It didn’t take long for Aaron Walton to establish himself as one of Arizona’s best players this past season, which will turn out to be his only with the program. And that one year was enough to shoot him up the draft boards.
The UA outfielder was picked 66th overall by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday. The pick comes with a ‘bonus slot value’ of $1,320,400.
☎️ Update your contact card: 1-216-BIG-WALT is calling!
Aaron Walton is Cleveland bound in the 2nd round! pic.twitter.com/y3VphmQxV5
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) July 14, 2025
Walton, who started all 65 games for Arizona in center, hit .320 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 49 RBI after transferring from Samford. He also drew 31 walks and was hit by 24 pitches, second-most in single-season school history.
Defensively, Walton made only two errors all season and had numerous stellar catches including on back-to-back plays in the Super Regionals at North Carolina.
What’s this? A new number is calling ☎️
1-800-AIR-WALT pic.twitter.com/SQZlegOPrR
— Arizona Baseball (@ArizonaBaseball) June 6, 2025
Walton is the second UA player in as many years drafted by Cleveland. The Guardians took right-hander Cam Walty in the 20th round in 2024. The only Wildcat taken higher by the franchise was Trevor Crowe, a first round pick in 2005.