Steele Walker #49

Steele Simons Walker…attended the University of Oklahoma, where he batted .326 with 24 home runs and 136 RBI in 170 games over three seasons…majored in human relations…selected as semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 2018…earned All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2017-18…was teammates with NFL quarterback Kyler Murray at Oklahoma…played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2017 and was named MVP of the club’s series wins over Chinese Taipei and Cuba…played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League in the summer of 2016…is a 2015 graduate of Prosper (Texas) High School…was a three-time letter winner, an All-Area selection in 2014, District MVP in 2014 and 2015, and All-State honoree in 2014 and 2015…was the 2015 Dallas Morning News Player of the Year after hitting .481 with seven home runs, 59 RBI and a .596 on-base pct. as a senior…helped guide his team to a district championship as a junior and to a state title as a senior, earning All-Tournament honors as a senior.

2021

Compiled a .241 batting average, career-high 15 home runs and 61 RBI over 111 G between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock…opened the campaign with Frisco and got out to a sluggish start, batting .192 (14-73) with just 7 extra-base hits (3 HR, 3 2B, 1 3B) across 18 G in the month of May… recovered to post a .283/.353/.464/.817 (47-166) slash line over his next 45 G (beg. 6/1) to earn a mid-season call-up to Round Rock on 8/5…quickly adjusted to the Triple-A level where he slashed .271/.344/.494/.838 (23-85) with 5 home runs and 15 RBI over his first 22 G for the Express, including a 2-HR showing on 8/23 vs. El Paso...ended the season on a low note, as he produced a .182 BA (18-99) and zero home runs over his last 26 G (beg. 9/2)…all of his 15 HR came against righties…made majority of his starts in the corner outfield spots (41-RF, 37- LF), but also saw action in CF (19 GS) and as a DH (12 GS)… opened the campaign rated by Baseball America as the 17thbest prospect in the TEX farm system.

2020

Walker began spring training in minor league camp and was not a member of the club’s initial 60-man Player Pool that reported to Summer Camp in July…was added to the club’s Alternate Training Site roster on 8/31, where he remained for the balance of the season…participated in the Fall Developmental League in Arizona, tying for the lead among Texas prospects with four home runs and finishing with nine extra-base hits among 13 total hits (4 HR, 4 2B, 3B)…missed a period of time during the Fall League due to an oblique strain…checked in at no. 22 on Baseball America’s list of top Rangers prospects prior to the season.

2019

Acquired from Chicago-AL in exchange for OF Nomar Mazara on 12/10/19…combined to bat .284 (130-457) with 10 home runs and 62 RBI in 120 games with Winston-Salem (A+) and Kannapolis (A) in the White Sox organization…ranked among Carolina League leaders in SLG (4th, .426), OPS (5th, .771), 2B (T6th, 26), OBP (8th, .346), BA (9th, .269) and XBH (10th, 38)…rated by Baseball America as Chicago’s 10th-best prospect and the 20th-best prospect in the Carolina League…also named an Organizational All-Star by MiLB.com, CL postseason All-Star, and CL Player of the Week for 6/10-16 and 7/29-8/4...saw action primarily in center field (97 total starts) and logged seven assists.

2018

Combined to hit .209 (33-158) with five home runs and 21 RBI over 44 games between the AZL White Sox, Great Falls, and Kannapolis in his 1st professional season.