Baltimore Orioles claim lefty pitcher off waivers from Phillies

Walker has bounced around the league throughout the course of his career, as he was first drafted by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. The now 30-year-old would make his major league debut during the 2023 season but struggled mightily, logging an 8.10 ERA in 14 outings for the Mets, striking out 12 in just 10 innings of work.

The lefty hurler would appear in 10 games for the Mets during the 2024 season, posting a 5.11 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 12.1 innings. He was designated for assignment on July 26 following the acquisition of righty reliever Ryne Stanek during last season's trade deadline.

The Mets traded Walker to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30, but he was DFA'd for the second time after appearing in just one game for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. Walker re-signed with Pittsburgh to a minor league deal on August 15 but elected free agency after the 2024 campaign.

Walker signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays during the offseason and began the 2025 season in Triple-A pitching for the Buffalo Bisons. He would only appear in three games for the Blue Jays, posting a 7.20 ERA with eight strikeouts over five innings; Toronto DFA'd the lefty on May 25 and later traded him to the Phillies four days later for cash considerations.

In 23 outings pitching for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Walker went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA, 22 strikeouts and a 1.42 WHIP across 26 innings of work. The lefty did not appear in any major league games for the Phillies this season as the ballclub designated him for assignment on August 19.

Walker will now look to make a name for himself in the Orioles' minor league system throughout the rest of this season, as he has yet to become a consistent major league pitcher. In 27 career games in the big leagues, he has a 6.59 ERA with 31 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.72 in 27.1 innings pitched.