Yellow Jackets' All-American to Continue Career in St. Louis Organization
ASHLAND, Va. --- Former Randolph-Macon College Baseball standout and 2012 graduate Jordan Walton signed a minor league contract with the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals on Monday and will report to the Batavia Muckdogs, located in Batavia, New York immediately.
The Muckdogs (www.muckdogs.com) are members of the New York – Penn League which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September. The Muckdogs open their season on June 18th when they play host to the Auburn Doubledays, which is an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.
Currently, the league includes teams in seven different states. In addition to New York and Pennsylvania, from which the league draws its name, the NYPL also has clubs in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, and Connecticut.
Walton becomes the second Yellow Jacket in six seasons join a Major League organization and the third to play professionally during that time. In 2006, Travis Beazley was taken by the Boston Red Sox in the 38th round of the MLB Draft and played five seasons in the Red Sox system. 2011 graduate James Bierlein is in his second season with an independent team and currently pitching for the Trinidad Triggers (Colo.) in the Pecos League.
"What a tremendous and well deserved opportunity for Jordan," said R-MC head coach Ray Hedrick. "It is nice to see such a high quality person like Jordan get a chance to pursue his childhood dream. I have very little doubt that he will be successful. We are all very fortunate and proud to have him in our Yellow Jacket family."
In a career that saw him achieve every almost every honor in Division III Baseball, Walton was named an All-American for the second-time in as many years by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) on May 31st and is the holder of almost every Randolph-Macon offensive record.
Walton, who was named a First-Team All-American by the ABCA as a junior and a Preseason All-American pick prior to this season, won the 2012 ODAC Player of the Year award at the conclusion of the regular season. This season, Walton hit .417 with 68 hits, 20 doubles and six homeruns. He also collected 34 RBIs and posted a .687 slugging percentage and .484 on-base percentage.
For his career, he is the R-MC leader in hits (215), doubles (65), RBI's (137), total bases (348) & extra base hits (86). His final career batting average of .417 is second highest all-time in R-MC history and eighth best in ODAC history. He is just one of 12 players in ODAC history to record 200 career hits, while his doubles total is good for second in the record book.
--- This release is courtesy of the Randolph-Macon College sports information department. ---
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