Mitch Walding

Mitchell S. Walding (born September 10, 1992) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and 2019. Walding was drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life Walding was born in Lodi, California. He attended St. Mary's High School in Stockton, California, where he was a starting pitcher and shortstop on the baseball team as well as an all-league quarterback on the football team, graduating in 2011. In his senior year he batted .442 with a .584 slugging percentage, and as a pitcher he was 6-1 with a 0.63 ERA. In 2012 in Williamsport he batted .233/.326/.308 with one home run and 31 RBI, and 66 strikeouts in 253 at–bats.

Entering the 2013 season, Walding was ranked #20 among Phillies prospects by MLB.com.

In 2017, Walding was a mid–season Eastern League All Star with the Double–A Reading Fightin Phils. In June 2017, Walding was Eastern League Player of the Month and Phillies Minor League Hitter of the Month, as he hit 13 home runs in 25 games.

After starting the 2018 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Triple–A International League, for whom he was batting .271/.379/.484 with seven home runs and 54 strikeouts in 155 at–bats, Walding was called up to the major leagues on May 30. He was named an International League post-season All Star. 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.

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 RBI, 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 elected free agency following the season on November 4.

Toronto Blue Jays On March 9, 2020, Walding signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Walding did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent on November 2.

Los Angeles Angels On February 17, 2021, Walding signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. However, on May 12, before the start of the ALPB season, Walding signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization. Walding spent the majority of the season with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, hitting .238/.326/.451 with six home runs and 25 RBI in 33 games. He elected minor league free agency following the season on November 7.

San Diego Padres On March 9, 2022, Walding signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. Upon signing, it was announced that Walding would convert to catching. He was assigned to the Double-A San Antonio Missions to begin the year, but limped to a .046/.276/.091 slash in 7 games. On April 30, Walding announced his retirement from professional baseball.