FanPost

Todd Walker

There is not much I can add about Todd Walker that hasn't already been covered on the Internet by three of my favorite baseball writers: John Siskels, Randball’s Stu and Brad Swanson.

To briefly recap, the second baseman was a College World Series winner and LSU Hall of Famer, and the Twins’ first round pick in 1994 and the eighth pick overall. He was always reviewed highly as a hitter. He made his major league debut in 1996.

With big expectations, and Chuck Knoblauch manning second, Walker learned a new position and was named the Twins starting third baseman in 1997. (Walker is Well Grounded, Rookie Has Mitts on Third Base Job)

However, Walker started slow at the plate, and manager Tom Kelly complained publicly about Walker’s swing. Walker was sent down to Triple AAA on May 25 to make room on the roster for Bob Tewksbury. (Walker Down, Not Out) 30-year old Ron Coomer took over third base duties. Walker went back to tearing up AAA.

The next year, 1998, Knoblauch had been traded and Walker took over most of the 2B duties. (Walker Getting a Second Chance) Walker had his best year at the plate for the Twins, batting .316/.372/.473 in 143 games. In July, Walker hit in nine straight at bats, tying a record set by Tony Oliva.

Unfortunately, Walker had one of his worst years fielding, which included 13 errors, and he could never get out of Kelly’s doghouse.

In 1999, Walker’s average took a dip, to .279/.343/.397. On May 5, 2000, Walker was sent down again and on July 15 he was traded to the Colorado Rockies, along with Butch Huskey, for Todd Sears.

Jay Canizaro took over the duties at second that year, 2000, while 20-year old Luis Rivas, groomed in the Twins new academy in Venezuela, made his ML debut and waited in the wings.

By 2000, frankly, I was pretty tired of Tom Kelly and I was upset about his treatment of Walker.

I often wonder how the Twins might have done with Walker as the second baseman during their great 2001-2006 run, rather than Luis Rivas. Walker and his manager never got along, though, and his time as a Twin appeared doomed from the beginning. (Walker Demoted, Seeks a Trade)

Walker went on to play for six teams, "turning into a useful role player," as Sickels wrote. For me, his most memorable accomplishment was when he shone in the 2003 postseason for the Boston Red Sox.

Walker’s final career line was .289/.348/.435 with 107 homers in 1288 games, OPS+ 98, WAR 11.6. His last major league game was in 2007.

Rivas’s line with the Twins: .262/.307/.383 with 30 homers in 565 games, OPS+ 78, WAR -0.9. Rivas played his last game as a Twin in 2005.