PITTSBURGH -- It must have been the home cooking. Or maybe it was four nights sleeping in his own bed. Either way, Neil Walker clearly loves Pittsburgh, and his hometown still seems to love him back.
In his first season with Miami, Walker made his first trip to Pittsburgh during the 2019 season this week, and in the Marlins' 10-7 victory on Thursday night, he put up a performance that harkened back to his younger days with the Pirates.
Walker was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a walk, a run and a stolen base -- just his third of the season -- at PNC Park, as the Marlins took two of three to claim their first road series victory since late July.
“I’ve obviously played a lot of games in this ballpark,” Walker said after the victory. “Standing in that batter’s box looking out there and seeing the skyline and the ballpark is something that is pretty comfortable to me.”
The 33-year-old played for Pittsburgh from 2009-15 and was cheered by fans in attendance, including his wife and young daughter, Nora.
“That was really special,” he said. “They haven’t come to a lot of games. She just turned 3, so she’s really young. I looked over there at one point and saw her and I just couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. That was a really special moment.”
Walker has had a solid 2019 after down year offensively with the Yankees in '18. But one of the biggest reasons he was brought to Miami was his ability to influence the young players that the Marlins are grooming for the future.
“He is one of our guys that’s been a leader with our young guys,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “With him and Grandy [Curtis Granderson], Star [Starlin Castro] and Martin [Prado], those guys are willing to help other guys. And it’s so important to have those kind of guys when you have a club that’s building and trying to teach the game.”
It’s a role that the affable Walker has slid into comfortably all season, but it has taken on extra importance with the swelling of the ranks due to September callups.
“These are important days for these guys,” Walker said. “As a veteran player, you were in those shoes a long time ago. You certainly remember the advice and the things you saw out of the veteran guys when you were a rookie.”
Of course, with Walker’s veteran status also comes the realization that nights like Thursday are not guaranteed to last forever. Between his night in front of family and the historic duel between brothers Brian and Colin Moran, it made for a moment to remember.
“It’s always appreciated every time we come here,” Walker said.