Goldeyes Sign NL Pitcher of the Year Walker
January 8, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Winnipeg Goldeyes News Release
It's like the holiday season all over again for Goldeyes fans.
Winnipeg manager Rick Forney announced today the return of right-handed pitcher Ace Walker. There are now 13 players on the 2010 roster, five of whom are pitchers.
Walker, 26, is coming off a career year that saw him rack up a whole bunch of awards. It began when he earned Northern League Pitcher of the Week honours for June 8-14 and continued two weeks later when he was added to the Great Plains squad for the NL All-Star Game. Less than a week later, he was named Rawlings NL Pitcher of the Month for June.
After picking up another NL Pitcher of the Week in mid-August, Walker was named to the NL All-Star Team on September 3 and then claimed NL Pitcher of the Year six days later. His season to remember wrapped up in October when he was named by Baseball America to its All-Independent Second Team.
For the year, Walker finished 12-6 with a 3.31 earned run average. His wins and franchise-record six complete games led the league while his ERA and franchise record-tying 149 innings pitched were good for second.
In two seasons with Winnipeg, Walker is 21-10 with a 3.83 ERA. He and Rafael Gross (2003) are the only Goldeyes hurlers to win NL Pitcher of the Year.
Walker joins pitchers Zach Baldwin, Antony Bello, Austin Donmoyer and Ian Thomas, infielders Josh Asanovich, Juan Diaz, Vince Harrison and Wes Long and outfielders Dee Brown, Aharon Eggleston, Lee Ellis and Cory Patton on the 2010 roster. Training camp opens May 7.
FISH FOOD: As the Goldeyes welcomed Walker back, they bid good-bye to pitcher Aaron Odom, whose rights were traded to Lake County for the rights to catcher Brett Wallace.
Northern League Stories from January 8, 2010
- Brad Correll Brings His Big Bat Back to Joliet - Joliet JackHammers
- Elvis is Coming to Silver Cross Field! - Joliet JackHammers
- Northern League Transactions - NL
- Goldeyes Sign NL Pitcher of the Year Walker - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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