Pete Walker
Encyclopedia
Peter Brian Walker is a former right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. Walker is a graduate of East Lyme High School
in East Lyme, Connecticut
. He completed his college degree at Charter Oak State College
. He attended the University of Connecticut
and was drafted by the New York Mets
in . Walker made his MLB debut for them in .
On March 17 , Walker was traded along with minor leaguer Scott Adair to the San Diego Padres
for Roberto Petagine
and minor leaguer Luis Arroyo. Walker would then go on to play only one game for the Padres before going to the minors. In 1997, Walker signed with the Boston Red Sox
, but never played for them at the major league level.
In , Walker made his way back to the major league level with the Colorado Rockies
after signing with them in 1998. In December 2000, Walker once again signed with the New York Mets playing 3 games for them before returning to the minors. On May 3, , he was picked off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
, he would go on to play 124 games for the Blue Jays between 2002 and .
On July 22, 2006, Walker had shoulder surgery. In 2006, the Toronto Blue Jays released him, but on February 12 , the Blue Jays signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
where he was later released towards the end of spring training 2007 in the hopes that another team would pick up his contract, that team would be the New York Yankees
. He signed with them on May 9, 2007.
On November 7, 2011, Peter Walker was named bullpen coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, following a stint as the pitching coach for double-A New Hampshire, which won the Eastern League title earlier that year.
, an 81-83 MPH slider
, an 80-82 MPH circle changeup
, as well as the occasional 81-83 MPH split-finger fastball
, and 83-85 MPH cutter
.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Walker is a graduate of East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School is a high school located in the Flanders region of East Lyme, Connecticut. The school is operated by the East Lyme Schools district. The mascot is Sven the Viking...
in East Lyme, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He completed his college degree at Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College is a public liberal arts college in New Britain, Connecticut and is named for Connecticut's famous Charter Oak. The college is located across Paul Manafort Drive from Central Connecticut State University...
. He attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
and was drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in . Walker made his MLB debut for them in .
On March 17 , Walker was traded along with minor leaguer Scott Adair to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Roberto Petagine
Roberto Petagine
Roberto Antonio Petagine is a left-handed first baseman for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball. His Major League Baseball career includes brief stints with the Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , New York Mets , Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox , and Seattle Mariners , but...
and minor leaguer Luis Arroyo. Walker would then go on to play only one game for the Padres before going to the minors. In 1997, Walker signed with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, but never played for them at the major league level.
In , Walker made his way back to the major league level with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
after signing with them in 1998. In December 2000, Walker once again signed with the New York Mets playing 3 games for them before returning to the minors. On May 3, , he was picked off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, he would go on to play 124 games for the Blue Jays between 2002 and .
On July 22, 2006, Walker had shoulder surgery. In 2006, the Toronto Blue Jays released him, but on February 12 , the Blue Jays signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
where he was later released towards the end of spring training 2007 in the hopes that another team would pick up his contract, that team would be the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He signed with them on May 9, 2007.
On November 7, 2011, Peter Walker was named bullpen coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, following a stint as the pitching coach for double-A New Hampshire, which won the Eastern League title earlier that year.
Scouting Report
Walker threw an 87-88 MPH four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
, an 81-83 MPH slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, an 80-82 MPH circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
, as well as the occasional 81-83 MPH split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, and 83-85 MPH cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
.