Todd Walker
Encyclopedia
Todd Arthur Walker is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
.
where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship
. He also earned the 1993 College World Series
Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame
. In July 2009, Walker was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX.
drafted Walker with the 8th pick in the 1st Round of the amateur draft. On August 30, 1996, Walker made his major league debut with the Twins. In , Walker became the starting second baseman for the Twins, hitting .316 with 12 HR
, 62 RBIs, and a career best 19 stolen bases.
Over the next season and a half, Walker's offensive performance began to decline, and the Twins traded Walker to the Colorado Rockies
. He responded by hitting .316 through the rest of and .297 through the first half of . Walker hit 12 home runs as a member of the Rockies that year.
The Cincinnati Reds
, in need of a better performance from its second base position, traded for Walker in July . Walker rewarded the Reds by providing consistent offense, hitting .295 through the end of the season. In , Walker enjoyed another fine year, hitting .299 with 11 HR and 64 RBIs and setting career highs with 42 doubles and 155 games played.
Following the season, the Boston Red Sox
hired Theo Epstein
as their new General Manager. One of his first moves was trading for Walker. During , Walker continued to provide consistent offense, hitting .283 with 13 HR and setting a career high with 85 RBIs. On September 23 that year, with the Red Sox trailing the Baltimore Orioles
5-2 in the ninth inning, Walker hit a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run off Jorge Julio
to tie the game. (The Sox won, 6-5, on David Ortiz
's walk-off home run in the tenth.) The Red Sox made the playoffs and Walker stepped up his performance again; he hit .313 with three homers in the American League Division Series
against the Oakland A's, and .370 with two more homers and hits in every game against the New York Yankees
in the ALCS
. The Red Sox were eliminated in 7 games. Walker's 5 postseason homers are still a Red Sox record. Despite his performance, Walker was allowed to leave, signing with the Chicago Cubs
via free agency.
Over the next three seasons, Walker attempted to maintain his offensive performance with the Cubs, but found himself playing less, platooning with younger players. Walker hit .274 , .305 , and .277 (through July ). However, he began to share time at second base with other players like Neifi Pérez
, and started to make appearances at first base and in the outfield
.
At the end of July 2006, the San Diego Padres
were attempting to make the playoffs while the Cubs were already out of the race. Before the trading deadline, the Padres traded low-A pitching prospect José Ceda
to the Cubs for Walker, who became the new starting third baseman. He hit .282 down the stretch, and the Padres made the playoffs
, but were eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals
.
In , Walker attended spring training
with the Padres. However, during the offseason, the Padres had restocked the team with more infielders and left-handed hitters, and after a poor performance during the exhibition season, Walker was released
on March 27. On March 30, 2007, he signed with the Oakland A's.
On May 12, 2007, Walker was designated for assignment
to make room for Dallas Braden
. Walker was subsequently released.
. He married his high school sweetheart, Katie Burns.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
College
Walker attended LSULSU Tigers baseball
The LSU baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball.Along with the other LSU athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference...
where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship
1993 College World Series
The 1993 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 4 to June 12. The forty-seventh tournament's champion was Louisiana State University, coached by Skip Bertman. The Most Outstanding Player was Todd Walker of Louisiana State University.Texas and Texas A&M...
. He also earned the 1993 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame
LSU Hall of Fame
The Louisiana State University Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes members of the athletics program that have made a lasting impact on the university. To be eligible for the LSU Hall of Fame in the Athlete category, an individual must have earned a college degree and gained national distinction...
. In July 2009, Walker was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX.
Professional career
In , the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
drafted Walker with the 8th pick in the 1st Round of the amateur draft. On August 30, 1996, Walker made his major league debut with the Twins. In , Walker became the starting second baseman for the Twins, hitting .316 with 12 HR
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 62 RBIs, and a career best 19 stolen bases.
Over the next season and a half, Walker's offensive performance began to decline, and the Twins traded Walker to 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...
. He responded by hitting .316 through the rest of and .297 through the first half of . Walker hit 12 home runs as a member of the Rockies that year.
The Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, in need of a better performance from its second base position, traded for Walker in July . Walker rewarded the Reds by providing consistent offense, hitting .295 through the end of the season. In , Walker enjoyed another fine year, hitting .299 with 11 HR and 64 RBIs and setting career highs with 42 doubles and 155 games played.
Following the season, 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"...
hired Theo Epstein
Theo Epstein
Theo Nathan Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.On November 25, 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28...
as their new General Manager. One of his first moves was trading for Walker. During , Walker continued to provide consistent offense, hitting .283 with 13 HR and setting a career high with 85 RBIs. On September 23 that year, with the Red Sox trailing the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
5-2 in the ninth inning, Walker hit a two-out, two-strike, three-run home run off Jorge Julio
Jorge Julio
Jorge Dandys Julio Tapia is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2001–2005, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and the Florida Marlins in 2007 before being traded...
to tie the game. (The Sox won, 6-5, on David Ortiz
David Ortiz
David Américo Ortiz Arias , known as David Ortiz, nicknamed "Big Papi", is a Dominican American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. Previously, Ortiz played with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox...
's walk-off home run in the tenth.) The Red Sox made the playoffs and Walker stepped up his performance again; he hit .313 with three homers in the American League Division Series
American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series...
against the Oakland A's, and .370 with two more homers and hits in every game against 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...
in the ALCS
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
. The Red Sox were eliminated in 7 games. Walker's 5 postseason homers are still a Red Sox record. Despite his performance, Walker was allowed to leave, signing with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
via free agency.
Over the next three seasons, Walker attempted to maintain his offensive performance with the Cubs, but found himself playing less, platooning with younger players. Walker hit .274 , .305 , and .277 (through July ). However, he began to share time at second base with other players like Neifi Pérez
Neifi Pérez
Neifi Neftali Pérez is a Major League baseball player who most recently played for the Detroit Tigers. He played with the Colorado Rockies , Kansas City Royals , San Francisco Giants , and the Chicago Cubs...
, and started to make appearances at first base and in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
.
At the end of July 2006, 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...
were attempting to make the playoffs while the Cubs were already out of the race. Before the trading deadline, the Padres traded low-A pitching prospect José Ceda
José Ceda
José Marti Ceda Marte is a Minor League Baseball player in the Miami Marlins minor league system....
to the Cubs for Walker, who became the new starting third baseman. He hit .282 down the stretch, and the Padres made the playoffs
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
, but were eliminated in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
In , Walker attended 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...
with the Padres. However, during the offseason, the Padres had restocked the team with more infielders and left-handed hitters, and after a poor performance during the exhibition season, Walker was released
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on March 27. On March 30, 2007, he signed with the Oakland A's.
On May 12, 2007, Walker was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
to make room for Dallas Braden
Dallas Braden
Dallas Lee Braden is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted out of Texas Tech University in the twenty fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics...
. Walker was subsequently released.
Personal life
Todd is a graduate of Airline High School in Bossier City, LouisianaBossier City, Louisiana
Bossier City is a city in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States.As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 61,315. Bossier City is closely tied to its larger sister city Shreveport, located on the western bank of the Red River. The Shreveport-Bossier City metropolitan area is the...
. He married his high school sweetheart, Katie Burns.