The Bahamas Brightest: Playing Against Sebastian Walcott had Kristian Robinson "Feeling Nostalgic"

Kristian Robinson [Photo Credit: Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

This week, the Hodgetown fans witnessed something rare probably without even realizing it. For the second time this season, Sod Poodles outfielder Kristian Robinson and Frisco Roughriders top prospect Sebastian Walcott faced off on the field, both representing the Bahamas. Kristian Robinson didn't take the unique experience for granted,“Whether it's spring training, instructional league, affiliated baseball or the official season, seeing a guy from my hometown, especially someone who I am familiar with, who I grew up with, it's nostalgic.”  Robinson said of playing against his fellow countryman Sebastian Walcott. “It's something that I appreciate and I just try to cherish no matter what happens within the lines after the first pitch.” 

Sebastian Walcott [Photo Credit: Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

The Texas Rangers' top prospect, who is widely regarded as a top 10 prospect in all of baseball, shared Robinson's feelings about playing against each other."We go way back. He played with my older brother and I think just knowing him from that, and having that relationship with him is special." Walcott said this week "Sharing a field is always a blessing, and getting to talk to him along with the way he’s performing it’s great to see him like that. I just wish the best for Robbie."

Unlike the surrounding countries in the region like Cuba (28 players in 2025), Puerto Rico (20 players in 2025), and the ever present Domincan Republic (117 players in 2025) who churn out Major Leaguers on a consitent basis, the Bahamas currently only have one representative, in New York Yankee Jazz Chisholm. Recently the Bahamas have seen an influx of talent like Chisholm, Robinson and Walcott who all attended I-Elite Academy in Nassau. "I-Elite was a very special time for me. It was the beginning of my development, and it helped me get better, defensively offensively, honing my skills." Walcott said this weekend in Amarillo."It was crucial because they helped me out a lot, redefining some aspects, and they gave me the exposure to all of those professional teams. I’m very blessed to have been a part of that."

Kristian Robinson [Photo Credit: Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

I-Elite was started by Geron Sands and Albert Cartwright in order to help spread the game that they love in their home. "We figured out one day that we wanted to help the youngsters in the country, and give let them have the opportunity that everybody else was having in the world when we looked at the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Israel." I-Elite co-founder Geron Sands said. "We figured out what they were doing and what we weren't doing. After that we came up with an academy and started training our local kids to the level of being competitive and possibly signing contracts one day." Their efforts would pay major dividends, as Sands and Cartwright saw the academy get its first signing in 2015 when Dale Davis signed with the Texas Rangers, followed by the signings of Lucius Fox (Giants), Larry Alcime Jr. (Pirates), and Jazz Chisholm that same year in a historic class overall. That boasted some of baseball's brightest stars in todays game, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladamir Guerrero Jr., Yordan Alvarez, Juan Soto, and even more. Sands has had a front seat and a huge hand in developing these players, and has had a front seat for the early development of both Robinson and Walcott in Nassau.

Kristian Robinson comes from a insanely atheltic family that includes Bahamian legend Tom Robinson, who was the nation's first Olympian competing in the 100 & 200 meter dashes for four straight Olympics, making the final in 1964. The Olympian would also win championships while attending the University of Michigan, representing the Wolverines.

Robinson has never been short athleticsim or talent for baseball even when he was younger. "He was around 12 when I started working with him every day. There are only a few guys who have passed through my life that I told them that you were born to play baseball. Everything he's ever done has just looked so easy, he would do things that would make you wonder how it happened." Sands said about a younger Robinson. "In Janurary of 2017 we were having a try out with live pitches at the old Fenway Park (Fenway South in Ft. Myers) and Kristian had hit a ball to right center at just 16 years old. We were all expecting Kristian to be so excited, but he walked off nonchalant and we couldn't tell if he struck out or he hit a home run. His friend D'Shawn Knowles who was trying out with him jumped up and started screaming for Kristian, and Kristian just looked at him and smiled." Sands continued to rave about Robinson. "Nothing on a baseball field phases him."

Robinson brings a great presence to the Amarillo clubhouse, with a smile that can brighten up a room, and great energy for those around him. He has become one of the leaders of this group with multiple teammates giving Robinson kind reviews like LuJames Groover "He's a great clubhouse guy. He's a little older than some of us. 
So he looks after us and makes sure we're going about it the right way." the Sod Poodles third basemen said,"He comes in day in, day out and takes care of his business. I think if you're any person you should pay attention to how he handles himself, I think he handles himself in a really professional way, and I love being around him"

After a 2024 that saw him slash just .214/.337/.350/.687 in 110 games for Amarillo last year, Robinson has shined for Amarillo despite struggling this week against Frisco compiling a .258/.380/.466/.846 mark with a .372 BAPIP so far this season to go with 7 home runs that puts him on pace to set a new career high. "He's really used his athleticism to his ability this year. 
Last year, just ten steals all season. He's already surpassed that mark this year." Amarillo announcer Zach Goodman said "His approach at the plate has been a lot better and had an approach that he's sticking to it. He's been terrific in the outfield after that being a weakness in his game."

Goodman isn't the only one that Robinson has impressed either."Every day when he comes to the field, he has a plan. He studies pitchers a lot, he's patient on the plate, he's taking a lot of pitches, and he battles every at bat." Sod Poodles manager Javier Colina said earlier this year. "When you have a player like that, when you see probably seven-eight pitches for every at bat that means he's making the pitchers work a lot, and that's the perfect position for him. He has the speed, and he’s got the power, the guy is so talented, and I'm so happy for Robbie."

Walcott has lived up to the bar that he set at Roughriders media day when he said, “Every time I step on the field I want to make sure that I’m putting on a performance for everybody here. I think that’s who I’ve always been… People think baseball is boring and I’m here to show people that it’s not.” There's no way that you could watch Walcott and be bored. Walcott has some of the same traits as another former Texas Leaguer and breif Sod Poodle Fernando Tatis Jr. both hit this level really young, Walcott being the youngest qualified player in the league right now. The 19 year old was electric this week against Amarillo, including a signature performance blasting a pair of home runs Friday night and stealing two bases to make him just the fourth player in the last 20 years of the Texas League to achieve that accomplishment. The two homers made him one of just five teenagers in league history to have a multi-homer game joining Tatis Jr. (3x), the Nationals Keibert Ruiz (2x), Braves Alex Verdugo, and the Mike Trout according to Frisco announcer Tyler Danburg.

Sebastian Walcott 2 HR Game

Walcott still has all summer to do it again, having just turned 19 in March of this year. Geron Sands wants people to understand that being 19 from the Bahamas isn't quiet the same as other countries, “He’s 19 and coming from the Bahamas, and I'll tell you what that means.” Sands said “That means you're 19 years old, you signed at 16 or 17 years old and you play two years in the minor leagues. We did not have high school baseball, so you're behind by thousands of reps to the regular kid in the Dominican or United States"

Sebastian Walcott [Photo Credit: Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

When you watch him it feels like every ball is at worst hit hard off his bat, and when he gets on he has elite speed to threaten the pitcher with. “The pure athleticism and the tools that he has are phenomenal, but I think what really sets him apart is his mental and his kind of ability to take in the game at this age." Frisco announcer Zach Bigley said about Walcott. "I think there are plenty of guys who are his age who have really strong tools, but the Rangers have to be able to trust him to come up to this level and still perform mentally.”

You can see all five tools that every scout and organization crave, even if the fielding could use some improvement at times, he still show's great range with elite arm strength that allow him to make insane plays, including a handful of them this week against the Soddies.

The Sod Poodles outfielder also had glowing comments on Frisco's phenom.

“We actually played in the same league together, growing up, and he was a couple of age groups younger than I was, so I’ve watched a lot of his games. I never really got to play against him when we were coming up, but I heard a lot about him.” Robinson said of Walcott flashing his signature smile. “The hype was there from when he was maybe 11 or 12. Everyone was talking about him and it was exciting to watch from then. 
Now being able to play against him, it's kind of nostalgic. I’ve thought about it multiple times. I just wish the best for him and I want to try and help him as much as I can, whatever I can do, but I think he's got a pretty good grip on it.”

Walcott and Robinson are trying to follow in Chisholm's steps and become the second active Bahamian major leaguer and Chisholm has been generous with his fellow countrymen. "It’s awesome. Jazz as a big leaguer right now is getting to hang around the best players like Aaron Judge." Walcott said, "He's seeing the best players in the league, and he’s learning from that. Jazz has passed that knowledge down to us, and I think that’s pretty crucial for us that he wants us to be successful, and for him to give us that type of advice is amazing."

After sharing the field this week in the minor leagues, you have to wonder how much longer until the two will share a big league field together. It would mark only the third time in the nations history that two Bahamians played against eachother, with the most recent being in 2022 when Fox and Chisholm squared off. Robinson and Walcott will be back in action this week on Tuesday. Amarillo starts their series against the Tulsa Drillers, and Frisco will be back at Dr. Pepper Ballpark to take on Springfield.