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Josh Walker (baseball)

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Josh Walker
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1994-12-01) December 1, 1994 (age 29)
Otisville, New York, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 16, 2023, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average6.45
Strikeouts23
Teams

Joshua Todd Walker (born December 1, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets.

Amateur career

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Walker attended Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill, New York, where he played football, baseball, and swam. As a senior, he had a 2.60 earned run average (ERA).[1] After high school, he played college baseball for two seasons at the University of South Florida before transferring to the University of New Haven in 2016. In 2017, his senior season at New Haven, he had a 3–1 record and a 2.40 ERA over thirty innings.[2]

Professional career

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New York Mets

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After the season, Walker was selected by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[3] He signed and made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Mets where he posted a 9.42 ERA over 14+1⁄3 innings.[4] In 2018, he played with the Kingsport Mets of the Rookie-level Appalachian League before being promoted to the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Low-A New York–Penn League, pitching to a 3.27 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 41+1⁄3 innings. Walker pitched only six innings in 2019 after being in a car accident that injured his left arm, and he did not play a game in 2020 after the minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]

To begin the 2021 season, Walker was assigned to Brooklyn (now members of the High-A East) and was promoted to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies of the Double-A Northeast and the Syracuse Mets of the Triple-A East during the season.[6][7] Over 21 games (twenty starts) between the three clubs, Walker pitched to a 9-4 record, a 3.73 ERA, and 98 strikeouts over 115+2⁄3 innings.[8] He returned to Syracuse to begin the 2022 season on the injured list.[9] He made rehab appearances with the Florida Complex League Mets and the St. Lucie Mets before he was assigned to Syracuse; over 22 innings pitched for the season between the three teams, he went 3-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 38 strikeouts.[10]

Walker began the 2023 season with Syracuse, where he made nine appearances and logged a 0.68 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 16, 2023, Walker was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11] In 14 games for the Mets, he struggled to an 8.10 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings of work. On August 14, Walker was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain.[12] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 17.[13]

Walker was optioned to Triple–A Syracuse to begin the 2024 season.[14][15] In 10 games for the Mets, he recorded a 5.11 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 12+1⁄3 innings pitched. Walker was designated for assignment following the acquisition of Ryne Stanek on July 26.[16]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On July 30, 2024, Walker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Nicolas Carreno.[17][18] After one appearance for the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, the Pirates designated Walker for assignment on August 9.[19] He was released by the organization the next day.[20] Walker re-signed with the Pirates on a minor league contract on August 15.[21] On November 6, he elected free agency.[22]

References

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  1. ^ "MLB Draft Rounds 31-40: Mets Finish Day Three with Son of Edgardo Alfonzo". June 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "MV grad Walker surprised by draft selection - Sports - recordonline.com - Middletown, NY". Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Minisink grad Walker gets the call from Mets - Sports - recordonline.com - Middletown, NY". Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Minisink grad Walker progressing through Mets farm system - Sports - recordonline.com - Middletown, NY". Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Mets prospect, MV grad continues big-league quest".
  6. ^ "Mets Pitching Prospect Josh Walker Finding Rhythm in Binghamton".
  7. ^ "For Josh Walker It's All About Execution". August 5, 2021.
  8. ^ "Toughest top prospect 40-man decisions". MLB.com.
  9. ^ "Here's where the Mets' Top 30 prospects are starting '22". MLB.com.
  10. ^ "Josh Walker Stats, Fantasy & News".
  11. ^ Fornabaio, Michael (May 16, 2023). "Mets call up Josh Walker, former University of New Haven pitcher". Connecticut Post. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Monday's transactions". Associated Press. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Mets' Mark Vientos placed on the IL with tendonitis in his left wrist". Newsday. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Francisco Alvarez and Pete Alonso homer, Luis Severino sharp in Mets' win". Newsday. March 8, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  15. ^ Sanchez, Mark W. (March 9, 2024). "Luis Severino tosses another scoreless outing for Mets". New York Post. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Gorman, Kevin (July 30, 2024). "Pirates acquire lefty reliever Josh Walker from Mets in trade deadline deal". Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Pirates acquire left-handed pitcher Josh Walker from the New York Mets". MLB.com. July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  18. ^ Behanna, Garrett (July 30, 2024). "Pittsburgh Pirates acquire pitcher Josh Walker from New York Mets for pitcher Nicolas Carreno". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Domingo Germán returns to majors in relief appearance for Pirates". ESPN.com. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  20. ^ https://www.mlb.com/transactions/2024/08/10
  21. ^ https://www.milb.com/player/josh-walker-677020
  22. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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