Oklahoma State University Athletics
Donnie Walton
Walton Back Where He Wants To Be And Ready For 2016 Season
November 16, 2015 | Cowboy Baseball
By John Langham, OSU Athletics Communications
Oklahoma State's Donnie Walton had an eventful summer.
In Major League Baseball's June draft, Walton was selected in the 23rd round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League, helping the Yartmouth-Dennis Red Sox claim the Arnold Mycock Trophy as league champions for a second-straight year.
For Walton, competing in the CCBL was an opportunity to see how he fared against some of the country's best collegiate talent, as well as provide invaluable learning experiences.
"You can't take a day off," Walton said. "Each team has their Friday night or Saturday night guy out there every night so you have to be locked in and ready to play each night."
"(Walton) performed great," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "I think he can draw a tremendous amount of confidence in knowing that he could play in the premier college summer league and be one of the top players in the league."
Walton was named Co-MVP of the CCBL championship series after hitting .333 (5-for-15) with five RBIs in three games to lead the Red Sox over the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
"Donnie (Walton) really shined in the playoffs and in the All-Star game," Holliday said. "He played his best and shined in those moments so he knows he's an elite player, and he knows he can play with anyone in the country."
"It was a lot of fun," Walton said. "I'll take those memories with me for the rest of my life."
This year, Walton will return to OSU for his senior season after he chose to put his professional career on hold.
"It had to be what was going to be best for me and my family," Walton said. "My goal growing up was always to get drafted, but it just wasn't the right time for me to go."
In 160 career games at OSU, Walton has hit .306 with eight home runs, 30 doubles and 92 RBIs, and he is the Cowboys' career leader with 52 sacrifice bunts. He has been selected as an All-Big 12 performer the past three seasons, with the last two years resulting in first-team honors.
For Walton, putting his pro career on hold and returning to OSU wasn't an easy choice, but the incentive to play under his dad for another season was one reason to return.
Walton's father, Rob, is the pitching coach at OSU and has held that position since June 2012.
"That was the one thing that didn't hit me when I went into the draft," Walton said. "When I decided to not sign, I realized that I get to do this one more time with the guy I've looked up to my entire life and still look up to.
"I get to put on that same uniform with him. That's something I never thought about, or even dreamed about, growing up. A lot of kids don't get to say they did that so it's a blast."
"I'm sure being around his dad for another year, who is not only an awesome man, but an amazing coach, had to have been special to him," Holliday said. "To get to play for your dad is a life experience that not many people get to have. Those are moments that you simply can't get back or recreate."
In each of the past two seasons, OSU has hosted an NCAA Regional, and the Cowboys advanced to host a Super Regional in 2014. Yet, even with having twice been so close to Omaha and the College World Series, Walton's mindset hasn't changed.
"One thing I've learned through my years here is to not look towards the future and not look towards Omaha," Walton said. "You have to focus on getting better each day, take it one game at a time and focus on how you're going to get better today."
"We're just embracing the unique opportunity we have in front of us," Holliday said. "And we're very thankful that we have quality kids like Donnie (Walton) to help make this possible."
Every baseball player dreams of driving in the go-ahead run and being selected in the MLB Draft, and last summer, Donnie Walton saw those dreams become a reality.
Walton could have signed on the dotted line and fulfilled his lifelong dream of being a professional baseball player. Instead, he chose to return to OSU for one last season with his team.
"I'm glad to be back," Walton said. "I'm a Poke for life."
Oklahoma State's Donnie Walton had an eventful summer.
In Major League Baseball's June draft, Walton was selected in the 23rd round by the Milwaukee Brewers. He also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League, helping the Yartmouth-Dennis Red Sox claim the Arnold Mycock Trophy as league champions for a second-straight year.
For Walton, competing in the CCBL was an opportunity to see how he fared against some of the country's best collegiate talent, as well as provide invaluable learning experiences.
"You can't take a day off," Walton said. "Each team has their Friday night or Saturday night guy out there every night so you have to be locked in and ready to play each night."
"(Walton) performed great," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "I think he can draw a tremendous amount of confidence in knowing that he could play in the premier college summer league and be one of the top players in the league."
Walton was named Co-MVP of the CCBL championship series after hitting .333 (5-for-15) with five RBIs in three games to lead the Red Sox over the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
"Donnie (Walton) really shined in the playoffs and in the All-Star game," Holliday said. "He played his best and shined in those moments so he knows he's an elite player, and he knows he can play with anyone in the country."
"It was a lot of fun," Walton said. "I'll take those memories with me for the rest of my life."
This year, Walton will return to OSU for his senior season after he chose to put his professional career on hold.
"It had to be what was going to be best for me and my family," Walton said. "My goal growing up was always to get drafted, but it just wasn't the right time for me to go."
In 160 career games at OSU, Walton has hit .306 with eight home runs, 30 doubles and 92 RBIs, and he is the Cowboys' career leader with 52 sacrifice bunts. He has been selected as an All-Big 12 performer the past three seasons, with the last two years resulting in first-team honors.
For Walton, putting his pro career on hold and returning to OSU wasn't an easy choice, but the incentive to play under his dad for another season was one reason to return.
Walton's father, Rob, is the pitching coach at OSU and has held that position since June 2012.
"That was the one thing that didn't hit me when I went into the draft," Walton said. "When I decided to not sign, I realized that I get to do this one more time with the guy I've looked up to my entire life and still look up to.
"I get to put on that same uniform with him. That's something I never thought about, or even dreamed about, growing up. A lot of kids don't get to say they did that so it's a blast."
"I'm sure being around his dad for another year, who is not only an awesome man, but an amazing coach, had to have been special to him," Holliday said. "To get to play for your dad is a life experience that not many people get to have. Those are moments that you simply can't get back or recreate."
In each of the past two seasons, OSU has hosted an NCAA Regional, and the Cowboys advanced to host a Super Regional in 2014. Yet, even with having twice been so close to Omaha and the College World Series, Walton's mindset hasn't changed.
"One thing I've learned through my years here is to not look towards the future and not look towards Omaha," Walton said. "You have to focus on getting better each day, take it one game at a time and focus on how you're going to get better today."
"We're just embracing the unique opportunity we have in front of us," Holliday said. "And we're very thankful that we have quality kids like Donnie (Walton) to help make this possible."
Every baseball player dreams of driving in the go-ahead run and being selected in the MLB Draft, and last summer, Donnie Walton saw those dreams become a reality.
Walton could have signed on the dotted line and fulfilled his lifelong dream of being a professional baseball player. Instead, he chose to return to OSU for one last season with his team.
"I'm glad to be back," Walton said. "I'm a Poke for life."
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