(Walnut, CA) Former Mountie Shortstop Anthony Walters (Tustin H.S.) was selected by the New York Mets in the third round (91st pick overall) of the 2020 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft. He becomes the highest drafted Mounties during the John Knott (current Mt. SAC Head Coach) era. Walters helped lead the Mounties to the 2018 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships where he provided some real fireworks, despite being injured.
Walters (6'01", 185 lbs., R-R) played for Mt. SAC in 2018, after starting 19 (of 34) games for the Bears of U.C. Berkeley, in 2017. In his one season as a Mountie, he earned first team all-state and all-conference honors, batting .374 with 10 home runs and 62 RBI's. Statistically, Walters was top 10 individually in the state in doubles (2nd, 20), RBI's (2nd, 62), homeruns (8th, 10), slugging percentage (8th, .782) and total bases (10th, 117).
"The whole Mountie family is super excited for Anthony and his opportunity with the New York Mets," replied Mountie Assistant Coach, Scott Zine. "He was a game changer for us in 2018 and was atop the state statistically in homeruns, RBIs, batting average, OPS and basically every offensive category. He has earned and deserves this opportunity after working hard to battle back from a major knee injury. This is the story of a passionate player dedicated to perfecting his craft every single day. Phenomenal player, family and work ethic!"
In the last regular game of the 2018 season, Walters tore his ACL against East Los Angeles. Despite the injury, he continued playing in the playoffs as a pinch hitter. In the Mounties second game of the CCCAA State Championships, his final two at bats as a Mountie, he hit back-to-back doubles. The last one coming in the bottom of the 9th inning. With two outs and two strikes, and the bases loaded, Walters hit a booming shot off the centerfield fence, to knock in three runs. This put the Mounties down by one run (4-3) against Orange Coast College, the south's number one ranked team, who were led by the late John Altobelli. Teammate Brandon Bradshaw knocked in Walter's pinch runner to tie the game and send the game into extra innings.
Walters redshirted the 2019 season, to rehab the injury, and then transferred to San Diego State University (SDSU) as a redshirt junior. During this Covid-19 shortened 2020 season, he batted .271 with 8 runs, 16 hits, 8 RBI's and shined defensively for the Aztecs. SDSU finished the year with a 10-6 record, knocking off nationally ranked Oklahoma (No. 11), Long Beach State (No. 17) and Cal State Fullerton (No. 24). Walters' teammate Casey Schmitt (49th overall pick, 2nd round) was also drafted, making them the first duo out of San Diego State to both be drafted in the top 100, in nearly two decades.
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