Enjoys drinking wine...After the news of his deal with the Mets began to break, Walker posted a photo of a bottle of GTS wine, produced at Seaver Vineyards in California...Wore 00 on his jersey in Toronto in 2020, but passed on the opportunity to wear 00 in New York...He wanted to leave 00 to Mr. Met...Instead, he is the second Met to don a #99 jersey, after Turk Wendell, who wore the number from 1997-2001...Wendell sent Walker a package with black licorice, a shark tooth necklace and a toothbrush, all of which were commonly eaten, worn and used by him during his career...Owns over 1,000 pairs of sneakers...Is an avid golfer throughout the year...His favorite athlete growing up was Kobe Bryant...His favorite baseball player was José Reyes and he rooted for the Mets because of him...Even tried to emulate Reyes as a switch-hitter...Is focused on helping children in foster care...Has previously worked with Arizona Helping Hands to help fund essential needs for foster children...Learned to cook during the COVID lockdown...Grills a mean steak and loves to make tacos...Often posts his culinary creations on social media...Played basketball in high school...Averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds per game at Yucaipa (CA) High School...Played shortstop on his high school baseball team.
2021
Underwent a debridement procedure on his right knee on January 14, 2022...The surgery was performed by Dr. Michael Lee at the Orthopedic Surgery Center of Arizona...Made his first career All-Star team...Started 29 games and pitched in 30 games, twice as many as his 15 games pitched from 2018-20 combined...Tossed 159.0 innings in those 30 games, the second-most of his career and the second-most on the Mets...Had a 2.17 ERA (13 earned runs/54.0 innings) through his first 10 starts as a Met...That is tied for the second-lowest ERA in franchise history through 10 starts with the team...His performance declined in the second half after his All-Star level performance in the first half...He went 0-8 with a 7.13 ERA (51 earned runs/64.1 innings) in 13 second-half starts, allowing 20 home runs in that stretch...Was 7-3 with a 2.50 ERA before the All-Star break.
2020
Acquired by the Blue Jays from the Mariners on Aug. 27...From that point through the end of the season, ranked second in the majors (min. 25.0 innings) with a 1.37 ERA...Among AL pitchers with at least 50.0 innings pitched, ranked tied for seventh in ERA (2.70), 11th in opponents’ average (.214) and 12th in hits per nine innings (7.26)...Went 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA (four earned runs/26.1 innings) in six starts with Toronto...Was 2-2 with a 4.00 ERA (12 earned runs/27.0 innings) in five starts with Seattle...Retired all nine batters faced while striking out four in his last start, a tuneup for the playoffs on Sept. 25 vs. Baltimore...Made his Blue Jays debut on Aug. 29 vs. Baltimore...Earned the win with 6.0 scoreless innings in what was the 100th start of his career...Became the 2nd player in Blue Jays history to wear 00, joining Cliff Johnson (1983-1986).
2019
Made only 1 appearance with the Diamondbacks, getting the start on Sept. 29 vs. SD and tossing 1.0 scoreless inning with 1 hit and 1 strikeout...Missed the majority of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery, performed by Dr. David Altchek on April 25, 2018...suffered the original injury (torn right ulnar collateral ligament) on April 14, 2018.
2018
Made just 3 starts with the Diamondbacks before suffering a torn right ulnar collateral ligament on April 14 at Los Angeles-NL...underwent Tommy John surgery on April 25 in New York (performed by Dr. David Altchek).
2017
Had a career-best 3.49 ERA while his .247 opponent average matched his career low (also: 2016)...his 146 strikeouts were the second-most of his career (157 in 2015) as were his 157.1 innings (169.2 in 2015)...In 15 starts vs. NL West (team was 10-5), he went 8-3 with a 2.94 ERA, a .230 opponent average and 86 strikeouts...With runners in scoring position, held opponents to a .199 average with 35 strikeouts, the third-best mark in the NL and tied for fifth in the Majors with Ervin Santana behind Andrew Cashner (.170), Gio Gonzalez (.175), Charlie Morton (.190) and Johnny Cueto (.193). POSTSEASON: Made the start in NLDS Game 1 @ Dodgers (4 ER in 1.0 IP).
2016
Went 8-11 with a 4.22 ERA (63 ER in 134.1 IP) in 25 starts for the Mariners...Posted a 2.70 ERA (15 ER in 50.0 IP) in his fi rst 9 starts...On the disabled list from July 6-Aug. 6 with right foot tendinitis...Recorded 2 outings of at least 8.0 scoreless innings with 3 or fewer hits and 10+ strikeouts (June 8 vs. Indians and Sept. 13 @ Angels)…joined Clayton Kershaw and Jaime Garcia as the only pitchers to do so in 2016...Threw his first career shutout on Sept. 13 @ Angels, striking out 11 with 0 walks…retired the first 17 batters before Kaleb Cowart reached on an error with 2 outs in the sixth inning…allowed his first hit to Kole Calhoun leading off the seventh...Was 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA (4 ER in 10.2 IP) in 2 starts with Triple-A Tacoma...Acquired by the D-backs on Nov. 23, with INF Ketel Marte, for INF Jean Segura, OF Mitch Haniger and LHP Zac Curtis...Underwent surgery on his right ankle on Oct. 17 to remove a bone fragment and spurs (performed by Dr. Nicholas Siebert in Seattle).
2015
The Totals - Was 11-8 with a 4.56 ERA (86 ER, 169.2 IP) with 157 strikeouts in 29 starts. ... Team Ranks - On the Mariners staff ranked 2nd in wins (11), starts (29), innings (169.2) and strikeouts (157). ... Sit 'Em Down - Struck out 8.33 batters per 9.0 innings, 11th-best in American League…his 157 strikeouts ranked 17th in the American League. ... Strong Finish - Was 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA (51 ER, 126.2 IP) with 118 strikeouts in his final 20 starts…was 1-5 with a 7.33 ERA (35 ER, 43.0 IP) with 39 strikeouts in his first 9 starts. ... Winning Ways - Seattle won 15 of his last 20 starts after going 2-7 in his first 9 starts. ... Double Digits - Became 4th Mariners starter to win 10 games before his age 23 season and first since Felix Hernandez won 14 as a 21-year-old in 2007…others to win 10 games before 23: Felix (12 wins in 2006 at age 20; 14 wins in 2007 at age 21), Dave Fleming (17 wins in 1992 at age 22) and Freddy Garcia (17 wins in 1999 at age 22). ... That'll Do - Shut down for the season to limit his inning count after his start on Sept. 14th. ... New Territory - Pitched 169.2 innings, the most innings in any of his professional seasons…previous career-high (MLB + MiLB) was 156.1 with Seattle (15.0), AAA Tacoma (57.1) and AA Jackson (84.0) in 2013...tossed a combined 120.1 IP in 2014. ... Road Warrior - Was 6-0 with a 2.47 ERA (18 ER, 65.2 IP) with 57 strikeouts in his final 10 road starts…was 1-4 with 9.79 ERA (29 ER, 26.2 IP) with 19 strikeouts in his first 6 starts. ... One-Hitter - Recorded a 1-hitter July 31 at Minnesota (9.0,1,1,1,1,11,HR)…recorded the 12th 1-hitter (11th of the 9-inning variety) and the 15th start allowing 1 or 0 hits in Mariners history…3rd-youngest pitcher to toss a 1-hitter in club history…matched career-best with 11 strikeouts (6/20/15 vs. HOU)…lone hit and run allowed came off solo home run by Sano with 2 outs in 4th inning…only 2 other batters reached: walk to Mauer in 1st and Hunter reached on error in 7th. ... Age Is Nothing But A Number - His 1-hitter came at 22 years, 352 days old, becoming the 3rd-youngest pitcher to toss a 1-hitter in club history: Felix Hernandez-21.003, Gil Meche-21.279…according to the Elias Sports Bureau since 1969, only 4 other pitchers have thrown a CG with no more than 1 hit with 10+ strikeouts before turning 23: Dennis Eckersley (no-hitter) in 1977, Dwight Gooden in 1984, Kerry Wood (20-strikeout game) in 1998, and Shelby Miller in 2013.
2014
Went 2-3, 2.61ERA (11 ER, 38.0 IP) in 8 G/5 GS in three stints with the Mariners... Threw first career complete game in a 1-0 loss Sept. 24 atToronto (8.0,4,1,1,1,6)... Posted a 2.83 ERA (9 ER, 28.2 IP) with 16 walks and 27 strikeouts in 5 starts... Made 3 relief appearances, posting a 1.93 ERA(2 ER, 9.1 IP)…allowed 1 run in 6.0innings of relief Sept. 1 at Oakland... On the 15-day disabled list March 29 (retro to 3/21)-June 10 with a right shoulder impingement…included rehab starts with A High Desert (0-0, 2.08, 1 GS), AAJackson (1-0, 0.00, 1 GS) and Triple-A Tacoma... Went 6-4, 4.81 ERA (39 ER, 73.0 IP) in 14 starts for Triple-A Tacoma…averaged 9.12 K/9.0 IP (74 K, 73.0 IP)... Allowed 3 hits and struck out 10 in 5.0 scoreless innings for Jackson April 9 in a rehab start... Named the PCL Pitcher of the Week (June 23-29)…postedfirst career shutout June 24 vs. Oklahoma City (9.0,4,0,0,1,8)... Prior to the season rated as the No. 6 (MLB.com), No. 8 (Baseball Prospectus) and No. 11 (Baseball America) prospect in baseball... Made 2 starts with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League (0-0, 2.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 2 R, 2 BB, 11 SO)..
2013
Went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA (6 ER, 15.0 IP) in 3 starts with the Mariners. 5th-youngest starting pitcher to make MLB debut in club history (21 years, 17 days). Made Major League debut Aug. 30 at Houston (5.0,2,1,0,1,2), recording the win…is the youngest Mariners starting pitcher to win MLB debut (21.017). Named Mariners Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. Split the minor league season between AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma, combining to go 9-10 with a 2.93 ERA (46 ER, 141.1 IP). Averaged 10.19 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (160 strikeouts) over 25 starts in the minors…T7th among minor league pitchers with 160 strikeouts. Led all Mariners farmhands in strikeouts and finished T2nd in wins. Pitched in the MLB All-Star Futures Game (1.0,0,0,0,1,0) and was selected as a Southern League All-Star this season (did not pitch due to promotion to AAA). Promoted to Tacoma from Jackson and made his Triple-A debut on June 25 vs. Fresno. Named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 19-25. Was the youngest player in the PCL and 2nd-youngest in Triple-A. Listed by MLB.com as the No. 2 right-handed pitching prospect.
2012
Spent entire season with AA Jackson...named a Southern League All-Star and pitched
in the All-Star Futures Game (1.0,0,0,0,0,1)...went 7-10 with a 4.69 ERA (66 ER, 126.2 IP)
overall...struck out 118 batters in 126.2 IP (8.38 K/9.0 IP)...made two starts in the playoffs
going 0-1 with a 0.71 ERA (1 ER, 12.2 IP) with 13 strikeouts...in first 9 starts (April-May)
combined to go 4-1, 2.39 ERA (11 ER, 42.1 IP)...pitched most of the season as a 19-
year old, one of the youngest players in Double-A...No. 2 Southern League prospect by
Baseball America...listed as the Mariners No. 1 prospect by Baseball Prospectus and
No. 2 by Baseball America...enters the season as the No. 2 ranked right-handed pitching
prospect by MLB.com.
2011
Named Mariners Pitcher of the Year and Clinton's Most Valuable Pitcher ... limited opponents to a .202 (69x341) average, including a .187 (34x182) vs. right-handed batters ... was 0-2 with a 9.95 ERA over his first 2 starts of the season, but went 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA (24 ER, 90.1 IP) over last 16 starts...logged team-best 16.1-consecutive scoreless innings from May 26-June 12, spanning 4 starts ... recorded 7 quality starts, including
tossing first-career complete game victory July 13 vs. Great Lakes (9.0,2,2,2,1,7,HR) ...
struck out a season-high 11 batters three times and finished with 113 strikeouts in 96.2 innings ... allowed no ER in 6 of his 18 starts ... ranked amongst MWL leaders in lowest opponent average (3rd at .202), highest K/9.0 IP ratio for starters (4th at 10.52), fewest baserunners/9.0 IP for starters (5th at 10.33), strikeouts (6th with 113) and WHIP (8th at 1.12) following final start on Aug. 10 vs. Cedar Rapids ... ranked 19th in the Minors averaging 10.42 K/9.0 IP (113 K, 96.2 IP)...named the top Midwest League prospect in 2011 by Baseball America ... participated in the 2011 Mariners Instructional League ... ranked by MLB.com as the No. 18 prospect in baseball and No. 8 right-handed pitcher ... listed by Baseball America as the Mariners No. 2 prospect.
2010
Began pro career with Peoria in the Arizona League, appearing in 4 games in relief ... recorded a win if first professional appearance July 10 at Royals (2.0,0,0,0,0,3) ... participated in Mariners Instructional League.
