Born into a baseball family in the western province of Matanzas, Walters has had this sport in his blood since he arrived in a world where his grandfather Erwin, four decades ago, had been the first batting leader in domestic tournaments and his uncle Marcos had been a national champion with the Henequeneros team two decades before that. “The love I have for this game is incredible,” he told this agency at the end of training on Thursday at the Latinoamericano stadium, where the national preselection is preparing for the tournament in which the 12 best-ranked countries in the world will participate, to begin next November.

His father, a baseball coach, took him to a field for the first time when he was barely three years old and none of the stones he found in his path made him faint from his goal of becoming a great baseball player.

In 2019 he emigrated to the Dominican Republic in search of a professional contract and less than a year later he signed with the Arizona-based organization, where he has remained until today at the AA level.

“Since I was little I was always in pre-selections and I never had the opportunity to put on those four letters,” he said excitedly.

“Now a door has opened and I have to take advantage of it to also represent my family and the land where I come from,” added the young man who just finished a season in the Minor Leagues with an offensive average of .263, two home runs and 28 RBIs.

Since he joined the group, Walters made an impact with the bat and his versatility to move in all positions within the infield and the outfield and according to his words, they have treated him as if they have known him for 10 years. «I feel great, I prepared super well. I finished the season very healthy and thank God I am ready», said the player who is also able to bat effectively from both sides of the plate, although he feels more comfortable left-handed because of the majority of right-handed pitchers he faces every day.

When asked which position he prefers to play, he answers without hesitation that the important thing is to be in the regular lineup and that he feels ready to play whatever is needed. «Wherever they need me, I will be there», he said.

«In Arizona I have played all positions in the infield and the outfield and in all of them I have more than 100 innings», he said.

However, the young talent clarified that although he is ready, the decision to play regular will be made by the teachers in the office and whatever it is, he will welcome it. «My thing is to do my job when I find myself within the two lines», he said.

Walters is outgoing, good-natured, jokes with his teammates and is convinced that success depends on the positive mentality that each athlete is able to develop.

«There is a mix of youths and veterans here, we are a family and we are going to fight for first place,» he said.

ef/lam/blc