Position: LHP
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 225 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 12/01/1994
College: University of New Haven
Drafted: 37th round, 1117th Overall, 2017 (Mets)
How Acquired: Trade (with Mets for Luis Nicolas Carreno)
Bonus: $50,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 2
Overview
The Mets drafted Walker in a late round in 2017. He’s a big guy, but his stuff was regarded as fringy, although his control was good. He was a reliever in college and has mostly been a reliever as a pro. He currently throws his fastball 94 mph, with a sinker about 93. He also throws a cutter. Walker worked his way up through the Mets’ system slowly, reaching the majors in his seventh season. The Pirates acquired him at the trade deadline in 2024 after the Mets had designated him for assignment.
2017-20
Walker debuted in rookie ball the year he was drafted and got lit up. He split 2018 between advanced rookie ball and the New York-Penn League, mostly the latter, and was more effective, with a K/9 of 11.3, but he still had just an OK WHIP of 1.4. Walker missed nearly all of 2019 with injuries resulting from a car crash, then didn’t pitch in the pandemic season.
2021-22
In 2021, Walker made more progress, going from High Class A to AAA, nearly all of it as a starter. He pitched very well at the two lower levels. In AAA, he had a 5.19 ERA but a good, 1.2 WHIP. He didn’t walk or strike out many hitters. In 2022, Walker suffered an unknown injury in the spring and missed nearly the whole season.
2023-24
Walker opened 2023 in the AAA bullpen and pitched very well there, leading the Mets to add him to the 40-man roster in May and call him up. In the end, he appeared in 14 games for the Mets and 21 in AAA, all in relief. He missed the last six weeks of the season with an oblique strain. Walker put up very good numbers in AAA, with a 1.84 ERA and 12.3 K/9. It was a different story in the majors, as he had an 8.10 ERA and 1.8 WHIP, although he still managed a 10.8 K/9.
In 2024, Walker bounced back and forth between AAA and the Mets, relieving in 25 game in the minors and ten in the majors. He again pitched well in AAA, including a K/9 of 12.2, but was less successful in the majors, with an ERA of 5.11 and a 1.5 WHIP. The Pirates acquired Walker for DSL pitcher Nicolas Carreno after the Mets designated him for assignment in late July. The Pirates then designated him for assignment ten days later, released him, and signed him to a minor league deal five days after that. He ended up throwing nine relief innings for Indianapolis and allowing eight earned runs. He wasn’t as bad as the run total suggests, as he gave up ten hits and just one walk, while fanning 11.
Stats
Transactions
June 14, 2017: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 37th round, 1117th overall pick; signed on June 18.
May 16, 2023: Contract purchased by the New York Mets.
July 30, 2024: Traded by the New York Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Nicolas Carreno.
August 10, 2024: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August 15, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.