If you’re the type who likes to take those “Name all the members of the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies” quizzes to see how many obscure players you can name, then I will be really impressed if you can come
up with Donovan Walton.
The utility player was purchased from the Mets in June, played 50 games at Lehigh Valley, and then joined the big-league team as an injury replacement. In his short stay with the Phillies, he appeared in two games (both wins!), recorded one hit, one RBI, and scored one run.
The stats
.125/.125/.125 AVG/OBP/SLG, 0 HR, 1 RBI, -0.1 bWAR
What went right
The Phillies were undefeated in games that Walton appeared in. How many other players can say that? (Maybe they should have included him on the postseason roster. Heck, Brandon Marsh only had one more hit than Walton did in the NLDS.)
When Trea Turner hit the IL in September, Walton got the call to the majors. On September 10, the Phillies gave him the start at second base against his former Mets teammates. While he didn’t record a hit in five plate appearances, in the eighth inning, he had an RBI groundout to increase the Phillies’ lead in the game to 11-2. His next – and final start – came three days later when he recorded his first – and only – hit of the season in a win over the Royals.
For what it’s worth, he put up good numbers in Lehigh Valley, recording an .837 OPS with two home runs in 50 games.
What went wrong
He’s a 31-year-old who has appeared in just 11 major league games since 2022. His career major league OPS is .521 and three teams have let him go in the past calendar year. His ability to play every infield position is nice, but it seems doubtful that he’s going to ever be able to hit at a major league level.
His future with the Phillies
He is a free agent, and while the Phillies could potentially invite him back to camp, I doubt it happens. Unless they absolutely loved him in the clubhouse at Lehigh Valley, it feels like there are younger options out there if they are looking for deep infield depth.
