Biographical
Taijuan Walker PMets |
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2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 26)
| IP | ERA | WHIP | SO | W | L | SV | WARP |
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- 1.92015
- 1.32016
- 1.22017
- 0.02018
- 0.22019
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WARP Summary
MLB Statistics
Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shown —Click to hide.
| YEAR | Team | Lg | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | H | BB | SO | HR | PPF | H/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | K/9 | GB% | BABIP | WHIP | FIP | ERA | cFIP | DRA | DRA- | WARP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | SEA | MLB | 3 | 3 | 15.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 97 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 7.2 | 0% | .250 | 1.00 | 2.27 | 3.60 | 87 | 3.56 | 85.2 | 0.3 |
| 2014 | SEA | MLB | 8 | 5 | 38.0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 18 | 34 | 2 | 96 | 7.3 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 8.1 | 0% | .282 | 1.29 | 3.71 | 2.61 | 109 | 4.84 | 118.7 | 0.0 |
| 2015 | SEA | MLB | 29 | 29 | 169.7 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 163 | 40 | 157 | 25 | 101 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 8.3 | 0% | .291 | 1.20 | 4.03 | 4.56 | 103 | 4.11 | 96.1 | 1.9 |
| 2016 | SEA | MLB | 25 | 25 | 134.3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 129 | 37 | 119 | 27 | 104 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 8.0 | 45% | .267 | 1.24 | 4.95 | 4.22 | 105 | 4.53 | 100.2 | 1.3 |
| 2017 | ARI | MLB | 28 | 28 | 157.3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 148 | 61 | 146 | 17 | 99 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 8.4 | 50% | .291 | 1.33 | 4.06 | 3.49 | 101 | 4.90 | 104.3 | 1.2 |
| 2018 | ARI | MLB | 3 | 3 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 94 | 10.4 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 6.2 | 45% | .341 | 1.54 | 3.89 | 3.46 | 111 | 5.15 | 115.1 | 0.0 |
| 2019 | ARI | MLB | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 33% | .333 | 1.00 | 1.16 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Career | MLB | 97 | 94 | 528.3 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 498 | 165 | 478 | 72 | 101 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 8.1 | 47% | .282 | 1.25 | 4.19 | 3.95 | 103 | 4.51 | 101.2 | 4.6 | |
Statistics for All Levels
'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
| YEAR | Team | Lg | LG | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | H | BB | SO | HR | PPF | H/9 | BB/9 | HR/9 | K/9 | GB% | BABIP | WHIP | FIP | ERA | cFIP | DRA | DRA- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | MRN | Rk | AZL | 4 | 0 | 7.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 2.6 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 11.6 | 0% | .143 | 0.71 | 3.39 | 1.29 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | |
| 2011 | CLN | A | MID | 18 | 18 | 96.7 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 69 | 39 | 113 | 4 | 94 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 10.5 | 0% | .289 | 1.12 | 2.86 | 2.89 | 84 | 3.39 | 69.3 |
| 2012 | WTN | AA | SOU | 25 | 25 | 126.7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 124 | 50 | 118 | 12 | 105 | 8.8 | 3.6 | 0.9 | 8.4 | 0% | .313 | 1.37 | 3.97 | 4.69 | 99 | 4.96 | 103.4 |
| 2013 | SEA | MLB | AL | 3 | 3 | 15.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 97 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 7.2 | 0% | .250 | 1.00 | 2.27 | 3.60 | 87 | 3.56 | 85.2 |
| 2013 | WTN | AA | SOU | 14 | 14 | 84.0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 58 | 30 | 96 | 6 | 105 | 6.2 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 10.3 | 0% | .259 | 1.05 | 2.83 | 2.46 | 82 | 3.46 | 75.1 |
| 2013 | TAC | AAA | PCL | 11 | 11 | 57.3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 27 | 64 | 5 | 94 | 8.5 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 10.0 | 0% | .331 | 1.41 | 3.98 | 3.61 | 92 | 4.21 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | SEA | MLB | AL | 8 | 5 | 38.0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 18 | 34 | 2 | 96 | 7.3 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 8.1 | 0% | .282 | 1.29 | 3.71 | 2.61 | 109 | 4.84 | 118.7 |
| 2014 | HDS | A+ | CAL | 1 | 1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 126 | 8.3 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 14.5 | 0% | .400 | 1.15 | 1.19 | 2.08 | 59 | 1.91 | 40.5 |
| 2014 | WTN | AA | SOU | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 106 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 18.0 | 0% | .375 | 0.80 | -0.22 | 0.00 | 23 | 1.98 | 42.0 |
| 2014 | TAC | AAA | PCL | 14 | 14 | 73.0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 68 | 25 | 74 | 13 | 86 | 8.4 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 9.1 | 0% | .281 | 1.27 | 5.29 | 4.81 | 112 | 4.40 | 93.1 |
| 2015 | SEA | MLB | AL | 29 | 29 | 169.7 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 163 | 40 | 157 | 25 | 101 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 8.3 | 0% | .291 | 1.20 | 4.03 | 4.56 | 103 | 4.11 | 96.1 |
| 2016 | SEA | MLB | AL | 25 | 25 | 134.3 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 129 | 37 | 119 | 27 | 104 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 8.0 | 45% | .267 | 1.24 | 4.95 | 4.22 | 105 | 4.53 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | TAC | AAA | PCL | 3 | 3 | 15.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 80 | 7.2 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 55% | .220 | 1.33 | 5.58 | 3.60 | 125 | 4.86 | 107.2 |
| 2017 | ARI | MLB | NL | 28 | 28 | 157.3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 148 | 61 | 146 | 17 | 99 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 8.4 | 50% | .291 | 1.33 | 4.06 | 3.49 | 101 | 4.90 | 104.3 |
| 2018 | ARI | MLB | NL | 3 | 3 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 94 | 10.4 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 6.2 | 45% | .341 | 1.54 | 3.89 | 3.46 | 111 | 5.15 | 115.1 |
| 2019 | ARI | MLB | NL | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 33% | .333 | 1.00 | 1.16 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
Plate Discipline
| YEAR | Pits | Zone% | Swing% | Contact% | Z-Swing% | O-Swing% | Z-Contact% | O-Contact% | SwStr% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 233 | 0.5064 | 0.4421 | 0.7476 | 0.6356 | 0.2435 | 0.7733 | 0.6786 | 0.2524 |
| 2014 | 617 | 0.5024 | 0.4571 | 0.7660 | 0.6548 | 0.2573 | 0.8128 | 0.6456 | 0.2340 |
| 2015 | 2618 | 0.5023 | 0.4710 | 0.7640 | 0.6380 | 0.3024 | 0.8415 | 0.5990 | 0.2360 |
| 2016 | 2302 | 0.5070 | 0.4809 | 0.7742 | 0.6470 | 0.3101 | 0.8331 | 0.6477 | 0.2258 |
| 2017 | 2761 | 0.4745 | 0.4415 | 0.7818 | 0.6321 | 0.2695 | 0.8490 | 0.6394 | 0.2182 |
| 2018 | 224 | 0.5580 | 0.3705 | 0.8072 | 0.5280 | 0.1717 | 0.8485 | 0.6471 | 0.1928 |
| Career | 8755 | 0.4963 | 0.4600 | 0.7731 | 0.6368 | 0.2860 | 0.8380 | 0.6312 | 0.2269 |
Injury History — No longer being updated | Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET |
| Date On | Date Off | Transaction | Days | Games | Side | Body Part | Injury | Severity | Surgery Date | Reaggravation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-03-21 | 2014-06-10 | 15-DL | 81 | 63 | Right | Shoulder | Recovery From Inflammation | Bursitis | - | - |
| 2014-02-10 | 2014-03-21 | Camp | 39 | 0 | Right | Shoulder | Inflammation | Bursitis | - | - |
Compensation
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2019 Preseason Forecast | Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET |
| PCT | W | L | SV | G | GS | IP | H | BB | SO | HR | BABIP | WHIP | ERA | DRA | VORP | WARP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted Mean | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 0.0 | ? | 0 | 0 | ? | .000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | ? | 0.0 | 0.0 |
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BP Articles
Click here to see articles tagged with Taijuan WalkerBP Chats
| Date | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-09-11 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What do you think of Taijuan Walker and his new home in Toronto? Is he worth a pick up in shallow leagues? (Chris from DC) | It's a rough move for him because it's Buffalo and the ball is flying out of that park. He is a deep mixed or AL-only player for me depending on the matchups so I'd say no unless you really need to swing for the fences. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2019-07-29 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Heading into year 5 of my rebuild, just kicked off my trade deadline purge by acquiring Taijuan Walker for my Wilson Ramos. Great move, right? (Elton from Pacific Northwest) | I think the move was ok, Elton. If Walker comes back from TJ surgery like a man possessed, then we can talk greatness. (Mark Barry) |
| 2019-06-19 13:00:00 (link to chat) | I've been trying this new strategy in my dynasty league where when I post on our trade block, I refer to my broken players as "IL eligible" to make them sound attractive. As in like, "hey, this pitcher doesn't have an arm but he won't cost you a roster spot!" Do you think anyone will buy it? I'm trying to turn Taijuan Walker into a top-50 or so fantasy prospect. Thanks! (Jonny from Los Angeles) | I appreciate your positivity but no, I don't see you getting a top-50 guy for Walker at this stage. (Craig Goldstein) |
| 2018-02-20 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Last year, ex prospects Smoak, Morrison, and Alonso delivered....who might be 3 ex prospects who can deliver on their top 50 pedigree this year? (Chris from Baltimore) | Dylan Bundy's second half points at upside, and his poor ERA wasn't even due to gopheritis but an oddly low strand rate. Gregory Polanco hasn't quite lived up to his prospect hype, but if you chalk up most of his 2017 struggles to his injuries, he may reach 20/20 with a healthy hamstring. Taijuan Walker had flashes of brilliance last year, but his walk rate jumped. If he is more consistent, and with the humidor, he could provide great value. (Kevin Jebens) |
| 2017-04-28 13:30:00 (link to chat) | Has Taijuan Walker really turned any corner this season? If so, what do you foresee him being going forward, a #2 or #3? (Gene from Los Angeles) | I'd argue this is somehwat more of the same for walker thus far. We've seen him go on runs like this. Off the top of my head I think it was the end of the 2015 season? He had an incredible K/BB and looked like the real deal over ~80 innings. Turned out to be more of the same. Is there some credence to be lent to the fact that he's with a new org and might have some different instruction? Sure, I could buy that but we've seen him dominate for stretches in the past. I think he's a 3/4 right now, and that includes the runs where he looks like a legit 2, because that happens with 3/4 types sometimes. It's the consistency we'd need to see before annointing him further. (Craig Goldstein) |
| 2017-02-21 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What do you make of Taijuan Walker for 2017? (Tony from Work) | First of all, thank you for taking the time out of work to join us! I'm not optimistic. Arizona is one of the most hitter-friendly venues in the game and for a fly ball pitcher who gave up nearly 2.0 HR/9 (1.8 to be exact) I'm terrified. He's had a DRA at or above 4.00 each of the last two years and doesn't strike out over a batter per inning. I don't want to draft Walker this season. (George Bissell) |
| 2016-12-02 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Thoughts on Taijuan Walker. I've held on to him for years in a dynasty league. Not sure I want to use a keeper slot again this year; however,it's an AL only league, he's lost if i drop him. Read he had surgery and feels better than last year. What's his future look like to you? (Jim from Aurora) | I was never really on the bandwagon as a prospect, it was always more an athletic projection than I was comfortable with. A healthy Walker is a useful major league pitcher, but I don't know if he is a great fantasy asset, especially in AZ. Though I half-suspect he will turn into some killer fireman relief arm in five years or something. He may also just keep blowing out. (Jeffrey Paternostro) |
| 2017-01-18 20:00:00 (link to chat) | I'm having a lot of anxiety deciding on my final keeper in a dynasty league. Top of the rotation is easy, but after the first 3, I'm at a loss. Appreciate your opinion of my choices:
Matt Moore, Taijuan Walker, Drew Smyly, Matt Andriese, or Yordano Ventura.
It's an AL only league, but I have an open crossover slot. (Jim from Middlefield) | I still stand with Walker. (Bret Sayre) |
| 2016-03-21 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Do you think Gausman or Taijuan Walker take big steps forward this year? (John from Chicago) | I think we, as baseball fans collectively, should be able to sue the Orioles for damages in light of their complete inability to develop some pretty exciting pitching prospects over the past few years. The Orioles need Gausman, but I've got way more faith in Walker. (Michael Baumann) |
| 2016-03-09 19:00:00 (link to chat) | Thanks for the chat, Mike! Which AL starters do you see having a chance to take a big step up this year?? Thanks for sharing your thoughts. (DJ from Dallas) | I'm a big Danny Salazar fan and could see him jumping up into the top tier. Taijuan Walker is another one I like, although he's no one's sleeper. Jumping further down, Trevor Bauer and Eduardo Rodriguez have the skills, while Jesse Hahn is someone I really want to believe in if he stays healthy. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2016-02-23 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Getting ready to trade Mike Trout for Xander Boegarts and Taijuan Walker…….Do I pull trigger? (msbirt from Greenville, Ohio) | NO! GOD NO! (Matthew Trueblood) |
| 2015-10-19 19:00:00 (link to chat) | Who of these do you have confidence in as they all seem to have their issues, even in dynasty leagues.
Shelby Miller (any offense support); Teheran ( more of his own failure than run support); Taijuan Walker (will new management continue to tinker with his form causing him to veer further and further away from his once astronomical hype); Zach Wheeler (didn't have great control before surgery, post surgery = ?) (Kory from Las Vegas) | Miller bugs me a little bit not so much because of lack of support but because his fastball seemed to lose some movement Post All-Star. He was still throwing hard but didn't have the same kind of results. Teheran looked better Post All-Star and I think will bounce back to a degree. I still like Walker a lot but to your point it's hard to know if the new regime in Seattle will just leave him alone. Wheeler is a total wild card given that TJ recovery paths aren't all alike. (Tout Wars Champ Mike Gianella) |
| 2015-08-12 13:00:00 (link to chat) | In your opinion, who has the best chance to become a fantasy ace of these pitchers: Taijuan Walker, Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard, Tyler Glasnow, or Kevin Gausman? Maybe rank them please! Thank you (James from Kansas City) | Well, since you said please.
Syndergaard, Glasnow, Walker, Matz, Gausman. I only list Gausman last because I hate what the Orioles have done with his development. (Christopher Crawford) |
| 2015-07-23 17:00:00 (link to chat) | If you were a GM, who would you target if you were trying to fleece a desperate, job-on-the-line Jack Z? (Lars from Pluto) | Taijuan Walker, but that assumes that I'm smarter than Jack Z, which I most definitely am not. If anything, it seems that GMs with their backs to the wall play their cards closer to the vest (like Ruben Amaro in Philly) and are less likely to sell the farm, perhaps because ownership won't let them. So if Jack Z's job is on the line (I have no idea if it is), ownership could go the other way and simply push back on any big trades. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2015-07-02 15:00:00 (link to chat) | It's kinda weird that Taijuan Walker is a fastball/spiltter guy now, right? His curveball and cutter were touted at various times. (neilar from portland) | It's interesting but I wouldn't call it weird. A lot of pitchers morph their secondaries over time, and a common scenario is for pitchers with exceptionally loopy breakers to make an adjustment once they learn that pro hitters can see those things coming from a mile away. The nice thing about the split is that it's thrown with FB arm action, so pitchers can adopt / mask the pitch relatively easily.
Apologies for the slow response time, everyone. I am on the road and my connection is shaky, so please bear with me! (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2015-06-16 20:00:00 (link to chat) | Hey ben, I'm in a long term keeper league. I'm competing this year and looking for a bit more offensive help. I've been offered an expiring hanley ramirez and a rookie contract (5 years at low salary) Taijuan Walker for my bauer also on a rookie deal. Should i do this if hanley helps me this year or is the difference between pitchers too big and i should find help some other way (John from PA) | You gotta taken Hanley, even with the downgrade you get re: Bauer and Walker. Hanley's Magikarp-esque defense can't hurt you, and the man can still hit. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2015-06-10 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Are you of the camp that Taijuan Walker still has his elite stuff or that the Mariners have tainted him by messing with his mechanics? (Silverback38 from VA) | I'm not sure it has to be either. Walker's stuff is good, but his command isn't great. He also slows his arm speed on his breaking ball, which hurts its deception. Guys at the big-league level can hit 95+ when it's not located well. Guys can also hit the mid-70s change-of-pace when they see its coming. Walker has to learn what many young starters have to learn: not all strikes are created equally. If you miss in the zone, you're going to be crushed. There's still hope for Walker, but it's more looking like a potential #3 or #4 starter, rather than a borderline ace. (J.P. Breen) |
| 2015-04-16 17:00:00 (link to chat) | Do you have any concern for Taijuan Walker? He is great during spring training, terrible during regular season. (Silverback38 from VA) | Yes, but every rookie pitcher should generate concern. He could turn it around but he could spend half a year or a whole year struggling. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2015-04-16 17:00:00 (link to chat) | Hi Mike - would you drop House or Brett Anderson in a 12-team mixed re-draft for Taijuan Walker? Thanks! (Floyd from SD) | In a redraft, I'd hold. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2015-01-20 19:30:00 (link to chat) | With injuries and performance in consideration, how do you rank these guys:
Jameson Taillon, Taijuan Walker, Andrew Heaney. (Basil from Texas) | Walker, Taillon, Heaney. I can't quit Walker. You're justified in being wary with him, though. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2015-01-20 19:30:00 (link to chat) | Buddy tells me Kris Bryant and a very late round MLB pick were just traded for the 10th OVERALL MLB pick and Taijuan Walker in his startup dynasty league... what's your philosophy on trade vetoes? (Bruce from St Louis) | This doesn't deserve a veto. Vetoes are bad. I would like to veto vetoes. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2015-01-15 18:00:00 (link to chat) | What's your assessment of Taijuan Walker going forward? How has his performance to date affected that assessment? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | I remain high on Walker and still see #2 starter potential in his future. I haven't altered his projection much at all based on MLB performance to date. (Mark Anderson) |
| 2015-01-28 19:00:00 (link to chat) | By projections Taijuan Walker is a late round flier. What is your projection for him this year? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | The shoulder is still a big red flag for me so I agree with late round flier in redrafts. (Mauricio Rubio) |
| 2015-01-12 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What's the latest deal with Taijuan Walker? Rumor was he was the next Felix but he seems to have dropped off the planet. The love is lost? (Silverback38 from VA) | He got hurt last season but he's a pitcher so that's not really any kind of surprise. I'm still bullish on him and he should be healthy to begin the season. (Matthew Kory) |
| 2014-11-12 13:00:00 (link to chat) | True or false -- if the Mariners traded Taijuan Walker and Brad Miller for David Price they would have reached the World Series? (Yard Byrd from Philadelphia) | Well, the Mariners were better than the Royals. Price might have been worth a win over those two, though it's actually close. More importantly, though, the Mariners got screwed by the Pythag Machine this year; if they'd have toast instead of English muffin some random day in February, they might have made the World Series, given their true talent level. (Sam Miller) |
| 2014-10-13 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Quelle est votre opinion de l'AFL? Is it significantly helpful, developmentally? (Kate from TX) | I like that we're challenging me with questions in other languages. These chats were getting too easy.
I think the AFL can be used for a number of advantageous reasons. It's a good way to make up for lost time with a guy who missed time during the year. It's a good way to challenge guys who haven't quite reached Double-A yet, as the talent level is pretty good. It's also a good way to get guys ready for a big league look the following seasons. That's why the rosters are so diverse. You could see a teenager like Raul Mondesi facing a guy like Taijuan Walker, who has a decent amount of big league experience. It's a fascinating test. (Jeff Moore) |
| 2014-10-09 15:00:00 (link to chat) | A few more strong outings in Arizona and then spring training and we can all begin dreaming on Taijuan Walker becoming a no. 2, right? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | I still think he's a #2 at least, and have continued to drive that bandwagon. Excited for his 2015 campaign. (Jordan Gorosh) |
| 2014-09-15 19:30:00 (link to chat) | It says on the SidsGraphs banner displayed above the chatbox that their exclusive clients include Byron Buxton, Taijuan Walker and Robert Stephenson. Can you please rank them in order of exclusivity? (MRubio52 from Chicago) | Still can't believe how much BP is selling out these days. I feel you. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2014-08-29 12:00:00 (link to chat) | In my dynasty league people seem to undervalue pitching compared to hitting? The mindset seems to be that pitching is too risky because of the always present threat of injury. One guy put Kershaw on the block looking for a top 20 hitter and got no takers? What is your philosophy in valuing hitting versus pitching in fantasy baseball? Thanks. (Lucas from MA) | Disclaimer: I'm not good at fantasy baseball. That said, I think you should try to exploit that mindset. It's almost like how prospects feel overvalued these days. I mean, if a guy isn't willing to trade a top-20 hitter-not a top-10, not a top-five, but a top-20-for arguably the best pitcher in baseball then we've gone too far. It's like when folks said they wouldn't trade Taijuan Walker for David Price last winter. It just doesn't make sense to me.
So yes, go get Kershaw for a non-elite hitter if you can. He might be riskier, but he's likely better, too. (R.J. Anderson) |
| 2014-08-29 12:00:00 (link to chat) | Will a solid start from Taijuan Walker this weekend (plus the roster expansion and Erasmo implosion) be enough to get young Walker back into the Seattle rotation plans? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | Wouldn't shock me. At the very least, you have to think he's higher on the pecking order than Ramirez. (R.J. Anderson) |
| 2014-08-19 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Roster advice: 10-team/12 keeper league, prepping for the playoffs, currently holding on to Michael Pineda (small sample, hope he's healthy), Taijuan Walker (fingers crossed for another Sunday start), Kevin Gausman (steady contribution), and Jake McGee (slew August) on the pitching staff....looking to add Dexter Fowler for depth at the plate (he'd be first off the bench)...Would you drop any of the pitchers for Fowler?
PS: Staff FWIW: Greinke, Stras, Lester, Kluber, Archer, Rosenthal, Robertson, Jansen w/ Wacha on DL (pmitchell60 from NOLA) | I would stock up on RB/WR first unless you can snag a top QB in rounds 2/3. Really depends on how teams and league scoring. Manning, Rodgers, Brees are head and shoulders above the pack while you can stock pile useful PPR WR/RB late. (CJ Wittmann) |
| 2014-08-19 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Has Taijuan Walker's last couple starts cemented him into Seattle's rotation come September? (pmitchell60 from NOLA) | I would hope so. I am a Walker fan and I think he would have been pitching in the big leagues all year if not for the injuries. With them being involved in the wild card race, Walker gives them another weapon in the rotation. (CJ Wittmann) |
| 2014-07-29 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Is there anything in Taijuan Walker's pitchfx profile that suggests he's going to be better? (Omarion from Ontario) | Nope, not really. He's a heavy fastball guy who throws a fastball that is just too straight. His kind of movement works well up in the zone occasionally, but he can't live around the belt and over the plate. (Noah Woodward) |
| 2014-07-29 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Thanks for the chat, Noah! Three of my top dudes -- Taijuan Walker, Eddie Butler and Rafael Montero -- going into the season have all been terrible to varying degrees. How confident are you in each three righting the ship and living up to their preseason expectations of ace, solid #2 and solid #3, respectively? (Brian from NYC) | I guess out of those three players and projections, I'd feel best about Butler becoming a #2. The numbers might be iffy, but I like his stuff. If he can keep that sinking fastball down, he'll be alright. I'd be most concerned about Montero right now. He seems raw in that he's hardly used his secondary stuff thus far. (Noah Woodward) |
| 2014-08-08 13:00:00 (link to chat) | I'm in a 12 team keeper league. each team gets to keep 7 players for next season. who do you think i should keep from this list: George Springer, Bryce Harper, Chris Sale, Justin Upton, Byron Buxton, Addison Russell, Taijuan Walker, Lucas Giolito, Francisco Lindor, Dylan Bundy, Kevin Gausmann, Carlos Correa, Miguel Sano, Zach Wheeler. Thanks. (childgrambino from Richmond, VA) | Harper, Sale, Upton, Walker, Gausman, Wheeler and Springer. 12 team leagues, you keep guys who are contributing. Having this many prospects in this shallow a league is bananas. Drop a bunch. (Craig Goldstein) |
| 2014-07-31 19:30:00 (link to chat) | Is Taijuan Walker still considered a top 5 SP prospect? or has his 2014 dropped him out of that consideration? (Alex from Atlanta) | Yes, still Top 5 for me. I actually had him ahead of Thor and Bradley coming into the year, though Thor's surpassed him. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2014-07-31 19:30:00 (link to chat) | Please rank these pitchers in terms of best fantasy career prospects: Taijuan Walker, C.J. Edwards, Lucas Giolito, Hunter Harvey, James Paxton, Kohl Stewart, Carlos Rodon. Thanks. (graham from Richmond, VA) | Hmm. Let's go Walker, Rodon, Giolito, Harvey, Stewart, Paxton, Edwards (Ben Carsley) |
| 2014-07-22 15:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker will he be up and useful this year?Thanks (Chesty from New Bern,NC) | Of anyone who started in the minor leagues this year, Walker was my favorite pitcher. So, I do believe he'll be useful this year and going forward. Top of the rotation potential. (Jordan Gorosh) |
| 2014-07-07 11:00:00 (link to chat) | If Taijuan Walker would've been eligible, where would he have slotted in on the list? (Moe from Ann Arbor) | Top 10. Strong case for top arm. Frontline profile remains but the injury concern lingers. (Jason Parks on the Top 50) |
| 2014-07-15 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Need ERA and WHIP in a 5x5 roto league. Go with Taijuan Walker or Dillon Gee? Lead in K's and W's (Kendal from MN) | I stick with Taijuan. Upside to be excellent in the ratios, but even if he's not, he should be near Gee and his Ks/Ws still matter unless you just have insurmountable leads there which is unlikely. (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-07-15 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Thoughts on Taijuan Walker the rest of the season? (hamsterjockey from DC) | I think he'll be good. I'm a big fan. He obviously needs to stay healthy, but he's got solid upside (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-06-27 14:00:00 (link to chat) | How dangerous is the upright finish that Taijuan Walker has? Is he capable of having a lengthy, productive career without adjustments? What is his ceiling with as-is mechanics and stuff? (Evan from Cincinnati) | I don't think that it's dangerous at all. I prefer that pitchers have strong posture with minimal spine-tilt to the glove side. I gave him a 60 grade for posture prior to the season, and if anything he could use some additional flexion of the spine during the final phases into release point. The worries that I do have stem from his inconsistent timing as well as the distinct possibility that he manipulates his breaking ball with a twist of the wrist near release point, an issue which could telegraph the pitch to opposing batters. The ceiling is high for both mechanics and stuff, but he has some development before reaching that ceiling. (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2014-06-27 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Will you do a raising aces article on Taijuan Walker after he gets a few starts for Seattle? I'd love hear your take on his mechanics and how they compare to his mechanics from his 2013 cup of coffee. (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | Walker is a hot topic today. I haven't put eyes on him since Spring Training, so I will definitely put him near the top of the list for evaluation once he is back pitching in the bigs. (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2014-06-27 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Thanks for answering the question on Taijuan Walker! There has been some static--I read it in Keith Law articles--about Walker's "upright finish." (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | One last bit on Walker - there are differing opinions on the "upright finish," but as one who dislikes spine-tilt in the name of over-the-top arm slots, I prefer "upright" to the common alternative. Keith may have been addressing the flexion component with Walker, rather than posture specifically, which is a different element of the "upright" paradigm. If that's the case, then I agree that Walker could use some more athleticism and flex in the spine near release point.
On the jukebox: Incubus, "Echo" (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2014-06-24 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What have you seen out of Tijuan Walker and where would you rank him out of all the pitching prospects? Also, what would be the reason he hasn't gotten the call up yet since it seems he's healthy and was almost assured a rotation spot out of spring training? (John from Toronto) | I love Taijuan Walker. He's got all of the ingredients to be an ace. His cutter can be an elite pitch, not to mention his plus, plus fastball and potential plus CB. The advent of the CH is going to determine whether or not he's one of the games best, or just really good. I think he'll be up soon, though. (Jordan Gorosh) |
| 2014-05-30 12:00:00 (link to chat) | How does Touki Touissant compare to Taijuan Walker at the same age? Based on what I've read, it seems like he's not quite as athletic, but much more advanced. (genehuh from LA) | Deeper arsenal, but I don't know about more advanced. He's a developmental project, for sure. But the progress he's made over the last 18 months is pretty impressive, and when his stuff pops it's a sight to behold. (Pre-Draft Chat with Nick J. Faleris) |
| 2014-06-13 13:00:00 (link to chat) | How close are we to seeing Taijuan Walker, and what can we expect from him ROS and career-wise? If you were stashing in a keeper league, rank Walker, Heaney, Meyer, Synaagard, Bradley. (Tom from San Jose) | I think he'll get a few starts in AAA before coming up. I think he can be a stud. I'd go Walker, Syndergaard, Heaney, Bradley, and Meyer (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-06-13 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Have you watched any of Taijuan Walker's rehab starts? Does his delivery look any different now than it did in 2013? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | I haven't seen any of them (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-05-27 11:30:00 (link to chat) | How encouraging are Taijuan Walker's recent comments regarding finishing his pitches, not finishing so upright? (RatedRookie from Atlanta) | Extremely encouraging. I think that's the last piece of the puzzle for Walker. Shoulder problems aside, he's my favorite minor league arm. I absolutely love his profile. (Jordan Gorosh) |
| 2014-05-07 17:00:00 (link to chat) | If you could only have one for the remainder of the season, who'd you take: Taijuan Walker or Marcus Stroman? (Jacob from Milwaukee) | I'm taking the healthy guy in Stroman. Walker could be better, but I don't like the risk profile here. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2014-05-07 17:00:00 (link to chat) | who wins this trade 2 years of control of Encarnacion and Anabal at resonable auction prices for 4 years of cheap control of Walker and Stroman? (Jon from Tx) | I like the two years of Edwin Encarnacion and Anibal Sanchez better than Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman. It often takes young pitchers 300-400 innings to get to their talent level. You might be buying 2 years of subpar performance. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2014-05-02 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Any you concerned with Taiwan Walker? Have heard the shortening of his stride has really messed with his curveball (Rob from Baltimore) | Taijuan Walker's baseline mechanics are solid, receiving 60's for balance, torque, and posture. His momentum already leaves something to be desired, so shortening a pitcher's stride is typically a detriment rather than a boost to his success. The action on his curve suggests that he might be manipulating the pitch with a wrist-twist rather than using supination, elements which add to his injury risk while also telegraphing the pitch to advanced hitters. There is a lot to like there but his shoulder woes are a reason to be concerned.
On the jukebox: Thrice, "Red Sky" (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2014-05-21 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Can Taijuan Walker still be effective coming off of a shoulder injury? His mechanics were questionable at best before, so would it be unreasonable to deal him now and take what you can get in a dynasty league or ride it out and see if he blossoms? (Evan from Cincinnati) | Definitely possible for plenty of effectiveness. I would really hold out and not sell low. (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-04-16 19:00:00 (link to chat) | I'm in a 10 team mixed league with QS in place of W. Right now my starters are Strasburg, Sonny Gray, and Michael Pineda. I have an open roster spot I want to fill with another starter to give me a shot at competing in QS. I figure I might as well grab another long shot starter to join Gray and Pineda. I have it narrowed down to Danny Salazar, Jose Quintana, Taijuan Walker, or Roenis Elias. Who's my best bet? (Kyle from Detroit) | Good god man, step away from Roenis Elias. Out of the options you listed, Quintana is the safest bet while Salazar provides the highest upside. If you're truly just going for QS, I guess I'd go Quintana. I like Salazar a bit more overall, though, even if he's overrated. Walker's injury scares me now, so I'm staying away. (Ben Carsley) |
| 2014-04-09 19:00:00 (link to chat) | What do you expect out of Taijuan Walker this year, and let's say three years from now? (SenatorsGuy from Mineapolis) | Maybe 150 IP of 3.50 ERA ball, three years from now, hoping that the health is fine, I think he can be a frontline starter.
The health concerns are still minor enough but I'm slightly worried. Just slightly. (Mauricio Rubio) |
| 2014-04-21 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Jeff,
Thanks for the chat.
Two questions.
First, who's getting called up next?
Second, who are we not talking about that we should be? (Number27 from Milwaukee, WI) | I was as surprised as anybody that George Springer got called up when he did, though I'd guess it means that they're closer to a contract extension than either side is letting on. I just don't see the Astros giving up the service time like that for the sake of about one win between now and June in what will be another losing season. I'm thrilled he's up, but it doesn't make much sense.
Because of that, I have no idea who's next. Some of the most obvious candidates – Javy Baez, Byron Buxton, Taijuan Walker, and Addison Russell for example, have battled injuries. There are some more obvious candidates like Marcus Stroman, Andrew Heaney, Gregory Polanco and others, but I'll bet most teams wait until the super-two deadline has safely passed. Then again, who saw a Luis Sardinas promotion happening over the weekend? So who knows. (Jeff Moore) |
| 2014-04-01 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Reading above, you mention the shoulder injuries scare you. It sounds like Taijuan Walker was just dealing with a little bit of inflammation, but does this also scare you? (Jackson from Ashland (OR)) | It does. But not every shoulder issue is the same, and his spring reports looked good. Like most injuries, its a concern until its not a concern, and if he looks the part in his minor league assignment, I expect him to be up and flamethrowing very soon. (Jason Parks) |
| 2014-04-03 19:30:00 (link to chat) | With two things in mind, what are your thoughts on Taijuan Walker's fantasy value this year considering 1 - his shoulder soreness to start spring training, and 2 - the general consensus that he still has to develop his secondary stuff. And personal gut feeling on when it will come together? (SenatorsGuy from Minneapolis) | I'm not ALL that concerned on Walker. Shoulders are obviously worrisome, as is his upright finish in his delivery, but it was also spring training and things get sore. I really like Walker despite his rough edges and I like him to be good this year. (Craig Goldstein) |
| 2014-03-24 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Is Taijuan Walker going to be a legitimate fantasy contributor this year? (Marcus from NY) | If he's healthy, I think so. I'm a huge fan, but I want to see him healthy first (Paul Sporer) |
| 2014-03-04 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Some scouts noted that Taijuan Walker was finishing more upright in his delivery at the end of last year -- could these mechanics have led to his shoulder fatigue this spring? And is this something that could pop up again in the future if not corrected? (Herbert from Eugene) | I've heard that before (maybe we saw the same quotes??) ... but, my general answer is pitching is the leading cause of pitching related injuries. (Harry Pavlidis) |
| 2014-03-14 09:00:00 (link to chat) | I have a few pitchers on my roster in a Dynasty League who I have idetified as good "sells" - Francisco Liriano, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Michael Wacha. Do you agree and can you think of other specific pitchers you would be selling? Conversely, who are some pitchers you would be trying to buy? (Shawnykid23 from CT) | It all depends on the context of where you're at in your success cycle. Do you have a shot at winning this year? If you do, while Taijuan Walker is likely a better long term play than Liriano, you're better off with Liriano - at least for now. Some of this also depends on how easily you can fill in with replacements. I'd only be selling pitchers like Liriano if I were in a rebuilding mode...or if I could get a pitcher like Walker on the cheap.
I don't necessarily agree or disagree with this approach. I think I would need more information about your team/situation before I could comment on whether or not it's a good or bad idea to sell these guys. I'm not sure, though, why you'd sell Wacha. He might struggle this year (and people might be overpaying for him for 2014) but I like the long term outlook. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2014-01-27 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Who do you expect to make more of an impact for their team this season; Taijuan Walker or Kevin Gausman? (Lance Rinker from Dallas, TX) | Both pitchers are going to impact their team, but I'll pick Walker. (Jason Parks on the Top 101 Prospects) |
| 2014-02-18 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker - what is his ceiling, realistically? Who does hd compare best with at the major league level? (onthereg527 from Boston ) | Realistically, a No. 2 starter. I think more people would be surprised if he doesn't reach that ceiling. I can't think of a lazy comparison at the moment. (Ronit Shah) |
| 2014-02-03 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Prospect starting pitcher you'd be targeting in a draft? (ClaytonThompson from Columbia, MO) | I'm highly targeting Taijuan Walker and Yordano Ventura. I think both of those guys have high value seasons. (Mauricio Rubio) |
| 2013-12-10 18:00:00 (link to chat) | Dynasty league (no limits or costs): Matt Moore, Jameson Taillon, Ryan Cook, and picks first 2 rounds in prospect draft, for Taijuan Walker, Shelby Miller, Yordano Ventura, and Joakim Soria. I assume you'd take Walker side, but I am selling a bit low on Moore considering the potential should he find his command? (Slevin from Brooklyn) | Hey Slevin:
Hmm. I have to think about this one which means that the offer is probably in the ballpark in both directions. A lot depends on what is available in your prospect draft and what you think you can land with those 2 picks. Even in dynasty leagues, I generally like taking the proven commodity over the uncertainty, so from that standpoint I like Matt Moore better than any of the other pitchers in the deal. However, I have to assume that there isn't anything wrong with Shelby Miller and he certainly put up enough innings last year to be considered a Major League asset as well. With that in mind, I like Taijuan Walker and Yordano Ventura better than Jameson Taillon in that deal, and Joakim Soria has a better chance of closing than Ryan Cook in 2014. Again, much depends on what those picks will net at the minor league auction. Since it's dynasty, I'm assuming those picks will get you players who are talented but very far away. If you think you're going to compete this year, you probably want the Walker package. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-12-10 18:00:00 (link to chat) | Fanstays question (wouldn't happen)
A trade where the mets send Noah Syndergaard to the Dodgers for Kemp and some salary relief (say around 2-3 million off each year) is that possible.. Or mets would have to add another propsect/ ask for less salary relief. This more so helps see where Syndergaards value is at and how far (if so) Kemps value has fallen. (MetsFaithful5 from Syracuse ) | Hi Mets:
With Curtis Granderson in the fold, I don't see it happening. Matt Kemp is intriguing but also very risky and while the Mets have opened their purse strings somewhat this winter, I don't see them making this big of a splash financially. Noah Syndergaard is also their best prospect and they're probably not going to trade him straight up for an outfielder coming off of a big injury year. The entire scenario seems unlikely. While the Mets might not be as adamant as the Mariners have been about not moving Taijuan Walker, the price for Syndergaard is still likely to be very high. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-12-03 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Liveliest fastball you ever saw?
Some live fastballs in minors today?
Thanks, man. (CyMature from Cooperstown Retirement Home) | Fernando Rodney is up there, in terms of movement and velocity. Taijuan Walker has one of the better minor league fastballs. (R.J. Anderson) |
| 2013-11-25 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Just how good could Taijuan Walker be in his prime? (Tim from Montana) | He could be one of the better arms in baseball, a top of the rotation force. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-11-26 13:00:00 (link to chat) | At jury duty wondering if I should pull a Cusack (#RunawayJury). Which prospects have you seen whose mechanics were exceptional given their age/stuff/advancement? (AJ from Phoenix) | I can't say "exceptional" but I can say what I like (I'm an analyst, not a scout) and there are plenty of guys I simply haven't seen yet. That said, Julio Urias pops to mind, no one that young should be in the MWL let alone pitch as well as he did. Taijuan Walker has that amazingly easy power. So does Aaron Sanchez, nice and balanced. Marcus Stroman has amazing arm speed and athleticism in his delivery. (Harry Pavlidis) |
| 2013-11-14 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Per the mid-season Top 50, the top 10 Starting Pitching propects in baseball (that are still prospect eligible) were: Archie Bradley, Kevin Gausman, Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, Dylan Bundy, Mark Appel, Robert Stephenson, Carlos Martinez, Noah Syndergaard, and Aaron Sanchez. What would an updated list look like? I assume Jonathan Gray would be somewhere in the middle of the pack, no? (Jonah from Redwood) | I think there are some slight differences that you'd see here. Globally speaking, I think everyone recognizes that Noah Syndergaard has vaulted himself higher up a list of this nature. Speaking personally, I have always been on the lower end with my Dylan Bundy projections and I would push him down the list some. Gray would be in the mix toward the back of this pack for me, and that's not a slight against him, I just don't believe he is quite on par with some of the other names in this group. (Mark Anderson) |
| 2013-11-08 14:00:00 (link to chat) | What do you expect from Taijuan Walker next year? Thanks Ben! (Sam from The Couch) | The Mariners Top 10 list came out on Wednesday--Who cares what I think? Care what Jason thinks. (Jason thinks he's going to be a no. 2-type starter.) (Ben Lindbergh) |
| 2013-10-24 13:00:00 (link to chat) | If Taijuan Walker and Yordano Ventura find themselves in their teams' respective rotations, what kind of years could we expect from them? Both very exciting to watch! (Nathan from Utah) | I'd imagine Walker will be in the Mariners rotation at the start of the season, and he's quite the young pitcher. He has some work to do to iron out his secondary stuff, if I remember correctly (I'm going off memory for this one), but I'd expect he'll be a part of a pretty good rotation in Seattle. As for Ventura, I don't know what the Royals plans are. Will they re-sign Santana? Maybe Ventura sneaks in there anyway. He was pretty good in Triple-A this season so wouldn't shock me. (Matthew Kory) |
| 2013-10-07 18:00:00 (link to chat) | List 5 hitters and pitchers that you feel could be breakout players in 2014. Thanks for the chat, Mike! (Brett from The Office) | Hi Brett.
Hitters: Christian Yelich, Billy Hamilton, Oscar Taveras, Avisail Garcia, Josmil Pinto. Pitchers: Jameson Taillon, Rafael Montero, Drew Smyly, Jimmy Nelson, Taijuan Walker. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-10-07 18:00:00 (link to chat) | Do you think T. Walker makes the M's rotation out of spring training? What is your ETA for A. Bradley? (Cal Guy from Cal) | Kind of hard to predict in October, but I do think Taijuan Walker has the inside track..
I anticipate seeing Bradley in late 2014 in a best case scenario but wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't come up until 2015. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-09-04 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What were your thoughts on Taijuan Walker's MLB debut? (Kevin from Seattle) | Very impressed. Love the athleticism; good delivery; hides the ball well; stuff is very electric; command will come and go and the secondary stuff isn't quite ready for the bright lights. But he could be a role 7 arm, a very good #2 starter. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-09-06 14:00:00 (link to chat) | I just read your Taijuan Walker piece (excellent of course). During the game, I watching his arm as he throws and it looks like his curveball (which looks filthy to me) arm action looks very different than his fastball arm action. It may be because of what the pitch looks like after it leaves his hand, but was wondering if you noticed that at all? Or if it really matters for opposing batters? (Kendall from Seattle) | Thanks for the kind words, Kendall.
I have not noticed any extreme differences between fastball and curveball arm action in terms of arm speed, but you are right that the ball comes out of his hand much differently, and that could be an indicator of some issues with curveball arm action. His curve has a bit of a hump in it, which worries me, because that is often a sign of pitchers who throw twister curves (as opposed to supinated curveballs). The twist is dangerous, and batters can pick up the difference in trajectory out of hand, though Walker's curve is so steep that he can probably survive even when hitters can see it coming. Great observation, and if he is twisting the curve, then it could certainly pose an issue for his development. On the jukebox: Primus, "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2013-08-14 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Tell me something good and something bad about Eddie Butler? Would you bet on him being a starter long term? (steve from Pittsburgh) | This is a good place to start, as I'll see Eddie Butler on Friday (plus Taijuan Walker tomorrow, so this is a pretty solid prospect week for me). The good on Eddie Butler: he'll flash three plus pitches including a plus-plus fastball with big life. It's nasty, nasty stuff. The bad: it's not 100 percent a starting pitcher. The delivery has some scouts thinking he may end up in the 'pen. But the good news on the back of that is that even if he does, it's closer-type stuff. The command is progressing, though, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he shows me on Friday. (Jason Cole) |
| 2013-08-14 13:00:00 (link to chat) | So you have touched on one of your top 5 pitching prospects (Syndergard)....Who else do you have? (Shawn from Philly) | Top of my head, only guys who haven't pitched in the big leagues: Archie Bradley, Taijuan Walker, Syndergaard, Jameson Taillon, aaaaand...let's go Robert Stephenson. Disclaimer: not much thought went into that. (Jason Cole) |
| 2013-08-22 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Needed to pick up an ace caliber SP and some saves to make a run at the playoffs in a H2H dynasty league. Traded my Yelich and Taijuan Walker for David Price, Perkins and Gregg. How long do you think Price has before a decline might begin? (Brian from Mass) | That's a perfect win-now trade. No reason to expect anything but quality work from Price into his 30s. He's tremendous. Pitching is remarkably volatile, though. If you win your title, maybe trade Price for a hitter. Always better investments long-term. (Paul Sporer) |
| 2013-08-08 17:30:00 (link to chat) | What do you see T. Walker and A. Bradley developing into, #1, 2, 3 or bullpen arms? (Cal Guy from Cal) | Archie Bradley has an ace ceiling but could wind up as a #2. Taijuan Walker seems like a #3 to me with a #2 ceiling but could wind up in the pen. Predicting what "slot" a pitcher is going to land in is a fool's errand...and now I feel like a fool. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-07-25 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Thank for the chat! Do you think Taijuan Walker and Archie Bradley have the highest ceilings out of any pitchers in the minors? (Jacob from St. Louis) | Yeah, they might. I'd put Syndergaard in that discussion as well. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-06-25 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Is Taijuan Walker the sort of guy who'll have to do quite a lot of his learning in the bigs, because his current arsenal is more than enough to take care of AA/AAA hitters? (Behemoth from Scotland) | I think he needs more MiLB seasoning, but yes, he will have to learn how to fail at the highest level and adjust. Big league hitters won't be as fooled by the bug curveball, and if he tries to elevate on them he won't like the result. He's going to be very, very good, but he has a long way to go before he reaches the ceiling. (Jason Parks on the Midseason Top 50 Prospects) |
| 2013-06-13 13:00:00 (link to chat) | You had to start a MLB team from scratch, what player would you select first out of the Southern League now that Puig is gone ? (William from Pensacola, FL) | Off the top of my head, it's gotta be Taijuan Walker. (Jason Cole) |
| 2013-05-30 13:30:00 (link to chat) | Higher ceiling: Taijuan Walker or Archie Bradley? Thanks Mark! (Henry from San Francisco) | That's almost a toss-up. Both players are exceptionally talented. I would give a slight edge to Walker but it just boils down to personal preference when you are trying to differentiate between these two pitchers. (Mark Anderson) |
| 2013-05-16 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Archie Bradley: Top pitching prospect in baseball? (Liam from TX) | We are quick to discount/promote players based on small samples. Here's the truth: Bradley should have been ranked higher coming into this season, and he's certainly making a very good case for the top spot at his position, but its not like Taijuan Walker or Zack Wheeler or even Gerrit Cole have fallen on their faces or regressed. I'll explore this in more detail when we produce the mid-season Top 50, but its hard to say right now. Bradley will be in the Top 10; I guarantee that. Will he be the top arm? Not sure yet. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-05-16 13:00:00 (link to chat) | How close is Taijuan Walker? September call up possible? He seems to be putting up solid numbers in AA. (padremurph from San Diego) | I don't think he is as close as the numbers might suggest. September call-up is entirely possible, but I think more time in the upper minors could benefit him. He still needs to refine his curveball and turn his changeup into a functional offering. The FB/CT combo is very dangerous and sexual, but he isn't without flaws and I don't think he's ready for the majors right now. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-05-16 13:00:00 (link to chat) | How much could it benefit Taijuan Walker to bring him up in September in a bullpen role, simply to allow him time to get tutelage from the King on how to improve that changeup? (Kai from SLO) | I love September call-ups. Walker has been around major league camp before, but traveling with the major league team at the major league level is a valuable experience for a young arm, especially when you get to watch the day-to-day prep of a guy like Felix. I think it could benefit him immensely. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-05-02 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Are there any notable guys you and Prof Parks strongly disagree on? (Shawn from My Cubicle) | From what I can tell, there aren't many that we're complete opposites on. I think I'm a little lighter on Taijuan Walker than he is, and I think I have a little more belief in Courtney Hawkins than he does. Although given Hawkins' start (45 K's in 23 games!), I'm starting to wonder...even though he is in High-A. (Jason Cole) |
| 2013-04-16 20:00:00 (link to chat) | where do you see Archie Bradley ranking amongst prospects in 2014? Is it crazy to think that he will be the TOP pitching prospect?
Command was an issue last season, in a small sample, he has seemed to improve that aspect. (Patty from NJ) | Not crazy, but not likely. I still like Taijuan Walker to be the #1 pitching prospect in the game in 2014. (Bret Sayre) |
| 2013-04-16 20:00:00 (link to chat) | You mentioned Taijuan Walker as being #1. Is he worthy of a grab this season in a keeper league? Can only hold 3 arms. i own Jose Fernandez and Shelby Miller as well. (Erik from NY) | Yes, definitely worth a grab in a keeper league. He may be gone if you wait too long. (Bret Sayre) |
| 2013-04-04 11:00:00 (link to chat) | Care to find the nearest crystal ball in your apt. and provide an early look at the top 10 next year? (bmmolter from Mass.) | I can:
1. Addison Russell 2. Javier Baez 3. Taijuan Walker 4. Archie Bradley 5. Aaron Sanchez 6. Byron Buxton 7. Jameson Taillon 8. Robert Stephenson 9. Francisco Lindor 10. Austin Hedges (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-04-12 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Of the top Minor League arms, who's mechanics impress you the most/least? (Shawnykid23 from Newington) | We are really in a renaissance of young pitchers right now with respect to mechanics. I usually have many reservations with prospects, but the top arms right now are legit.
I really like Bundy because of the combination of stable baseline + room to improve. Taijuan Walker is fascinating, and though he is currently more volatile than Bundy, his peak delivery is even more impressive (I also dig the frame). Jameson Taillon has an incredibly advanced delivery for his age, and while Gerrit Cole has excellent mechanics and might have the higher ceiling, I believe Taillon will enjoy more immediate success when he is promoted to the bigs. The one delivery that drives me nuts is Tyler Skaggs. He is completely inefficient in the effort to create deception, and I think that MLB hitters are going to expose his weaknesses. (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2013-03-27 20:00:00 (link to chat) | How would you rank these for a dynasty league: Xander Bogaerts, Yasuil Puig, Christian Yellich, Taijuan Walker, Tyler Skaggs (Dobbs from Delaware) | Bogaerts, Yelich, Walker, Skaggs, Puig. (Bret Sayre) |
| 2013-03-15 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What early impressions do you take from Taijuan Walker's big league camp? (Kyle from Tacoma) | he's awfully impressive. Huge, great stuff. He could be very close. (Harry Pavlidis) |
| 2013-02-27 20:00:00 (link to chat) | Which 5 or 10 players you think cantop the list of the 2014 Rookie list for Fantasy, also other than Buxton and Boagarts can be an impact back. (Robert from Puerto Rico) | Bret Sayre is our prospect guy on the fantasy side, but I'll try to help. The tough thing with questions like this is that players who have 2014 ETAs who excel tend to defy the timetables and wind up contributing in 2013. My five guys for 2014 would be: Jose Fernandez, Xander Bogaerts, Javier Baez, Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, in that order. Baez has the best chance of the potential 2014 crop to be an impact bat. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-02-27 20:00:00 (link to chat) | Jose Fernandez v. Taijuan Walker. Both Top 10 prospects according to BP. Which one do you like? How close is it? (AJ from Phoenix) | I like Fernandez better. Despite the fact that Fernandez's numbers were much better in 2012, it's pretty close for me. Fernandez dominated but hasn't pitched at the higher levels of the minors yet and faced what John Sickels calls the "Double-A acid test." Walker has and didn't fare especially well, but I don't think that knocks him out of the running for ace status long-term. If you're looking for a higher ceiling guy it's Fernandez, but it's hard to see how you can go wrong with either. (Mike Gianella) |
| 2013-03-01 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Always enjoy your discussions of pitching. Thanks.
Taijuan Walker and Enny Romero: two young starters with good (great?) arms and problems with all the C's: control, curve, consistency.
Who has a better chance of reaching his potential and why?
(CyMature from just a little outside) | I think that Walker's upside is ridiculous. His size, strength, stuff, and mechanics are way ahead of the standard age curve. He struggles to repeat his delivery, with a ways to go before realizing his potential, but timing and consistency is typically the last thing to come around for a young pitcher. His baseline mechanics are incredibly advanced, and he appears to have the frame to handle heavy workloads when he matures. So yeah, give me Walker in that scenario.
Arizona settling for Prado/Delgado instead of the Mariners package could turn out to be the biggest plot twist of the off-season. (Doug Thorburn) |
| 2013-02-14 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker v. Jose Fernandez. Who you got? (Mike from Dover AF Base) | Jose! (Paul Sporer) |
| 2013-02-05 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker v. Jose Fernandez... tale of the tape: Higher ceiling, more likely to reach it, better stuff, more #rig, etc.? (Francois from Toronto) | For me, I think Fernandez has better raw stuff, more #rig, more #swagger, and slightly more #sparkle. Both are top ten prospects in the game. I think they both find a way to get close to their ceiling. (Jason Parks) |
| 2013-01-22 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker and Oscar Taveras are both on their respective big league rosters by August of 2013. True or false? (JPinPhilly from Excellent) | Probably true. (R.J. Anderson) |
| 2012-12-19 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Which player will develop into the better pitcher: Taijuan Walker or Gerrit Cole or Zack Wheeler? (Kai from SLO) | Wheeler. I was impressed with what I saw from him this year. Electric, four pitch arsenal and the knowledge of how to use it. The other arms are very, very good, but I'm a Wheeler guy. (Chris Mellen) |
| 2013-01-02 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Happy New Year! In trying to access Diamond Scape Scouting, I'm running into a lot of 404 error pages. FYI.
Anyway can you give the OFP grades you gave to Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Taijuan Walker, and Jose Fernandez? Thanks! (AJ from Phoenix) | Hi AJ! Yes, DSS was taken off line when I decided to take the scouting services to private clients. The plan is still to bring it back online with a portion of the draft stuff available to readers (though Baseball Prospectus will really be where the writing is done). Here are the OFP rankings assigned to these players by DSS -- as a word of warning, this will help you see how I comparatively viewed the players at draft time, but the scale shouldn't really be projected against what Jason and the prospect team has doing with the Prospect Lists:
Strasburg - 64/67 Cole - 62/63 Gausman - 59/62 Bundy - 58/62 Taillon - 57/61 Fernandez - 55/57 Walker - 52/56 (Nick Faleris) |
| 2013-01-02 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Based on your prior answer, you view Jose Fernandez as better than Taijuan Walker. I haven't seen that before. Explain? (Michael from Milwaukee) | Those are grades prior to drafting, so yes Jose Fernandez was viewed as the safer bet with comparable upside pre-draft (my appraisal). I would currently rate Fernandez ahead of Walker, as well, though it's likely both would be essentially next to each other on a "pref list". (Nick Faleris) |
| 2012-12-28 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Who has the high ceiling between Taijuan Walker and Jose Fernandez? Higher floor? (Francois from Toronto) | Yes. Maybe. I don't know. (Geoff Young) |
| 2012-12-13 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Back in August you wrote about the top 10 prospects in the minors (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17780). You ranked Taijuan Walker 7th. 2012 was by no means a breeze for Walker, but with his athleticism, there is less to worry about than say someone with Dellin Betances' athleticism. What adjustments does Walker need to make this season and how soon before we see him in Seattle? (Jackson from Charming, CA) | He needs to continue to refine his FB command and the utility of his secondary arsenal, especially his change-up. He's a top ten prospect in the game, and I think he gets a cup in 2013; could be in the rotation in '14. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-12-04 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker's name has been popping up in trade rumors for Myers, Upton, etc. Is he really that good of a prospect or is he being overrated due to some favorable write ups by prospect pundits? (cal guy from cal) | What's up, cal guy. I haven't seen Taijuan Walker personally, but (as you mentioned) everything I've read does point to tremendous upside if he can improve his command and become more consistent. He's the caliber of prospect who could headline a deal for Upton, though purely from a fit standpoint, the Diamondbacks seem to have a greater need for position player prospects than pitchers. (Daniel Rathman) |
| 2012-10-30 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Any chance we will see Tijuan Walker in Seattle next season? (sitdancer from DC) | Hi sitdancer. If we do see Taijuan Walker in 2013, my guess is that it won't be until the second half at least, probably September. Walker will play next year as a 20-year-old, so there's no hurry. (Geoff Young) |
| 2012-09-05 14:00:00 (link to chat) | Dynasty league fantasy player here, if you wanted a pitcher who is currently in the minors to build you rotation around who would you take? (MBErickson from KC) | Dylan Bundy is probably the popular answer here, but the name that jumps to mind immediately is Taijuan Walker. He has world-class stuff and a great pitcher's park. If you're looking for someone closer to the majors, Shelby Miller might be the guy. (Daniel Rathman) |
| 2012-09-10 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Do you think the M's are rushing Taijuan Walker? His numbers are good, not great, but maybe that's age relative to league? What are your thoughts on him. (Alex from Tacoma, WA) | I don't think they're rushing him, no. He needed to be challenged and for the first couple of months, he handled himself well at Double-A. Aside from June, his walks and strikeouts looked fine and I'm confident in his ability to learn from this year and take another step forward next season. (Bradley Ankrom) |
| 2012-09-10 13:00:00 (link to chat) | For Fantasy purposes please rank Bundy (AL East concern), Taijuan Walker (SafeCo), and Gerrit Cole (NL)? Bundy gets the nod as a regular prospect, but factoring in ballparks/opponents would this adjust your rankings speaking purely for fantasy baseball. (Harold from NYC) | I'd rank them Cole, Bundy, Walker for 2013, switch Cole/Bundy for long-term. (Bradley Ankrom) |
| 2012-08-23 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What does a season line for Taijuan Walker look like in say, 7 years, during an all-star season. Better/worse than A. Bradley and J. Fernandez? (Puyol from #wet & #want) | Not sure. Would depend on the team playing behind him. He has the stuff to pitch near the top of a major league rotation, as does Fernandez and Bradley. I think Walker is the more advanced prospect and among the best arms in the game. If I were starting a team and you offered me one of Walker/Bradley, or Fernandez, I'd take Walker every day of the week. I love his athleticism, his length, his competitiveness, his nasty stuff, and his developing feel. He could be special. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-08-23 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker has drawn a lot of positive comments about make-up and stuff. Where does he rank for starting pitchers? (Short Shorts from Venice Beach) | For me, he's in the top tier with Bundy and Cole. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-08-23 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Taijuan Walker made your top 10 prospects in the minors list a few weeks ago, as did Dylan Bundy and Gerrit Cole. Where do hurlers Jose Fernandez, Archie Bradley, and Matt Barnes factor in to your pitching prospect rankings? (Francois from Toronto) | I would have Fernandez, Bradley, and Barnes in my top 25. Those are legit arms. I really, really like them. Barnes is the big sleeper there, He doesn't have the same extreme ceiling, but he can bring it and he's going to sneak up on people and develop into a quality major league starter. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-08-17 13:00:00 (link to chat) | What pitching prospect yet to pitch in the Big Show do you think has the highest ceiling? My 2 cents goes to Taijuan Walker. (Dexter from Miami) | Gosh, I don't know that any answer that isn't Dylan Bundy is fair. I can see arguments for rather having Walker than Bundy, but if it's just ceiling? (Sam Miller) |
| 2012-08-07 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Been a little bumpy lately for Taijuan Walker. Any worries? (sarm34 from Renton, WA) | Actually, no. Still completely adore him. (Kevin Goldstein) |
| 2012-07-11 12:00:00 (link to chat) | Do I target Taijuan Walker to beef up my already deep rotation, or Oscar Taveras to be my full-time DH? Trade my pick for Billy Hamilton? Order of preference? (Dynasty Depth from Denton) | I'd trade my kids for Billy Hamilton in a fantasy league. I want Taveras over Walker. (Jason Collette) |
| 2012-04-04 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Have you seen my red panties? Also, which pitcher has the highest ceiling - T Walker, S Miller or T Bauer? (Patricia from Back in AZ) | 1.) I haven't. 2). Taijuan Walker has the highest ceiling of that group. He has that rare #1 potential. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-04-04 13:00:00 (link to chat) | Archie Bradley v Taijuan Walker... who you got? (Francois from Toronto) | Walker. (Jason Parks) |
| 2012-03-23 12:00:00 (link to chat) | Looking forward to my prospect draft next season. Taijuan Walker v. Archie Bradley. Xander Bogaerts v. Javier Baez, Michael Choice v. Rymer Liriano. Who'd you take in those matchups? (Joe from Bellvue) | Bradley, Bogaerts, Liriano. Walker is the wildcard for me because he could be the very good version of Edwin Jackson we saw a few years ago or the one that has been around most other seasons. (Jason Collette) |
BP Roundtables
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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile
A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC
Taijuan Walker has thrown 18,822 pitches that have been tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2013 and 2024, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2024, he has relied primarily on his Sinker (90mph), also mixing in a Fourseam Fastball (91mph), Splitter (85mph), Cutter (86mph), Slider (83mph) and Curve (73mph).
BP Annual Player Comments
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