Taijuan Walker has long been one of the most exciting arms in baseball, capable of great things but occasionally held back by inconsistency and injury problems. With his career now in doubt, the question is begged: Is Walker finished, or does he have enough left to make another run at the majors?
To get to the bottom of that issue, let’s take a closer look at Taijuan Walker’s career to date.
A Career Full of Potential
Taijuan Walker was a highly sought-after prospect when he debuted in MLB playing for the Seattle Mariners. Since then, Walker has spent stints with several different organizations, including:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Toronto Blue Jays
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
At his peak, Walker has proven himself to be a solid mid-rotation starter, even being named an All-Star for his performance with the New York Mets.
What went wrong?
Walker’s career hasn’t had a linear path. There have been several reasons why he has struggled lately:
1. Health Issues
Health issues have been the major problem. Shoulder problems and the Tommy John surgery have plagued him throughout his career.
2. Inconsistent Performance
Despite being in good health, he has still been inconsistent at times:
- Good first half seasons followed by poor performance
- Control problems that cause him to have periods of high ERAs
- Being unable to dominate deep in the season
3. Position Uncertainty
When playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, there have been times when the question is raised whether he should be:
- End of rotation starter
- Bullpen pitcher
Why Walker Still Has Career Left In Him?
It is too early for Walker to hang up his cleats. There are still good signs that he can make another push for success.
Benefits Of Being A Veteran
Most veteran pitchers have been able to adapt and succeed in the majors due to:
- Their experience in the league
- Their familiarity with other players
- Knowing how to change their repertoire of pitches
Moments of Success
Though some years may have been a struggle, Walker was still able to prove himself to be:
- Effective
- Solid
- A reliable arm
Pitching In Today’s Era
Today’s game requires that pitchers develop in order to continue being effective:
- Learn new pitches (cutters/splitters/etc.)
- Better pitch sequences
- Learning to control their pitches better
How a Comeback Would Work
A realist approach would entail being far from perfect, but rather, achieving some degree of consistency in terms of Walker being able to be:
- A reliable No. 4 or No. 5 pitcher
- An innings eater for a team that’s a contending team
- Even perhaps a move to the bullpen
We’ve seen several career comebacks within the MLB, in which players were able to prolong their career by finding their niche.
The Key Ingredient: Health
In the end, it all boils down to one thing.
If Walker can manage to remain:
- Healthy
- Mechanically sound
- Not experiencing long dry spells
Then there is no reason he wouldn’t be able to have a successful comeback.
Conclusion
In conclusion, then, is there still any hope for Taijuan Walker’s MLB career?
Well, not quite yet.
But he certainly seems to be standing at a fork in the road.
Though he might never be considered a top-tier starter again, Walker has the potential to find his place in professional baseball—if he makes some changes and avoids injury.
