| Neil Walker | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Walker with the Phillies in 2020 | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born: (1985-09-10)September 10, 1985 (age 40) Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 2009, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 8, 2020, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .267 |
| Home runs | 149 |
| Runs batted in | 609 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Neil Martin Andrew Walker (born September 10, 1985) is an American former professionalbaseballsecond baseman and current broadcaster. He played 12 seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePittsburgh Pirates,New York Mets,Milwaukee Brewers,New York Yankees,Miami Marlins, andPhiladelphia Phillies.[1]
Walker was drafted by his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the2004 MLB draft, and made hisMLB debut with them in 2009. He won aSilver Slugger Award in 2014.[1] After his retirement in 2021, Walker joined the Pirates broadcast team as acolor analyst.[2]
Walker, the son of former major league pitcherTom Walker (1972–77),[3] was born inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, he grew up outside of Pittsburgh in the nearby North Hills suburbs and attendedPine-Richland High School. He graduated in 2004. He playedcatcher on the baseball team and awide receiver for the football team. Walker, who also played on the Rams' basketball team until his senior year, was a two-timePittsburgh Post-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year.[4] His baseball uniform number #24, was retired from Pine-Richland during apre-game ceremony before the Pittsburgh Pirates' July 22, 2010, game.[5]
Neil grew up as a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and attended many of the team's games while sitting in the "Peanut Heaven" section ofThree Rivers Stadium. In 1994, he attended theAll-Star Game, where he obtained the signatures ofKen Griffey Jr. andFrank Thomas. To this day, those signed baseballs are among his most prized baseball possessions. Prior to being drafted by the Pirates, Walker approached theUniversity of Pittsburgh andPenn State about doubling in baseball andfootball; however, he passed on those options out of concern that Penn State wanted him to add 60 pounds and become atight end.[citation needed]
ThePittsburgh Pirates selected Walker in the first round of the2004 Major League Baseball draft. At the beginning of the 2007 season and after three minor league campaigns,[6]Baseball America rated him No. 74 on their list of Top 100 prospects, and No. 3 in the Pirates' organization, behindAndrew McCutchen andBrad Lincoln.[7][8]
In 2007, the Pirates invited Walker tospring training as a non-roster player, where he was converted from his drafted position ofcatcher tothird baseman. He was sent back to the Pirates Double-A affiliateAltoona Curve where he spent the majority of the season. On May 15, 2007, he became the first Curve player to have a four-hit game, going 4-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI against thePortland Sea Dogs.[9] Walker hit a pair of two-run home runs on May 27, 2007, helping the Curve end a 10-game losing streak against theBowie Baysox.[10] He hit agrand slam and drove in five runs on June 28, 2007, in the second game of a double-header against theTrenton Thunder.[11]
Walker was promoted to the Triple-AIndianapolis Indians for the 2008 season, where he played 133 games, compiling a .242 average with 16 home runs, 80 RBI and 10 stolen bases.[12]
Walker spent the majority of the season again with the Pirates Triple-A affiliateIndianapolis Indians. In 95 games, he hit .264 with 69 RBI and 5 stolen bases. He received his first Major League call-up on September 1, 2009, and served as a pinch-hitter for Pirates starterCharlie Morton that night against theCincinnati Reds. His first career hit came five days later againstJason Motte of theSt. Louis Cardinals, a single to right field. He never became an every day regular player and finished the season hitting .194 in 17 games.
Walker spent most ofspring training with the Pirates inBradenton, Florida, before being reassigned back to the Indians. He hit .321 with six home runs, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 43 games with Indianapolis and on May 25, 2010, he was called back up to the Pirates whenfirst basemanSteve Pearce was placed on thedisabled list with a sprained ankle.[13]
He made his first Major League start of the year that night against the Cincinnati Reds, playing atthird base. He hit an RBI double in the 8th inning off Reds starterMike Leake. But his role on the team was initially in question, asAndy LaRoche had been the Pirates every day third baseman. With starting second basemanAkinori Iwamura struggling, Pirates managerJohn Russell played Walker at second base – a position where he had only played 23 career games at any level.[14] He hit his first Major League home run on June 1, 2010, offChicago Cubs starterTed Lilly.[15]
Walker missed hitting for the cycle by only atriple on June 25, 2010, against theOakland Athletics. He doubled and scored a run in the first inning, singled in the third and then hit his 3rd home run off Athletics starterBen Sheets. However, he was forced to leave the game after being nearly knocked unconscious by teammateRyan Church's knee when the two accidentally collided going for a fly ball.[16] He then missed the following seven games with concussion-like symptoms before returning to action on July 3.
Walker scored a career-high three times in a 12–6 win over theHouston Astros on July 17, 2010. He hit 3rd in the Pirates batting order, going 3-for-5 with 3 runs and 2 RBI. He set another career high three days later, recording five hits in one game against theMilwaukee Brewers, finishing the night 5-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Walker became the first Pirate rookie since fellow Pittsburgh nativeJohn Wehner in 1991 to have a five-hit game.[17] His hitting tear was finally ended on July 23, 2010, against theSan Diego Padres, after recording six straight multi-hit games. He was batting .593 in that time (16-for-27) with four runs scored and eight RBIs.
Walker kicked off August with three hits while driving in a career-high four runs in a 7–6 win over theCincinnati Reds on August 3, 2010.[18] Walker played a pivotal role in a series win over theSt. Louis Cardinals, driving in three runs againstCy Young hopefulAdam Wainwright on August 24 and then repeating the feat the very next day againstJake Westbrook.[19] Following his performances against St. Louis, Walker then went on an 18-game hitting streak, from August 23 through September 12. The streak was the longest by any Pirate hitter in 2010 and the longest by any Pirate rookie sinceRennie Stennett also recorded an 18-game streak in 1971.[20]
Walker finished the 2010 season batting .296 with 12 home runs and 66 RBIs. His 54 RBIs after theAll-Star Break tied with Cardinals sluggerAlbert Pujols for the 3rd best mark in the National League.
He was named the second baseman onBaseball America's 2010 All-Rookie Team.[21] He was also named the second baseman on the 2010ToppsMajor League Rookie All-Star Team.[22]
After playing nearly every position on the diamond fromcatcher to the outfield, Walker finally settled in as a Major League second-baseman.
New Pirates managerClint Hurdle was also full of praise for Walker, who reported early to training camp with the pitchers and catchers, saying "He was really thrown into the fire last season, having to learn the position at the major league level, which is challenging and very difficult, but, to his credit, he pulled it off."[20]
Walker hit his first career Major League grand slam on opening day, April 1, 2011, in the 5th inning offChicago Cubs starterRyan Dempster, joiningRoberto Clemente as the only Pirates players to hit a grand slam on opening day.[23] On May 20, Walker's bobblehead night at PNC Park, he drove in a career-high 5 RBIs against theDetroit Tigers in a 10–1 Pirate win.[24]
After dealing with various back issues in August and September, Walker was shut down for the season on September 29 with aherniated disc in his back.[25]
Walker was activated from the disabled list on May 13 after spending some time with the Altoona Curve.[26]
Walker was placed on thedisabled list June 9 after undergoing an emergencyAppendectomy thus allowing a roster spot for top prospectGregory Polanco.[27] On Opening Day March 31, Walker hit a walk off home run in a 1–0 victory in the 10th against the Chicago Cubs. On September 14, Walker hit his 20th home run of the season (a new career high) also setting a new record for home runs in a season by Pirates second-basemen, a record which was previously held byBill Mazeroski.[28]
Walker ended the 2014 campaign with a .271 average with 23 home runs and 76 runs batted in. He became the first Pirates second baseman since Johnny Ray in 1983 to win the silver slugger award.
On May 9, 2015, during a 7–5 win over the Cardinals, the Pirates became the first MLB team to turn a 4–5–4triple play. The play occurred when the Cardinals'Yadier Molina lined out to Walker. Walker threw toJung-ho Kang at third base to double offJhonny Peralta for the second out. Kang then threw the ball back to Walker, who was standing on second base, for the final out afterJason Heyward froze between second and third.[29]
On December 9, 2015, the Pirates traded Walker to theNew York Mets forJon Niese.[30] On January 29, 2016, Walker signed a one-year, $10.55 million deal avoiding arbitration.[31]
On April 23, 2016, Walker hit his 100th career home run in a game against theAtlanta Braves.[32] On April 27, Walker hit his 9th home run of April, tying a Mets franchise monthly record.[33] On September 9, Walker underwent alumbarmicrodiscectomy atHospital for Special Surgery in New York, ending his season. Despite appearing in only 113 games, Walker tied a career high with 23 home runs and finished with a .282 batting average.[34] After the season, Walker became a free agent for the first time in his career.
On November 14, 2016, Walker signed a qualifying offer from the Mets for one year worth $17.2 million.[35] On June 14, Walker suffered a partial tear in his lefthamstring and was placed on the disabled list the following day.[36] On July 28, Walker was activated from the disabled list.[37] On August 8 atCiti Field, Walker made his first career Major League start atfirst base.[38]
On August 12, 2017, Walker was traded to theMilwaukee Brewers for aplayer to be named later (Eric Hanhold).[39]
On March 12, 2018, Walker signed a one-year, $4 million contract with theNew York Yankees.[40] On August 9, 2018, in a game against theTexas Rangers, he hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game for the first time in his career.
Walker signed a one-year contract for $2 million with theMiami Marlins on January 29, 2019.[41] Walker elected free agency after the season ended on October 31.
On January 22, 2020, Walker signed a minor league deal with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[42] On August 13, 2020, he pitched2⁄3 of an inning, facing 3 batters, walking 1, for a 0.00ERA in the Phillies 11-4 loss to theBaltimore Orioles.[43][44] He was designated for assignment on September 11. Walker was outrighted two days later but refused his outright assignment and elected free agency on September 14.[45]
On April 20, 2021, Walker announced his retirement from professional baseball.[46] In July, it was announced that Walker would be joining the Pirates broadcast team for select games. He made his broadcasting debut in Pittsburgh on August 18, serving as the color analyst during a doubleheader with the Brewers.[47][48] Walker was promoted to a full time commentator prior to the2022 season.[49]
Neil's brother, Matt, played outfield forGeorge Washington University and in the minor leagues in theDetroit Tigers andBaltimore Orioles systems. Neil's other brother, Sean, pitched forGeorge Mason University.[50] His sister, Carrie, is a former professionalbasketball player.[51] Carrie marriedDon Kelly, a fellow Major League Baseball player. His uncle,Chip Lang is a formerMontreal Expos pitcher.[50]
Walker attended high school with his future wife, Niki, who was one year ahead of him; however, they did not begin dating until a few years after he began his professional baseball career.[52] The couple's first child, a daughter, was born on August 23, 2016.[53]
During the 2010 season, Walker was one of only two Major League players to still live with his parents. The other was pitcherTyson Ross. "He's really not thrilled about that. We try to give him his space," said his mother Carolyn, although Walker himself said he loves life at home.[54] However, Walker announced at Pirate Camp prior to the 2011 season that his mom finally kicked him out of theirNorth Hills area home.[20]
Walker idolizedBill Mazeroski as a youth and received instruction from the great Pirates second-baseman during spring training, which provided invaluable help when Walker was called upon to play the position afterAkinori Iwamura's struggles.[55][56] He was also a fan of Pirates' outfielderAndy Van Slyke, whom he watched play at Three Rivers Stadium.[50]
Walker is aCatholic.[57] He led the effort to provide weeklyMass to fellow Catholics on the Pirates as well as Catholics from the visiting team. Walker states that Mass services are an important part of his life because they "combat the negative qualities" found in living the lifestyle of a Major League Baseball player.[57] He also was a guest on Blessed2Play, a national radio show hosted by Ron Meyer where Neil discussed his faith and career.[58]
Walker's father (Tom), a former teammate ofRoberto Clemente, reflected about his son's career when discussing Clemente's death in 1972. Before taking off on the flight that he would die on, Clemente insisted that Walker's father not join him on his humanitarian mission. Walker's father said Clemente saved his life and allowed him to have his family, including Neil Walker.[59]
