SURPRISE, Ariz. — At the plate stood Adolis García, a hulking, 30-year-old All-Star fresh off a second-consecutive 30-home run season and a record-setting postseason run that included the American League Championship MVP award.
On deck stood — by all technical definitions — a literal child, who by all eye-test definitions, looks like he could be García’s teammate, and not someone 13 years his junior.
Meet Sebastian Walcott, a fast-rising 17-year-old shortstop who accelerated through his first season of professional baseball and now has a pretty sweet view of things at Texas Rangers spring camp.
“Every time Adolis comes up to bat, you don’t know what he’s going to do,” Walcott said Tuesday. “He might go deep, you’ve got to stop and watch.”
Walcott — whom the Rangers signed out of the Bahamas last January for $3.2 million — ranks No. 54 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospects list and No. 71 on MLB Pipeline’s. He’s the consensus third-best prospect in the organization behind Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. He reached High-A in his first season of professional baseball. He turns 18 years old next week.
Would anyone like to watch 17-year-old Sebatian Walcott hit a double? pic.twitter.com/w4eRo4feFz
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) March 5, 2024
And, on Tuesday in the Rangers’ ‘B’ team scrimmage, he ripped a double down the left field line, nearly hit another ball over the left field fence at Nolan Ryan Field, corralled ground balls induced by postseason superstar Nathan Eovaldi and, yes, hit behind El Bombi. He played four innings of the Rangers’ Cactus League game vs. the Chicago White Sox on Saturday and even drew praise from manager Bruce Bochy.
That’s how you make an impression.
“He’s got a good, strong arm, he’s smooth over there,” Eovaldi said. “And he’s 17; it’s crazy to think of how young he is and how talented he is at this age.”
Back to last season: Walcott debuted professionally last June and spent nine games in the Dominican Summer League before a promotion to the Arizona Complex League, where he slashed .273/.325/.524 with 19 extra base hits (seven home runs) in 35 games. He was on High-A Hickory by September.
That seems like quite the whirlwind for a teenager in his introductory season to professional baseball. Did it feel like one?
“No, not at all,” Walcott said.
Oh, all right then.
“I’ve been training for this my whole life,” he explained. “Every situation they put me in, I’ll be ready to play, ready to compete, no matter what. Baseball, there’s no age in baseball. You’ll be in the big leagues facing a 40-year-old at 20 years old. No matter what age you’re at, you’ve got to be able to compete, no matter which level.”
He raised a relevant point. Carter debuted with the Rangers at 21 years old and set records through Texas’ run to the World Series. Langford — a 22-year-old whom the Rangers selected fourth overall in July’s MLB draft — might just play his way onto the opening day roster.
The quick rises of Carter and Langford suggest that the organization isn’t afraid to promote a player regardless of age or experience if that prospect looks ready. That isn’t lost on Walcott.
“If you’re able to compete at any level, why not have that opportunity to compete against dudes much older, much more experience?” Walcott said. “What Evan did last year was a prime example of dudes showing off their talent at such a young age. And Wyatt right now, spring training, he’s showing everybody that he’s more than ready for the big leagues.”
Walcott still has room to grow before that can be a discussion, but, point taken. He struck out in 34% of his at bats last season and worked just 23 walks. He only got four at bats in High-A last fall and may likely start the season there. At 6-4, his exact defensive position — shortstop, third base or outfield — is yet to be known. Some added weight to that frame (something he worked on this winter in Florida with his agency) wouldn’t hurt, either.
But, as MLB Pipeline wrote, “it’s easy to dream on his tools and youth.”
For Walcott, who’s had a firsthand view of World Series champions and All-Stars this spring, it’s easy for him to dream, too.
“Being around Adolis, Marcus Semien, other big leaguers like that, they set the example, the routine,” Walcott said. “Just basically how they carry themselves during the games and practice. It’s just fun to watch them play.”
On Twitter/X: @McFarland_Shawn
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