Round Rock OF Steele Walker Promoted to Texas

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Welcome to The Show, Steele! The Texas Rangers announced on Sunday afternoon that the club selected the contract of Round Rock Express OF Steele Walker. Walker batted ninth for Texas on Sunday against the Seattle Mariners and played left field.

Walker began the season on the Round Rock 7-day Injured List before he was added to the roster on May 3. Walker appeared in 20 games for the Express playing primarily right field. At the plate, he hit .297 (22-74) with five doubles, three home runs and nine RBI.

The 25-year-old tallied four multiple-hit games with Round Rock and posted a six-game hitting streak from May 4-11 to start the year for Round Rock. On Saturday, May 28 in Albuquerque, Walker helped Round Rock secure a 14-3 win thanks to a 5-for-6 performance with three doubles and three RBI.

Walker has spent four seasons in the minor leagues after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He was traded to the Rangers, from the White Sox, on December 10, 2019 in a deal that sent OF Nomar Mazara to the White Sox.

Walker, a Texas native, played his high school baseball at Prosper High School located only 50 miles north of Globe Life Field. The lefty won a 5A Texas State Baseball Championship at Dell Diamond in 2015 and was named to the 2014-2015 5A Baseball All-Tournament Team.

Walker went 0-for-4 in his debut with Texas on Sunday. The Rangers hit the road on Monday to take on the Cleveland Guardians for the start of a three-game series.

Meanwhile, the Round Rock Express open a three-game series against the Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics) on Tuesday night at Las Vegas Ballpark Express RHP Tyson Miller (2-1, 4.55) is set to take the mound against Las Vegas RHP Collin Wiles (3-4, 6.52). First pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. CT.