Neil Martin Andrew Walker (born September 10, 1985) is an American former professional baseball second baseman and current broadcaster. He played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2009–2015), New York Mets (2016–17), Milwaukee Brewers (2017), New York Yankees (2018), Miami Marlins (2019), and Philadelphia Phillies (2020).
Walker was drafted by his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2009. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2014. After his retirement in 2021, Walker joined the Pirates broadcast team as a color analyst.
Early life
Walker, the son of former major league pitcher Tom Walker (1972–77), was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up outside of Pittsburgh in the nearby North Hills suburbs and attended Pine-Richland High School. He graduated in 2004. He played catcher on the baseball team and a wide receiver for the football team. Walker, who also played on the Rams' basketball team until his senior year, was a two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Male Athlete of the Year. His baseball uniform number #24, was retired from Pine-Richland during a pre-game ceremony before the Pittsburgh Pirates' July 22, 2010, game.
Neil grew up as a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and attended many of the team's games while sitting in the "Peanut Heaven" section of Three Rivers Stadium. In 1994, he attended the All-Star Game, where he obtained the signatures of Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas. To this day, those signed baseballs are among his most prized baseball possessions. Prior to being drafted by the Pirates, Walker approached the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State about doubling in baseball and football; however, he passed on those options out of concern that Penn State wanted him to add 60 pounds and become a tight end.
Professional baseball career (2007-2020)
Minor leagues
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected Walker in the first round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. At the beginning of the 2007 season and after three minor league campaigns, Baseball America rated him No. 74 on their list of Top 100 prospects, and No. 3 in the Pirates' organization, behind Andrew McCutchen and Brad Lincoln.
In 2007, the Pirates invited Walker to spring training as a non-roster player, where he was converted from his drafted position of catcher to third baseman. He was sent back to the Pirates Double-A affiliate Altoona Curve where he spent the majority of the season. On May 15, 2007, he became the first Curve player to have a four-hit game, going 4-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI against the Portland Sea Dogs. Walker hit a pair of two-run home runs on May 27, 2007, helping the Curve end a 10-game losing streak against the Bowie Baysox. He hit a grand slam and drove in five runs on June 28, 2007, in the second game of a double-header against the Trenton Thunder.
Walker was promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians for the 2008 season, where he played 133 games, compiling a .242 average with 16 home runs, 80 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2009
Walker spent the majority of the season again with the Pirates Triple-A affiliate Indianapolis Indians. In 95 games, he hit .264 with 69 RBI and 5 stolen bases. He received his first Major League call-up on September 1, 2009, and served as a pinch-hitter for Pirates starter Charlie Morton that night against the Cincinnati Reds. His first career hit came five days later against Jason Motte of the St. Louis Cardinals, a single to right field. He never became an every day regular player and finished the season hitting .194 in 17 games.
2010
Walker spent most of spring training with the Pirates in Bradenton, Florida, before being reassigned back to the Indians. He hit .321 with six home runs, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 43 games with Indianapolis and on May 25, 2010, he was called back up to the Pirates when first baseman Steve Pearce was placed on the disabled list with a sprained ankle.
He made his first Major League start of the year that night against the Cincinnati Reds, playing at third base. He hit an RBI double in the 8th inning off Reds starter Mike Leake. But his role on the team was initially in question, as Andy LaRoche had been the Pirates every day third baseman. With starting second baseman Akinori Iwamura struggling, Pirates manager John Russell played Walker at second base – a position where he had only played 23 career games at any level. He hit his first Major League home run on June 1, 2010, off Chicago Cubs starter Ted Lilly.