Walker is the 291st former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. (NWL) – Former Wisconsin Woodchuck Steele Walker made his Major League debut for the Texas Rangers on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Walker is the 291st former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Steele Walker’s stats: Texas Rangers
Walker, who played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks in 2016. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the White Sox.
In 2016 with the Woodchucks, Walker played in 53 games and hit .406 with seven home runs, 11 doubles and four stolen bases. He drove in 31 and scored 47 times.
Walker began his professional career in 2018 with the White Sox Rookie Level team in the Arizona League. After four games he moved on to the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League. After nine games in Great Falls, he was promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Lo-A South Atlantic League. For the season he played in 44 games and hit .209 with five home runs, six doubles and 21 RBI. He stole six bases and scored 17 times.
In 2019 Walker began the season in Kannapolis and then was promoted, after 20 games, to the Winston-Salem Dash of the Hi-A Carolina League. Between the two clubs he appeared in 120 games and hit .285 with 10 home runs, 36 doubles and five triples. He scored 65 runs, drove in 62 and stole 13 bases.
Following the 2019 season Walker was traded to the Texas Rangers for Nomar Mazara.
Now in the Rangers system, Walker started the 2021 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the AA-Central League. After 63 games in Frisco, he was sent to the Round Rock Express in the AAA-West League. For the season he played in 111 games and hit .241 with 15 home runs, 18 doubles and two triples. He stole 10 bases, scored 61 times, and drove in 61
Prior to his call-up to the Rangers, Walker was in Round Rock where he was hitting .297 in 20 games with three home runs, two stolen bases and nine RBI. In his Major League debut against the Mariners, Walker started the game in left field and went 0-4 at the plate.
*************************************************
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, adminstration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
