Mets infielder Donovan Walton isn’t a widely recognized name.
Since beginning his professional career in 2017, he has battled to secure and maintain a spot in the majors. His journey with the Mets this season follows the same pattern.
With New York still seeking a backup infielder, ideally one with shortstop experience, Walton hopes to be considered alongside Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña. He made a strong case for himself during the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Cacti Park on Tuesday.
With the game tied 0-0 in the seventh inning and the bases loaded with two outs, Walton capitalized on a 2-0 pitch, launching a grand slam to right field.
“(He’s a) gamer,” manager Carlos Mendoza said postgame. “Knows how to play the game.”
Offense has been Walton’s biggest hurdle in the majors. While he has posted a .287 average and a .795 OPS over eight minor league seasons, he has struggled to replicate that success at the major league level.
The 30-year-old has appeared in 70 MLB games over five seasons, logging 205 plate appearances with a .174 batting average, a .532 OPS, and a 23.4% strikeout rate—significantly higher than his 13.3% rate in the minors.
This season, the Mets are looking to ease the workload on shortstop Francisco Lindor, who prefers to play as much as possible. Mendoza acknowledges that the backup infielder doesn’t necessarily need to be a shortstop specialist, but having the ability to play the position is an advantage.
Acuña has already appeared at shortstop in a Grapefruit League game, while Baty has taken grounders there but is primarily focusing on second and third base. This could create an opening for Walton.
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