JUPITER, Fla. — Jeff McNeill's oblique injuries open another location on the first day, with most attention focusing on popular names like Brett Batty and Louis Sangel Acknya.
But they are not the only players who made an impression. Carlos Mendoza is focusing on the attributes of two other potential bench players, Donovan Walton and Luis de Los Santos.
“Walton is a baseball player,” Mendoza said. “He's a smart player. He knows where to go. [and] Where shall we go? ”
As for Delos Santos, who was reassigned to minor league camp, Mendoza praised his “vergentity.”
“He can play anywhere and influence baseball,” the manager said. “Both have major league experience. …We'll see how that goes.”
It's a long potential opportunity for Walton, who started on base and scored a run in a 6-5 split squad victory at Roger Dean Stadium to go 0-3.
The 30-year-old has played in 70 games over five seasons in his MLB career, dating back to 2019 with the Mariners.
Walton signed a minor league contract this past offseason after spending with the Giants last year, but was drafted by the Mets in the 36th round from high school in 2012.
At the time, Walton chose to chase his father Rob to Oklahoma, where he was a pitching coach.
Once a pitching prospect for the Orioles, Rob Walton coached Oral Roberts' head coach and Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Donovan Walton continued to play for Oklahoma, not considering signing with the Mets leaving high school.
Now he hopes to return to Queens.
Walton said he still recalls a 2003 trip to Sheer Stadium with his father, who is from East Rutherford.
“It was a doubleheader against the Diamondbacks and I fell in love with the uniform,” Walton said of the Mets.
Growing up and growing for the Texas Rangers, Walton quickly became a fan of players like Carlos Bertran, David Wright and Jose Reyes.
Walton was drafted in Seattle's fifth round from Oklahoma in 2016, but has never played more than 25 games in a major season.
“You find out who you are,” Walton said. “Everyone wants to hit a home run, but even in college I knew I was going to ride the bass and do whatever it took to help the club win. I'm proud of it, I enjoy it.”
And with left-handed McNeill on the shelf and still filled utility spots, Walton (left-handed) was able to find his way to the team.
“That's cool,” Walton said. “I'm not looking at that kind of thing, I'm trying to focus only on today. If that happens, it's great. If it doesn't, it's fine. I'll continue.”
