| Christian Walker | |
| Team: | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| Number: | 53 |
| Position: | First baseman |
| Birth Date: | 28 March 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 17 |
| Debutyear: | 2014 |
| Debutteam: | Baltimore Orioles |
| Statyear: | July 29, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .251 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 144 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 430 |
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| Awards: |
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Christian Dickson Walker (born March 28, 1991) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks and won the College World Series in 2010 and 2011. Walker was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles and made his MLB debut with the team in 2014. He was later claimed off waivers in 2017 by the Diamondbacks and became their regular first baseman after Paul Goldschmidt was traded following the 2018 season. Walker is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner and helped the Diamondbacks win the National League pennant in 2023.
Walker attended Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School in Norristown, Pennsylvania.[1] He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 49th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. Walker attended the University of South Carolina and played college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2010 to 2012. While there, he helped the Gamecocks win the College World Series in 2010 and 2011. He also helped the team reach the 2012 College World Series, where they lost to the Arizona Wildcats. He finished tied with Dustin Ackley for most career hits in the College World Series.[2] Overall in his career at South Carolina, he played in 206 games and hit 336/.427/.533 with 30 home runs and 137 runs batted in. In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]
The Baltimore Orioles selected Walker in the fourth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[4] [5] He made his debut for the Aberdeen IronBirds. He played in 22 games and hit .284/.376/.420 with two home runs. Walker started 2013 with the Delmarva Shorebirds.[6] In May he was promoted to the Frederick Keys.[7] In July he played in the All-Star Futures Game.[8] After the game he was promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He finished the year playing in 103 games and hit .300/.362/.453 with 11 home runs. Walker started 2014 back with Bowie.[9] [10]
On September 17, 2014, Walker was called up to the Orioles from AAA-Norfolk.[11] He made his major league debut later that day. Facing Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J. A. Happ, Walker hit a double for his first major league hit.[12] On September 20, he had his first multi-hit game, including his first career major league home run, off of Boston Red Sox starter, Rubby De La Rosa.[13]
On February 21, 2017, the Orioles designated Walker for assignment.[14]
On March 6, 2017, the Cincinnati Reds claimed Walker off of waivers. The Atlanta Braves also put a waiver claim on Walker, but lost due to the order.[15]
On March 28, 2017, Walker was waived by the Reds and claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks who assigned him to the Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He was selected as the 2017 PCL Most Valuable Player.[16]
Walker was called up again and played in 11 games in 2017 for the Diamondbacks, batting .250 with 2 homers. He played in 37 games in 2018, for a .163 average with 3 home runs.
In 2019, Walker hit .259/.348/.476 with 29 home runs and 73 RBIs. He had a 9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) rating, the best in the National League among first basemen, and led all major league first basemen with 139 assists.[17] [18] In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he hit .271/.333/.459 with 7 home runs and 34 RBIs.
In 2021, Walker batted .244/.315/.382 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 115 games. The following year, he hit a career-high 36 home runs and drove in 94 runs while winning his first career Gold Glove Award.
On January 13, 2023, Walker agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract with the Diamondbacks, avoiding salary arbitration.[19] That season, he set career highs in RBIs (103), total bases (289), and slugging percentage (.497) and won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award. He helped lead the Diamondbacks to the 2023 World Series, where they lost to the Texas Rangers.