Mitch Walding

BIOGRAPHY

Mitch Walding was born September 10, 1992, in Lodi, California. He is an infielder in the MLB.

Walding made his Major League debut on May 30, 2018, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, going hitless in all four at bats with four strikeouts. He was the first Phillies player to earn a Golden Sombrero in his MLB debut, and the 6th position player in MLB history to do so. Walding was sent back down to the minor leagues on June 6.

Walding was called back up to the major leagues on June 20, and struck out again in his first plate appearance, making him the first player in the 143 years of Major League Baseball to strike out in all seven of his first seven major league plate appearances. Additionally, he became the only position player in Major League history to come to bat more than four times to start his career with each at bat ending in a strikeout and joined relief pitcher Logan Ondrusek, who is the only other player ever to strike out seven times in their first seven career plate appearances. On September 14, he got his first major league hit when he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against Bryan Holaday, after an 0-14 streak to begin his career. In 2018, he batted .059/.158/.235 in 17 at bats for the Phillies with a home run, 12 strikeouts, and two RBIs.

Walding began the 2019 season with Lehigh Valley but was recalled by the Phillies on April 20, 2019, following injuries to starting infielders Jean Segura and Scott Kingery. In 2019 he batted .206/.351/.369 with 62 walks, 11 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 130 strikeouts in 282 at bats for Lehigh Valley, and struck out in both at bats for the Phillies. On July 30, 2019, Walding was designated for assignment. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.