But when the 18-year-old Bahamian got up to speed, the results were eye-popping.
Walcott slumped hard during the first two months of the season, hitting .195/.326/.315 in April and May.
Those struggles should have been expected for a player who spent last season in Rookie ball.
Just when many began to question the Rangers’ decision to aggressively assign Walcott to High-A, he caught fire.
Over his next 51 games, Walcott hit .300/.359/.523 while cutting his strikeout rate.
Walcott stands out for the many ways he can help his team. He flashes impressive tools on both sides of the ball, with potential for plus power, speed and a presently plus throwing arm.
South Atlantic League managers took note, voting him Best Infield Arm and Most Exciting Player in Best Tools surveys.
Walcott offers tantalizing upside with the ability to deliver jaw-dropping moments in the field and the batter’s box.
Walcott’s outstanding power at the plate might be his loudest tool.
The shortstop projects as a plus power hitter with the present exit velocity data to back the claim. Walcott’s max exit velocity of 116.3 mph this season is well above the average for 18-year-olds, and his 90th percentile EV of 106.3 mph puts him in lofty company as well.
Few players skip Low-A altogether, and even fewer jump from the Dominican Summer League to High-A in a matter of months, as Walcott did in 2023.
Walcott’s ability to round his exciting tools into legitimate skills as the season progressed hints at his immense upside.
Cole Carrigg can do many things on a baseball field.
At San Diego State, Carrigg started games at every position but first base and even pitched a handful of times.
He saw a majority of his time at shortstop, center field and third base, while catching a handful of games as well.
His versatility was one of his selling points on draft day in 2...
Walcott slumped hard during the first two months of the season, hitting .195/.326/.315 in April and May.
Those struggles should have been expected for a player who spent last season in Rookie ball.
Just when many began to question the Rangers’ decision to aggressively assign Walcott to High-A, he caught fire.
Over his next 51 games, Walcott hit .300/.359/.523 while cutting his strikeout rate.
Walcott stands out for the many ways he can help his team. He flashes impressive tools on both sides of the ball, with potential for plus power, speed and a presently plus throwing arm.
South Atlantic League managers took note, voting him Best Infield Arm and Most Exciting Player in Best Tools surveys.
Walcott offers tantalizing upside with the ability to deliver jaw-dropping moments in the field and the batter’s box.
Walcott’s outstanding power at the plate might be his loudest tool.
The shortstop projects as a plus power hitter with the present exit velocity data to back the claim. Walcott’s max exit velocity of 116.3 mph this season is well above the average for 18-year-olds, and his 90th percentile EV of 106.3 mph puts him in lofty company as well.
Few players skip Low-A altogether, and even fewer jump from the Dominican Summer League to High-A in a matter of months, as Walcott did in 2023.
Walcott’s ability to round his exciting tools into legitimate skills as the season progressed hints at his immense upside.
Cole Carrigg can do many things on a baseball field.
At San Diego State, Carrigg started games at every position but first base and even pitched a handful of times.
He saw a majority of his time at shortstop, center field and third base, while catching a handful of games as well.
His versatility was one of his selling points on draft day in 2...
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Baseball America (Digital) - 1 Issue, August/September 2024