2014 #7 Prospect: Christian Walker - 1B

[Tony-OH]

The Orioles minor league player of the year, Walker put up a solid season between AAA and AAA but scouts still have concerns over his upside and bat speed.

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[slakattack]

This may be the wrong thread for this, but I BELIEVE that Christian Walker is going to be a beast.

[LookinUp]

If his bat speed is adequate, upside seems like Billy Butler (probably a little better defensively, not quite as good bat).

[Malike]

I honestly didn't see a lot to be excited about on either side of the ball. That's just my opinion, though.

[Malike]

If his bat speed is adequate, upside seems like Billy Butler (probably a little better defensively, not quite as good bat).

Billy Butler might be the 750th worst player in baseball defensively. If Walker is a little bit better defensively, then I want him nowhere near a glove.

[Aristotelian]

If his bat speed is adequate, upside seems like Billy Butler (probably a little better defensively, not quite as good bat).

Billy Butler OPSed about 150 points higher in the minors while striking out less. His minor league numbers look more similar to Justin Smoak.

[AdamK]

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I was there that night and it was a great crowd. Spent all day on airplanes (with wife and two young kids) to get there, but everyone had so much fun.

When this count up started, I assumed CW would be much lower. I don't know nearly as much as you guys do, so I'm not surprised I was wrong, but I am excited to see guys in front of Walker. Let's keep pushing talent like that with more competition -- starting with this next draft.

[tntoriole]

I will say here and now that Christian Walker will outperform the so-called experts' opinions and will become a beast offensively and more than adequate defensively.

[theobird]

I also think that Christian Walker will be a very good player at the ML level. He just knows how to hit.

[luismatos4prez]

Walker's ceiling is a second division starter, a 1-2 WAR player like James Loney.

His median outcome is floating around the league for a bit as a 0-1 WAR player like Mitch Moreland, Casey Kotchman, or Yonder Alonso.

Or he could just never make it like Dan Johnson. I think that's what it's going to be if he's an average at best fielder like the scouts suggest. Dan Johnson is a mediocre fielder. Alonso, Moreland, Kotchman, and Loney are all plus fielders. On average, they hit just as well as Walker in the minor leagues too.

The rest of major league 1B had much, much better minor league offensive numbers than Walker. Except for maybe Garrett Jones who didn't get a full time gig till he was 28 and isn't much good anyway.

I agree with this slot for Walker, though I think Mike Wright will have the better career.

[Tony-OH]

I will say here and now that Christian Walker will outperform the so-called experts' opinions and will become a beast offensively and more than adequate defensively.

I'm pretty sure you have said this in every thread about prospect so far. I think your voice has been heard! lol

[Tony-OH]

Walker's ceiling is a second division starter, a 1-2 WAR player like James Loney.

His median outcome is floating around the league for a bit as a 0-1 WAR player like Mitch Moreland, Casey Kotchman, or Yonder Alonso.

Or he could just never make it like Dan Johnson. I think that's what it's going to be if he's an average at best fielder like the scouts suggest. Dan Johnson is a mediocre fielder. Alonso, Moreland, Kotchman, and Loney are all plus fielders. On average, they hit just as well as Walker in the minor leagues too.

The rest of major league 1B had much, much better minor league offensive numbers than Walker. Except for maybe Garrett Jones who didn't get a full time gig till he was 28 and isn't much good anyway.

I agree with this slot for Walker, though I think Mike Wright will have the better career.

Good analysis. As for Wright, he's missing a put away pitch. His change has improved a lot but it's hard to see him starting without a put away pitch.

[Frobby]

I'll say this for Walker: he has exceeded expectations so far, so you can't rule out the possibility that he'll continue to do so.

[wildcard]

It would be nice to see Walker tear up AAA this year on the way to the majors. We will see if he can.

[Tony-OH]

I'll say this for Walker: he has exceeded expectations so far, so you can't rule out the possibility that he'll continue to do so.

Yep, that's partially why he was this high on the list. He's a guy who wants it pretty bad and has a good overall hit tool so we'll see if that can overcome the scouts' concerns.