Neil Walker
From BR Bullpen
Neil Martin Walker
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 205-215 lb.
- High School Pine-Richland High School
- Born September 9, 1985 in Pittsburgh, PA
[edit] Biographical Information
The son of Tom Walker and nephew of Chip Lang, Neil Walker is the third baseman for the Altoona Curve to begin 2007.
In the 2003 junior Pan-Am Cup, Walker was the DH for Team USA and batted .310, slugging .483. His 5 doubles tied Billy Butler for the team lead. He had a superb senior year in high school, hitting .657, slugging 1.358, producing over a run per plate appearance and being named to Baseball America's 2004 All-American High School team as the top catcher in the country. His stock rose in the weeks prior to the 2004 amateur draft and he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round, with the 11th overall pick, with taking the local kid perhaps a key element as well in their decision-making process. He had a signing bonus of $1,950,000 after being the third overall position player chosen.
Neil began his professional career with the GCL Pirates and hit a fair .271/.313/.427; he was named the 5th-best prospect in the Gulf Coast League but missed the All-Star team. Late in the year, Walker moved up to the Williamsport Crosscutters and batted .313/.343/.406. Promoted to the Hickory Crawdads in 2005, Neil had a .301/.332/.452 line with 33 doubles and made the South Atlantic League All-Star team at catcher after a mediocre start to the year. He again saw limited time elsewhere, going .262/.244/.357 for the Lynchburg Hillcats in nine games. While he showed good contact and extra-base skills, he only drew 20 walks and committed 22 passed balls in 79 games.
The Pirates decided to try converting Walker to third base due to his defense and the presence of catching prospects Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino in the system. He began playing third in the 2005 Arizona Fall League, in which he did okay.
Unfortunately, he injured a ligament in his left wrist on November 9 in the AFL and required surgery, missing the early part of the 2006 campaign and was not at full strength when he returned in late May. He picked it up in late July and August and hit .271/.332/.391 for the Lynchburg Hillcats, then was promoted in mid-August to the Altoona Curve, where he hit just .161 in 10 games while battling illness.
His sister Carrie married infielder Don Kelly in 2007, making the two brothers-in-law as they entered their first training camp together.
In February of 2007, Pirates management announced that Walker would be converted to third base and likely start the season at Altoona. Walker hit .288/.362/.462 with 30 doubles and 77 runs for the 2007 Curve but led the team with 25 errors at his new position before being promoted to the Indianapolis Indians in mid-August.
Walker hit .268/.315/.409 in 38 games for the Mazatlan Deer in the 2007 Mexican Pacific League after a 6-for-42 finish to the season.
Sources include 2005 and 2006 Baseball Almanacs
