Baseball Beginnings

By John Klima
November 23, 2009

Right-hander Taijuan Walker helped himself this fall, putting himself and his stuff in the right light for the radar guns and those imaginative enough to see the projection in that body.

Walker’s outing Wednesday at Angels Elite was one of his best of the fall. His fastball sat at 91-92 with hard, late life low in the strike zone. He delivers the ball from a whippy frame and generates productive torque with his across-the-body motion. Walker mixed in a curveball at 82, with signs of shape and depth, and was more consistent with it than when I first saw him in September. His change-up at 80 also has promise, though it isn’t ready to take into a pro game just yet. Have a look.  

Walker was relatively unknown outside his home community, Yucaipa High School, where scouts flocked last year to see third baseman Matt Davidson. Listed at 6-5, 200, Walker is far from physical maturity. His arm action is loose and easy for a large pitcher and it’s easy to estimate that there’s more power in his arm to come. He throws from a high ¾ slot, which is a comfortable fit for his frame and gives him a desirable arm action.

Walker is still inexperienced and learning how to use his lower half, but he made progress during the fall season in terms of keeping his mechanics together while physically maturing and figuring it out the bump. He’s added interest and has a chance to go pretty good in June. Just remember you read it here first.    

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Tags: Angels Elite, Taijuan Walker