Oklahoma State in MLB: Kaden Polcovich, Donovan Walton make Mariners’ training camp roster

Kaden Polcovich and Donovan Walton could play for the Mariners this year after the former Oklahoma State infielders were included on Seattle’s 60-man training camp roster Sunday afternoon.

Walton, a 2016 fifth-round pick by Seattle, is listed as player expected to make the team’s 30-man roster, while 2020 third-rounder Polcovich is a non-roster invitee. Of the 60 players in camp, 37 are on the 40-man roster and 22 are non-roster invites.

Walton made his MLB debut last season after working his way up through Seattle’s farm system. He drove in two runs, drew three walks and hit .188 with a .503 OPS in 16 at-bats in seven major league games. Defensively, he had eight putouts, turned one double play and did not commit an error. He played five games at shortstop and two at second base.

Polcovich hit .344 with two home runs and drove in 21 runs in only 18 games this spring for OSU, his first after transferring from Northwest Florida State Junior College. The 5-foot-10, 195-pounder also showed off his speed on the basepaths with eight stolen bases on nine attempts at OSU. Prior to his time in Stillwater, he hit 15 home runs and drove in 56 runs.

Players will report to summer training camps July 1, with the Mariners hosting their workouts at T-Mobile Park in Seattle and the taxi squad — which both Polcovich and Walton will likely be on — will be at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, the club’s Triple-A facility.

The MLB postponed its season in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and agreed with the MLB Players’ Association this past Tuesday to a 60-game season. Seattle will play 40 games will be played against American League West foes — Angels, Astros, Athletics and Rangers — and 20 games against five NL West teams — Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Rockies. When the regular season starts July 23, teams can have 30 players on their active rosters for two weeks before trimming down to 28 for another two-week period then 26 players for the rest of the season, which ends Sept. 27.