SL1 Jackson Generals

Taijuan Walker Promoted to AAA Tacoma by Mariners

June 21, 2013 - Southern League (SL1)
Jackson Generals News Release


Jackson, Tenn - The Seattle Mariners announced this afternoon that top pitching prospect and Generals starting pitcher Taijuan Walker has been promoted to AAA Tacoma. Walker made his final start for the Generals last night and struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked none in 6.2 innings, earning his fourth win of the season and his first since May 1. In four pro seasons, Walker is 18-23 with a 3.46 ERA and has posted 336 strikeouts in 314.1 innings.

The 20-year-old Walker ranks sixth in Jackson franchise history for career starts with 39 starts. While in Jackson Walker was 11-17, with a 3.80 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 210.2 innings pitched. This season he was 4-7 with a 2.46 ERA in 14 starts. He leads the league and Mariners' Minor League's in strikeouts with 96. He also ranks seventh in the league in ERA (2.46) and third in innings pitched (84.). Among Southern League starters he ranks first in SO/9IP ratio (10.29) and third in opponents AVG (.195).

Walker has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last seven starts, and he has gone at least five innings in every start except one.

The 12 strikeout game against Mobile last night marked the fourth time Walker, now in his fourth year of pro ball, struck out double-digit hitters. The previous three -- all 11-strikeout games -- came in 2011 in Clinton the year he was named the Mariners' Pitcher of the Year.

Walker's accolades include being the top pitching prospect in the Mariners' organization the last two seasons, according to Baseball America. This past offseason MLB.com rated Walker as the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball. He was a Southern League All-Star in 2012.

Walker graduated from Yucaipa (CA) High School in June, 2010 and lettered in baseball and basketball in high school. He was drafted by the Mariners in the supplemental first round (43rd overall) during the 2010 draft.

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