Pirates/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates
Former 1st round pick has caught the eye of many rival scouts
Neil Walker, the Pittsburgh Pirates 2004 1st round pick is entering a crucial stretch of games with Triple-A Indianapolis and could be on the cusp of joining the Pirates.
Walker is believed to be under strong consideration to be called up following Memorial Day but will he be given an opportunity to play everyday at the major league level? That’s the mystery surrounding Walker in how the Pirates are going to deal with him.
It is well known that Walker is not a popular player among the Pirates brass.
The Pirates plan going into the season was to develop Walker into an major league level utility type of player.
Walker though is starting show signs of reaching his potential and appears to be finding a comfort zone at second base, a position currently held by veteran Aki Iwamura who is batting .159 on the season and making $4.85 million per season.
However, are the Pirates prepared to break off ties with Iwamura? Many believe their not.
Walker, 24, is batting .325 with 6 home runs and 25 RBI’s and 10 stolen bases for Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s at the point in his career where the Pirates need to see what he can do at the MLB level and that’s starts with him playing everyday.
