It’s an exciting day for Tustin baseball as Anthony Walters selected in third round by Mets

Anthony Walters wrapped up his Tustin career in 2016. (Photo courtesy Tustin baseball)

Former Tustin High baseball star Anthony Walters (Class of 2016) was selected in the third round of the Major League Draft Thursday by the New York Mets, Tustin baseball coach Charles Chatman confirmed.

“The whole Tiller family is overflowing with emotions for Ant… he was a great leader when he was at Tustin on top of being an exceptional baseball player,” Chatman said. “We were lucky to have him and he left a lasting imprint on Tiller Baseball. The Mets got a good one and we couldn’t be happier for him and his family.”

Tustin High athletic officials sent out a tweet congratulating Walters on being drafted. Chatman said that Walters made an immediate impact when he joined the Tustin baseball program.

“He transferred into Tustin his junior year and started every game at shortstop from the first day he stepped on campus,” Chatman said.

Walters then earned a scholarship to UC Berkeley, then transferred to Mt. San Antonio College. But he injured his knee and sat out a year, Chatman said

“He then earned a scholarship to San Diego State and now he’s a NY Met,” Chatman said.

Walters batted .271 during the abbreviated season with San Diego State this past year. The junior scored eight runs with eight RBI and a home run.

Chatman got the exciting news from Walters’ father in a text.

“I reached out to Ant and we have been trading text for the last 39 minutes or so,” the Tillers coach said.

Walters becomes the second player drafted during Chatman’s tenure. The other was Aldaberto Carrillo, who was also a shortstop and was drafted by the Washington Nationals out of USC.

“The shortstop position at Tustin has been pretty good,” Chatman said.

In addition, almost 30 players have moved on to play college baseball since Chatman has been the coach.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com