Road to The Show™: Rangers’ Walcott
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcott. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Sebastian Walcott put his name among some elite company
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcott. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here.
Sebastian Walcott put his name among some elite company during a strong series with High-A Hickory last weekend.
The top Rangers prospect joined Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Chourio as the only Minor Leaguers in the past 12 seasons to record 10 homers, 20 doubles and 15 stolen bases in a full-season league as an 18-year-old.
Walcott enters the week batting .250/.340/.430 with 44 walks in 90 games for the Crawdads. He’s gotten better as the year has progressed, producing a .286 average and .853 OPS in June and a .320 average with a .926 OPS in July.
Last month, Walcott participated in the Futures Game and inaugural Futures Skills Showcase during All-Star Weekend at Globe Life Field, the ballpark he may one day call home in Arlington, Texas.
MLB Pipeline’s No. 70 overall prospect started at short for the American League behind fellow Rangers prospect Emiliano Teodo and went hitless in two at-bats, and finished as the runner-up to Red Sox prospect Roman Anthony in the skills competition.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound slugger has been able to produce impressive exit velocities since his amateur days and should be a consistent power threat as he continues to grow into his large frame.
Defensively, he’s mostly stayed at his natural position at shortstop this season while also getting his first experience at third base. He has premium arm strength and is athletic enough to have a future at shortstop and follow in a line of taller players like Oneil Cruz and Elly De La Cruz at the premium position. But that could change as he matures and gets stronger.
“The fun thing about Sebastian is the natural gifts in terms of the arm strength -- it's top of the scale,” Rangers assistant general manager for player development Ross Fenstermaker told MLB.com in June. “But to also watch him gain better body control and utilize his footwork better. There's actually a realistic shot that he could grow into this position. I think we’re going to continue to go down this path and see if we can carry it forward.”
Walcott was born in the Bahamian capital of Nassau and, at 11 years old, was invited to train with the International Elite Sports Academy -- the same program that helped launch the careers of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Lucius Fox, the two most recent Bahamian natives to debut in the Majors.
Walcott caught the eye of scouts with his size and athleticism and had plenty of interest from big league clubs when he was eligible to sign last January. He ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 international prospect in the 2023 class.
The Rangers were the most committed of his suitors, using nearly 80 percent of their international bonus pool to sign Walcott to a $3.2 million bonus. The deal was the second-largest ever for an amateur from the Bahamas, falling short of the reported $6 million pact Fox signed with the Giants in 2015.
Walcott first reported to the club’s Rookie-level affiliate in the Dominican Summer League. He lasted just nine games, batting .161 with a .704 OPS and four extra-base hits before being brought stateside to the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Over 35 games in the ACL, Walcott produced a .273/.325/.524 line with seven homers, nine doubles, three triples, 19 RBIs, 26 runs and nine stolen bases. During his ACL tenure, Walcott ranked third in the circuit in homers and extra-base hits. Despite his success at the level, he had some strikeout issues, going down on strikes in more than 32 percent of his plate appearances.
The Rangers gave Walcott an opportunity to bypass Single-A and finish his season with Hickory. In four games, he went 2-for-13 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.
This past spring, Walcott made his Cactus League debut, drawing four walks and not recording a hit in eight plate appearances. He did participate in the club’s Spring Breakout game, collecting a hit, run and stolen base from the leadoff spot and playing all seven innings at shortstop.
It’s reasonable to expect Walcott to finish the season with the Crawdads, but the Rangers have been aggressive with his development so far. On top of his production at the level, Walcott has also reduced his strikeout rate since last year.
Gerard Gilberto is a reporter for MiLB.com.
The Lugnuts are home! May 13-18 vs. South Bend
The Lansing Lugnuts (18-15), High-A affiliate of the Athletics, welcome in the South Bend Cubs (9-24), High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, for a six-game series at Jackson® Field™. Gates open to the public one hour before first pitch. - 6:05 p.m., Tuesday, May 13: Lansing Locos / Tacos and
Judkins whiffs eight, Nuts win third straight
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins struck out eight batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Lansing Lugnuts (21-15) rode a five-run fifth to a 6-2 win over the South Bend Cubs (9-27) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts’ third straight win in the series dropped South Bend’s
Lugnuts outclass Cubs, 4-1
LANSING, Mich. – In front of 7,532 on the second Grand Slam School Day of the year, the Lansing Lugnuts (20-15) used a four-run seventh to top the South Bend Cubs (9-26), 4-1, on Wednesday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts won their second straight game in the series, following
Down to their final strike, Nuts rally to walk off the Cubs
LANSING, Mich. – Joshua Kuroda-Grauer forced extra innings with a two-strike, two-out, game-tying, two-run double, and Rodney Green, Jr. lined a game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning, culminating a thrilling 7-6 Lansing Locos (19-15) victory over the South Bend Cubs (9-25) on Tuesday night at Jackson® Field™. It was
Penney-wise Whitecaps capture series
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Jack Penney knocked an opposite-field two-run homer and an RBI single to help the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-12) cruise to a 6-2 Mother’s Day victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (18-15) on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps won the final three games of the series,
Elliott homers but Lugnuts fall, 6-3
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Clark Elliott deposited a monstrous home run over onto the roof of a building beyond the right field wall, but Lansing Lugnuts (18-14) dropped a second straight game to the West Michigan Whitecaps (20-12), 6-3, on Saturday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps extended their lead
Whitecaps hold off Lugnuts, 7-6
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam crushed his first home run of the year, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (19-12) rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts (18-13), 7-6, on Friday night at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps retook sole possession of first place in the Midwest League’s East Division with the win.
Echavarria wins first as Nuts tie Caps for 1st
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – 19-year-old Steven Echavarria tied a career high with 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional victory, and the Lansing Lugnuts (18-12) doubled up the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-12), 4-2, in a Thursday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, tying the Whitecaps for first place in the
Pitcher of the Week Jump immaculate, triumphant in 3-1 win
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Reigning Midwest League Pitcher of the Week Gage Jump added the latest eye-opening performance to a sensational pro debut, recording an immaculate inning amid an eight-inning, eight-strikeout display of unfettered brilliance, leading the Lansing Lugnuts (17-12) to a 3-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-11)
Nuts deny no-hitter, fall 2-0
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – T.J. Schofield-Sam broke up a no-hit bid with a two-out single in the eighth, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (18-10) completed a 2-0 shutout of the Lansing Lugnuts (16-12) on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. The opener of the six-game series was completed in exactly two
Lugnuts' Jump named MWL Pitcher of the Week
LANSING, Mich. – Lansing Lugnuts pitcher Gage Jump has been named the Midwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 28-May 4, Minor League Baseball announced Monday afternoon. Jump, 22, allowed only one baserunner, a Jonah Advincula fourth-inning single, in firing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts
Valenzuela delivers rainy walkoff winner in 10th, 1-0
LANSING, Mich. – Sahid Valenzuela slapped a game-winning RBI single through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Lansing Lugnuts (16-11) walked off the Lake County Captains (15-12), 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The victory clinched a six-game series split with
After Judkins gem, Caps top Nuts in 9th
LANSING, Mich. – Grant Judkins pitched six scoreless innings, but los Picantes de Lake County (15-11) scored three runs in the ninth to best the Lansing Locos (15-11), 3-1, in a Copa Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. Lake County has won two straight games in the series and enters the
Captains strike early, top Lugs 5-3
LANSING, Mich. – Jaison Chourio lined a two-run single in a three-run rally, and the Lake County Captains (14-11) built a five-run lead and defeated the Lansing Lugnuts (15-10), 5-3, on Friday night at Jackson® Field™. The Caps and Lugnuts have split the first four games of the six-game series.
Jump nearly perfect in 5-0 rain-shortened win
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (15-9) jumped out to a quick lead, Cole Conn and Tommy White homered, and Gage Jump turned in his latest dominating performance in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Lake County Captains (13-11) on Thursday night at Jackson® Field™. The game was delayed twice,
Robinson schools Captains in 5-2 Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – In the first Grand Slam School Day of the season, Kyle Robinson twirled six hitless innings while Clark Elliott homered and drilled a two-run single to help the Lansing Lugnuts (14-9) beat the Lake County Captains (13-10), 5-2, in a Wednesday matinee at Jackson® Field™. In the
Captains rout Locos late, 13-5
LANSING, Mich. – The Lake County Captains (13-9) broke open a tight game with six-run rallies in the eighth and ninth innings, romping to a 13-5 win over the Lansing Locos (13-9) on Tuesday evening at Jackson® Field™. Lansing starter Yunior Tur had tossed 5 1/3 strong innings, allowing only
Cedeño HR in 9th helps TinCaps stop Lugnuts, 5-4
LANSING, Mich. – Nerwilian Cedeño slugged a go-ahead two-run homer onto Larch Street in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-11) edged the Lansing Lugnuts (13-8), 5-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. The result ended a four-game TinCaps losing streak, though Lansing still won
Down 7-0, Lugs rally to win, move into 1st place
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts (13-7) gave up seven runs in the first three innings, scored nine runs in the next three innings, and won their fourth straight game over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-11), 9-7, in a Saturday matinee at Jackson® Field™. With the win, the Lugnuts clinched
Jump fans 13 in LSU-driven Lugnuts win
LANSING, Mich. – LSU teammates Gage Jump struck out 13 batters in 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Tommy White delivered a first-inning RBI double and an eighth-inning RBI single, lifting the Lansing Lugnuts (12-7) to a 3-1 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-10) on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.
Schofield-Sam's huge night lifts Lugs, 7-3
LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts started T.J. Schofield-Sam as their designated hitter on Thursday night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps – and he accepted the role, and then some. Schofield-Sam went 5-for-5 with three extra-base hits and the Lugnuts (11-7) scored in each of the first four innings en
Lugs’ pen quiets TinCaps, 8-3
LANSING, Mich. – A night after allowing 16 hits and 15 runs in a slugfest loss, the Lansing Lugnuts (10-7) stopped the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-8), 8-3, on Wednesday night at Jackson® Field™. After starter Yunior Tur struck out six in five innings, a quartet of Lugnuts relievers – Hunter
De Vries cycles TinCaps past Locos, 15-14
LANSING, Mich. – 18-year-old Leo De Vries, the No. 1 prospect in the San Diego Padres organization, completed the cycle with a tie-breaking two-out two-run triple in the top of the ninth inning, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-7) held off the Lansing Locos (9-7), 15-14, on Tuesday night at
Nuts complete win, Judkins CG wrap Wisconsin series
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (9-6) completed a 4-3 victory from Friday night before Grant Judkins tossed the Midwest League’s first complete game in a 2-0 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (5-10), concluding a six-game series on Saturday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The
Nuts win 5th straight, rain suspends nightcap
APPLETON, Wisc. – The Lansing Lugnuts (8-5) extended their winning streak to five with an 8-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (4-9) in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Game 2? More like Game To Be Continued. The