Rangers' top prospect returns to shortstop in regular-season finale at Double-A
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In the Double-A regular-season finale, Sebastian Walcott returned to his roots.
MLB's No. 9 prospect played shortstop for the first time this year in Frisco's 10-8 win over Wichita at Equity Bank Park. Walcott underwent a successful internal brace surgery on his right elbow in February, avoiding the full Tommy John surgery and shortening his recovery time.
After making 38 starts as a designated hitter, 36 for the RoughRiders, the 20-year-old manned his natural position, one he played a career-high 88 games at last season. The Rangers' top-ranked prospect -- whose best tool is his 70-grade arm -- recorded three infield assists and one putout in four chances.
Walcott went 1-for-3 with a run scored in the contest. The right-handed hitter finished his fourth pro regular season, slashing .329/.404/.608 with 10 homers, 14 doubles, 48 runs scored, 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases over a career-low 39 games.
Walcott appeared in one game in the Arizona Fall League last year before the injury put a swift end to the campaign. The fifth-ranked shortstop prospect could get more at-bats in the 2026 rendition in the desert, but it's currently unclear how much time in the field he would play with that opportunity.
"I think [the Fall League] could help close the gap in terms of the development time he would have gotten during the year," MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo said on an August episode of the MLB Pipeline Podcast, "and then he could potentially compete for a job in the Rangers' Opening Day lineup next year."
After being activated off the injured list for the second time this season on Aug. 12, Walcott accomplished multiple feats on offense. The Bahamas native smashed a leadoff roundtripper, logged a four-game homer streak and stacked up his second career four-hit game.
"I expected it to be a little sore after the first two games, but honestly it's been a pretty good recovery," he said earlier this month. "Just going out and just feeling good, being able to put my best foot forward and put myself on the diamond's been awesome."
The RoughRiders will begin the Texas League playoffs Tuesday, affording Walcott more opportunities in the field and at the plate. Frisco will host Game 1 of the best-of-3 semifinal series against Amarillo (D-backs).