Met his now wife, Alexis, while at Washington State...Alexis was a psychology major born and raised in San Francisco...At WSU, she was a star volleyball player who left WSU first in career digs (2,152), second in digs per set (4.26) and 10th in service ace (39)...They were married on Sept. 25, 2021...Ryan and Alexis welcomed their first child in Aug. 2023, a girl named Rylie...The couple makes their offseason home in Arizona...When Ryan is in San Francisco during the season, he stays with Alexis’ parents...During the 2020 shutdown, Walker wasn’t sure if the Giants would cut him loose. He got a job as a locksmith working 10 hours a day “because I had nothing else to do and wanted to make as much money as I could.” It also turned out he really liked locksmithing...He also was able to focus on what he needed to do in baseball. He found a former Giants trainer to train him for free. He got up at 5 a.m. to drive to the gym 45 minutes away. After the workouts, he’d go to his locksmith gig. He ended up gaining an extra five mph of velocity that offseason...When he was in college, his team took a 10-day trip to the Dominican Republic, where they played against the police and navy baseball teams in Santo Domingo, as well as some of the complex league teams out there.
2024
His 76 appearances were fifth-most in MLB and second in the National League behind teammate Tyler Rogers...His 10 wins as a reliever were tied with Houston’s Hector Neris for the most in the Majors, while his 0.85 WHIP ranked as the sixth-best figure in the NL and his 1.94 ERA ranked as the seventh-lowest earned run average in the National League (among qualified NL relievers)...Struck out 99 batters over 80 IP (11.1 K/9.0)...His 32.1% strikeout rate ranked in the top 6% of MLB...Walker’s 97 strikeouts as a reliever (he had two in the one game he opened) were the most by a Giants reliever in a single season since Robb Nen struck out 110 in 1998...Did not allow an earned run in 15 games from June 2-July 7 (17.0 IP)...Used his slider 44.8% of the time and held opponents to a .157 average (21-for-134) with a 38.0 Whiff%, the best figures of his pitches...His sinker had a +14 run value, the sixth-best sinker in baseball in terms of run value...He used the pitch 54.8% of the time in 2024...Named the closer on Aug. 9 when RHP Camilo Doval was optioned to Triple-A…Went 1-0 and was 2-for-2 in save chances and did not allow a run in seven innings of work over five games in Doval’s absence...Also struck out 16 batters in seven innings and posted a 0.86 WHIP...Remained the closer after Doval‘s return and finished with a 3-1 record with a 0.92 ERA and was 10-for-10 in save chances over 17 total games in the closer role...Had 250 friends and family members in Seattle to see him pitch...Converted a save and tossed three scoreless innings with seven strikeouts over two games at T-Mobile Park from Aug. 23-25...Owned a 1.21 ERA (4 ER, 29.2 IP) in 28 games after the break with 37 strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs in his last 22 games (24.1 innings) dating to July 30...Opponents had a 30.2% hard-hit rate, which ranked inside the top 2% in MLB.
2023
Started the year at Triple-A Sacramento and appeared in 15 games with the River Cats before having his contract selected on May 19...His 0.89 ERA (2er, 20.1ip) with Sacramento prior to his promotion was tops in the Giants organization (min. 20.0ip)...had a 31.1% strikeout rate...Made his MLB debut on May 21 vs. Miami...earned the win as he tossed 1.0-scoreless inning...Appeared out of the ‘pen in each of his first 11 games, but took over the role of opener on June 19 after RHP John Brebbia landed on the IL. Started 13 games for SF and had a 2.21 ERA (5er, 20.1ip) with 32 strikeouts (14.16 K/9ip)...the Giants won each of his first seven starts...Posted a 5-2 record and 3.73 ERA in 36 relief outings...Was on the Paternity List from Aug. 19-22 as he and his wife, Alexis, welcomed their first child — a girl name Rylie...Notched first career save on Aug. 23 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia...His 26.4% opposing hard hit rate was fifth-best in the Majors...Walker’s 11.45 K/9ip ratio was the best by a Giants rookie pitcher since 1958 (min. 30.0ip in his rookie season).
2022
Started back at Double-A and made 43 appearances before his first promotion to Triple-A, four years after he’d been drafted.
2021
Returned to the High-A level, this time with SF’s new affiliate in Eugene. Made 40 appearances there before a late season promotion to Double-A Richmond. Spent the last month of the year at Double-A.
2018
Pitched at three levels after being drafted by SF in the 31st round earlier in the year. Walker reached High-A San Jose.
