Taijuan Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taijuan Walker |
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Walker with the New York Mets in 2021
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| Philadelphia Phillies – No. 99 | ||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||
| Born: August 13, 1992 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| August 30, 2013, for the Seattle Mariners | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through 2024) |
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| Win–loss record | 72–63 | |||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.19 | |||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 1,002 | |||||||||||||
| Teams | ||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Taijuan Emmanuel Walker, born on August 13, 1992, is an American professional baseball player. He is a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball (MLB). Taijuan has also played for other MLB teams like the Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets. He started playing in MLB in 2013 and was chosen as an All-Star in 2021. He has also represented the Mexico national baseball team.
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Early Life and Baseball Journey
Taijuan Walker was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. When he was younger, he loved basketball the most. However, he started playing baseball at age 11 and quickly fell in love with the sport.
Taijuan went to Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa, California. There, he was a talented athlete who played both baseball and basketball. In baseball, he was a pitcher and a shortstop.
Taijuan's Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners picked Taijuan Walker in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft. He was the 43rd player chosen overall. Taijuan signed a contract with the Mariners that included an $800,000 bonus.
He began his professional career playing in the Rookie League for the Arizona League Mariners. He pitched in four games, all as a relief pitcher, and had a good earned run average (ERA) of 1.29.
Taijuan was seen as a top young player for the Mariners. Before the 2012 season, he was ranked as the second-best prospect in the Mariners' team and the 20th best overall in baseball. He was even chosen to play in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game, which features rising stars.
Making His MLB Debut
In 2013, Taijuan was pitching well for the Tacoma Rainiers, a Triple-A team. He had a 5–3 win–loss record and a 3.61 ERA. Because of his strong performance, the Mariners called him up to the major leagues on August 30, 2013.
In his first MLB game, Taijuan pitched 5 innings against the Houston Astros. He only allowed 2 hits and struck out 2 batters. He started 3 games that season, finishing with a 3.60 ERA.
On September 24, 2014, Taijuan pitched his first full MLB game, called a complete game. He allowed only one run in a close 1–0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Challenges and Successes in 2015
Taijuan started the 2015 season as a regular pitcher for the Mariners. His first few games were tough, and some people wondered if he was ready for the big leagues. However, Taijuan worked hard and improved.
In June and July, he won five games in a row, which was a great achievement. On July 31, he pitched an amazing game against the Minnesota Twins. He allowed only one hit, which was a home run, and struck out 11 batters. He won that game 6–1. Overall, he finished the 2015 season with 11 wins and 8 losses.
Battling Injuries in 2016
In 2016, Taijuan dealt with a foot injury. He was placed on the injured list twice. Despite the injury, he had a good ERA of 3.66 before the All-Star break.
On September 13, 2016, Taijuan pitched his first career shutout. This means he pitched the entire game without allowing the other team to score any runs. He allowed only three hits and struck out eleven batters in an 8–0 win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Joining the Arizona Diamondbacks
On November 23, 2016, Taijuan Walker was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his first season with the Diamondbacks in 2017, he started 28 games and had 9 wins and 9 losses.
Injury and Recovery
In April 2018, Taijuan had a serious elbow injury called a UCL tear. This type of injury often requires a surgery known as Tommy John surgery. He had the surgery, which meant he missed the rest of the 2018 season.
After his surgery, Taijuan only played in one game for the Diamondbacks in 2019. In December 2019, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Returning to the Seattle Mariners
On February 12, 2020, Taijuan signed a one-year contract to return to the Seattle Mariners. He worked out for many team scouts before rejoining his former team.
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays
On August 27, 2020, the Mariners traded Taijuan to the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his Blue Jays debut on August 29, 2020, pitching six innings without allowing any runs. In his time with the Blue Jays in 2020, he had 2 wins and 1 loss with a very low 1.37 ERA.
Time with the New York Mets
On February 20, 2021, Taijuan signed a two-year contract with the New York Mets. He was chosen to be an All-Star in 2021, which is a big honor.
However, his performance changed after the All-Star break. He had a great record in the first half of the season but struggled more in the second half. He finished the 2021 season with 7 wins and 11 losses.
In November 2022, Taijuan decided to leave his contract with the Mets and become a free agent again.
Joining the Philadelphia Phillies
On December 16, 2022, Taijuan Walker signed a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 2023, he had a strong season with 15 wins and 6 losses. He did not pitch during the playoffs that year.
Taijuan started the 2024 season on the injured list because of a shoulder issue. He returned to play in April but later went back on the injured list in June due to finger inflammation. When he came back in August, he continued to have some challenges. He was then moved from being a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher on August 29.
Playing for His Country
Taijuan Walker played for the Mexico national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He started a game against Great Britain on March 14, where he pitched four innings, allowed only one hit, and struck out eight batters.
How Taijuan Pitches
Taijuan Walker uses several different types of pitches. He throws a fast pitch called a four-seam fastball that goes in the mid-90s miles per hour. He also throws a curveball and a changeup. Recently, he has also started to use a sinker and a cut fastball.
Taijuan's Family Life
Taijuan's father is Black, and his mother is half-Mexican and half-White. He was raised by his single mother and helped take care of his younger brothers and sisters.
Outside of baseball, Taijuan is a fan of popular stories like Pokémon and Star Wars.
Taijuan and his wife, Heather Restrepo, have two sons. Their first son was born in July 2017, and their second son was born in November 2020.
Images for kids
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Taijuan Walker pitching for the Mariners in 2015
