at bats with four strikeouts.[9] He was the first Phillies player to earn a Golden Sombrero in his MLB debut, and the 6th position player in MLB history to do so.[10] Walding was sent back down to the minor leagues on June 6.[11]

Walding was called back up to the major leagues on June 20, and struck out again in his first plate appearance, making him the first player in the 143 years of Major League Baseball to strike out in all seven of his first seven major league plate appearances.[12][13] Additionally, he became the only position player in Major League history to come to bat more than four times to start his career with each at bat ending in a strikeout and joined relief pitcher Logan Ondrusek, who is the only other player ever to strike out seven times in their first seven career plate appearances.[13] On September 14, 2018 he got his first major league hit when he hit a two run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against Bryan Holaday.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mitch Walding MiLB Player Page".
  2. 1 2 "Mitch Walding". MLB.com.
  3. 1 2 Robertson, Stephen (June 26, 2011). "Heart of champions". The Record.
  4. ↑ Askeland, Kevin (December 24, 2010). "Sac-Joaquin All-League Football Teams". MaxPreps.
  5. ↑ Buchanan, Zach. "Former Black Bear Walding signs with Phillies". The Daily News.
  6. ↑ "2016 Florida State League: Batting Leaders". milb.com.
  7. 1 2 "Eastern League: Batting Leaders". milb.com.
  8. ↑ "Phillies' Mitch Walding: Heads to big leagues". CBS Sports.
  9. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, May 30, 2018".
  10. ↑ "Phillies Stat Notes: Losing patience". The Good Phight. SB Nation.
  11. ↑ Roscher, Liz. "Phillies activate shortstop J.P. Crawford, everyone celebrate". The Good Phight. SB Nation.
  12. ↑ "Phillies 40-man roster in disarray at season's midpoint"
  13. 1 2 "Phillies Stat Notes: Average offenses face very good rotations in DC" - The Good Phight
  14. ↑ "Altherr powers Phillies past Marlins 14-2". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
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