Taijuan Walker, Starting Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
Date of Birth: 8/13/1992
Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana
Taijuan Walker, starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, was first drafted by the Seattle Mariners in June, 2010. He played in the minor leagues from 2010 through most of 2014, joining the Mariners for three games in 2013 and eight games in 2014.
As a minor leaguer from 2010 through 2014, Walker pitched 453.2 innings in 88 games. He had a 3.65 ERA, a 30-30 win-loss record, and 491 strikeouts to 176 walks. In 2014, he pitched 38.0 innings for the Mariners. During that time, he had a 2.61 ERA and a 2-3 record.
In 2015, his first full season in the majors, Walker pitched in 29 games with the Mariners. He finished the season with an 11-8 record, 157 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 4.56 ERA in 169.2 innings. On July 31st, he pitched a complete game one-hitter. He threw 100 pitches and struck out 11 batters. The only hit he gave up was a home run to Miguel Sano of the Minnesota Twins.
Walker pitched in 25 games with the Mariners in 2016. He finished the season with a 4.22 ERA, 8 wins to 11 losses, and 119 strikeouts to 37 walks in 134.1 games.
The Mariners traded Walker to the Arizona Diamondbacks on November 23, 2016. He finished the 2017 season with 9 wins and 9 losses, 146 strikeouts to 61 walks, and a 3.49 ERA in 157.1 innings in 28 games.
Walker had season ending Tommy John surgery on April 25, 2018. Prior to going on the DL, he pitched 13.0 innings in 3 games and he had a 3.46 ERA.
Walker spent most of the 2019 season on the DL, recovering from Tommy John surgery. He pitched just 1.0 innings in 1 game with the Diamondbacks.
Walker became a free agent on December 2, 2019. He rejoined the Mariners on a new contract on February 12, 2020. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on August 27, 2020. He finished the season with 4 wins and 3 losses, 50 strikeouts to 19 walks, and a 2.70 ERA in 5 games with the Mariners and 6 games with the Blue Jays.
Walker became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He signed with the New York Mets on February 20, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 7 wins and 11 losses, 146 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 4.47 ERA in 159.0 innings in 30 games.
Walker became a free agent on November 7, 2022. He signed with the Phillies on December 16th.
Career pitching statistics for Walker through 2021 include:
- 138 games played
- 740.2 innings pitched
- 42-45 win-loss record
- 674 strikeouts to 239 walks
- 3.97 ERA
Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Taijuan Walker
ESPN - Taijuan Walker
Baseball Reference - Taijuan Walker