The Seattle Mariners highly touted prospect Taijuan Walker will make his 2014 Major League debut against the Houston Astros. Walker started three games for the Mariners last season and likely would have been a part of the Seattle rotation coming out of spring training this year, were it not for a shoulder (tightness) injury.
He went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 15 innings in those starts.
M’s manger is looking forward to his arrival. “I’ve read and heard all the accolades. I saw a little bit of film, but I haven’t seen him in competition,” McClendon said. “Hopefully he goes out and gives us five or six good innings. We’ll take it from there.”
Walker features a high-90s fastball with a good cutter and can dominate hitters when he is locked in. Walker was the subject of trade rumors in the past, with some “experts” opining that he would be a part of deal to lure David Price away from Tampa Bay.
So far Price is still in Tampa Bay and Walker seems poised to be a fixture in the Mariners rotation with the trade rumors seemingly fizzling out.
