MLB

Five Things You Need to Know About Newest Dodger Zach Walters

Zach Walters was activated from Triple-A OKC after the All-Star Break. Here's 5 things to know about the newest member of the Dodgers.

The Dodgers had another player make his Dodger debut over the weekend when they called up 26-year-old minor leaguer Zach Walters from Oklahoma City.

The team placed outfielder Trayce Thompson on the 15-day disabled list with back soreness after he told team doctors that he felt something in a swing during the final game before the All-Star break last Sunday.

Walters has had quite the interesting journey to the big leagues as his career path is different than most ballplayers you'll meet. 

Here are five things you should know about the Dodgers newest player:

1.    He's a super utility player

Walters can play almost any position on the field. He started in right field on Sunday, but has started in left field and all four infield positions with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. (Here he is playing first base).

2.    He's a Wyoming Kid

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Walters was born in Wyoming to an Air Force Family that moved to Montana after Zach's father left the military. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Las Vegas where Walters grew up.

3.    He Made his Debut against the team that Drafted him:

Walters was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He played in the Snakes farm system for a year before he was traded to the Washington Nationals in 2011 for Jason Marquis. In a cyclical twist of fate, Walters debuted against the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Saturday in a pinch-hit appearance in the 8th inning and will next face the Nationals.

4.    His First MLB Hit Broke up Jose Fernandez's No-Hitter

Walters made his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2013 against the Miami Marlins. Jose Fernandez had a no-hitter in the eighth inning when Walters was called upon to pinch-hit and make his own personal history, by ruining history.

"The first game I played was freaking nuts," Walters said. "Jose Fernandez was throwing a no-hitter, eighth inning, one out and I come in to pinch-hit and I'm like 'oh my gosh.' That was my first hit, against Jose Fernandez. Broke up his no-hitter. With social media nowadays I got backlash from everyone in Miami for that."

5.    He's Always Dreamed of Playing for the Dodgers

Walters was acquired by the Dodgers from the Indians on April 10th. The switch-hitter was thrilled when he got the news.

"It's amazing," he said. "You're seeing all these guys [in the clubhouse] and you look over and if it was the Dodgers I'd say, 'dude, I had a poster of this guy.' It's hard not to look at. You hit a double and you slide in and dust off and look up and you're like, 'holy crap,' it's Derek Jeter! Alright, be cool." 

Walters started like everyone else in Single-A where fantasies of playing professional baseball turned into a warped reality.

"Life in the lower levels of Minor League baseball is really what you make of it," he said about those moments when he wanted to quit. "There's people over there fighting in other countries for my right to wake up in the morning and do what I love. If I can just show up and play baseball, it's kind of a slap in the face to those serving this country."

Walters will be with the team for the next few days and he looks to make fans proud with his time in the Majors. 

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