Walters is the 116th former Northwoods League Player to debut in MLB
Rochester, MN – Former Duluth Huskie Zach Walters was called up by the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, September 3. Walters is the 116th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Walters, who played collegiately at the University of San Diego, played for the Duluth Huskies during the 2009 season, and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 9th round of the 2010 MLB draft.
During the 2009 season with the Huskies, Walters hit .217 in 63 games. He also had 7 doubles, 2 triples and drove in 22 runs.
Walters began his minor league career in 2010 with the Short Season A Yakima Bears in the Northwest League. He ended the season hitting .302 with 4 home runs and 43 RBI in 69 games. He also stole 14 bases and had 18 doubles.
In 2011 Walters spent the first part of the season in Lo A with the South Bend Silver Hawks in the Midwest League. After 97 games he was promoted to Hi A with the Potomac Nationals in the Carolina League. Walters hit .300 with 9 home runs, 7 triples, 34 doubles and had 67 RBI over 127 games.
The 2012 season had Walters playing with three different teams. He started the year in Potomac before being promoted to AA with the Harrisburg Senators in the Eastern League. After 43 games with Harrisburg, Walters was promoted to AAA with the Syracuse Chiefs in the International League. Over 126 games he hit a combined .266 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI. He also had 23 doubles and 5 triples.
Walters started the 2013 season at AAA with Syracuse. Over 134 games, before being promoted, he was hitting .253 with 29 home runs and 77 RBI to go along with 32 doubles and 5 triples.
In his Major League debut on Friday, September 6, Walters entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the 6th inning and singled in his first Major League at bat off of Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins.
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America. The 2013 season marked the 20th season of Northwoods League baseball. 116 former players have gone on to play Major League baseball. Notable alumni of the league include Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Chris Sale (White Sox), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Josh Willingham (Twins) and Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals).