Adam Brett Walker, 3rd round 2012 draft

[cmb0252]

From baseball America's daily prospect round up regarding Mr.Walker:

Minnesota has the best position prospect duo in baseball (Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton) off to scorching starts, but the Twins are getting plenty of early production elsewhere in the farm system too. Walker, a third-round pick last year out of Jacksonville, homered in four straight days—including a two-homer game on Friday—before his streak ended yesterday. Walker, who led the Rookie-level Appalachian League with 14 home runs in 58 games last year, is hitting .297/.373/.608 in 20 low Class A Midwest League games this season. The most impressive part of what Walker’s done so far isn’t just showing that he can hit the ball a long way—we already knew he had outstanding raw power—it’s that he’s shown the aptitude to make adjustments to get to his power in games with greater frequency.

 

Link below:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/monday-prospect-notebook-anthony-ranaudos-resurgence/

[Oldgoat_MN]

It's a nice start but Walker shouldn't have been top ten based on a college player beating up on rk ball pitchers. He also posted a 30% K rate against them.

 

So far this year he's looking awesome but he should move up because he's a college player in low A ball. This brings up another issue. Do you promote Walker or Buxton first?

 

Buxton

[cmathewson]

This comes up every time the Twins draft a college player, with a few exceptions (e.g Levi Michael, Chuck Knoblauch). The Twins start college position players in the Appy League. They typically go from there to the MWL. If they dominate, the go to the FSL that year. Most don't go there until their third years. So they are old for every level they play in. Their projections should not be that greatly affected by their age/level pairings.

 

Also, college ball is not uniform. If you play for Jacksonville College, you will not have played against top competition. If you play for Miami, you will have. I recall the knock on Danny Valencia was he followed the standard Twins progression, but he came from a major college. Walker played in a lesser conference.

[lightfoot789]

He was the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) District Player of the Year Award in 2011. He won over college players from the following states: District III: Kentucky, Tennessee,Mississippi, Alabama, and yes Florida; The writers must have thought enough of his performance to warrant his play, Big Time.

 

It is true that he played in a lesser conference, but he did play the Florida States 5 games(.400+ BA with 2 HRs and 4 Doubles) and Floridas 3 games (defeated them when they were number #1 in country) and numerous other ranked teams, to name a few. The question is how did he do against Top competition. He did well become a Semi Finalist for the Golden Spike and Howser Award. Just glad the Twins took a chance on him and could see the upside. I'm a believer - Dude performs his best against the best..........:

 

Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Draft Blog | Stats For Top 200 College Hitters On Friday Nights

[Seth Stohs]

Likely no surprise, but Walker was named the Midwest League Player of the Week for his past week's performance.

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From BA's weekly Ask BA article on walker:

The Twins have the minors’ best power prospect in third baseman Miguel Sano, who led the low Class A Midwest League with 28 homers last year and already has slugged 10 this year in 29 games in high Class A. He might not be the best overall prospect in their system, however. That honor may belong to Buxton, BA’s top-rated player in the 2012 draft.

While Buxton should have at least plus power, he doesn’t have as much raw juice as Walker, Minnesota’s third-round pick last June. In fact, Twins scouts thought Walker had the best raw power in the entire 2012 draft. He helped back that belief by smashing 14 homers at Rookie-level Elizabethton in his pro debut last summer.

Walker has hit six more longballs in the MWL, where he’s batting .288/.351/.558. He might have been a first-round pick if not for his tendency to pile up strikeouts, but he has cut down his whiffs from one every three at-bats last year to one every four in 2013. He has solid speed and a fringy arm, though ultimately it’s his bat that will determine his future.

 

Link below:

 

Ask BA: How Do Draft's Top Bats Stack Up? - BaseballAmerica.com

[TRex]

Another blurb about Walker from BA, this time from Tuesday's prospect notebook:

Tuesday Prospect Notebook: Matt Davidson Gets Back On Track - BaseballAmerica.com

Adam Brett Walker, rf, Twins. Walker’s power made him a third-round pick in last year’s draft, and the 21-year-old hasn’t disappointed in taking on the hostile environs of the low Class A Midwest League. The Cedar Rapids right fielder homered for the seventh time in 28 games last night, moving him into a tie for the MWL lead. The rest of his game is less refined, but after a slow start, he’s managed to hit .338/.400/.688 over his last 77 at-bats. He’s hitting .303/.361/.596 on the season overall and leads the MWL in RBIs (32).

[lightfoot789]

Adam Brett Walker II - Leads the Kernels & Midwest League in Home Runs (7) & RBIs (33). But did you know that he leads the Kernels in Triples (4) and is 2nd in the Midwest League in Triples as well. A Complete Athlete!! Also batting .314 as of May 10th.

31 Games: 7 HRs / 4 Triples / 8 Doubles / 33 RBI - If you multilpy for full season (x4) ....

124 Games: 28 HRs / 16 Triples / 32 Doubles / 132 RBI - Now thats a season!

Keep Grinding Kid

[TRex]

I think one of my favorite things about Walker is that he is that he is a stat-sheet filler.

 

He is not just an all-or-nothing type hitter. He has only 1 HR in 9 May games, but has still managed to generate a triple slash of .349/.364/.628 by hitting 5D and 4T. He also was successful in 3SB attempts. The only negative is that he did not have a single walk... but if you are hitting .350 I say 'grip it and rip it'!

[greengoblinrulz]

After Adams mothers day of 4-7 w/2doubles 2HR 7 rbi.....he sits at

.321 (12th in MWL)/.369/.664(1st in MWL--Buxton only other over .600) for 4th in OPS w/1.033.

He leads lg w/9HR & 40RBI , 7th w/10 doubles, 2nd w/4 triples, tied for 2nd w/26runs scored BUT only tied for 20th in Ks w/31(3rd on team)

Still stunned that when Ft Myers needed an extra OF, they called up his U of Jax teammate Jonathon Murphy (19th round last yr) from EST. Murphy struggled in GCL last yr but jumped over ELIZ/MWL to go directly to Ft Myers.

He has played well but this makes NO sense, as many will say Walker isnt ready, but Murphy is???

Nothing left for Walker to prove at low A....no need to wait till All Star Gm to appease fans in Iowa.

[maxisagod]

Murphy struggled in GCL last yr but jumped over ELIZ/MWL to go directly to Ft Myers.

He has played well but this makes NO sense, as many will say Walker isnt ready, but Murphy is???.

 

Murphy isn't really a prospect. He was already in Florida (no airfare, no logging concerns) and it's only for a short time, not a full time placement. The Twins like Walker, once they promote him they're not sending him back. They want it to feel like a job promotion, not filling in for someone while their gone, that you hire a temp for.

[goliath]

Maybe when Max Kepler is healthy enough to play in CR, Walker will move up.

BTW, any update on Kepler?

[greengoblinrulz]

Make no mistake, I absolutely get why they did Murphy.....they are a very cheap organization who fret about airfare/short term team charges. Same reason that Hicks/Arcia didnt get callups in Sept with roster spots open.

They arent willing to give a real prospect a promotion untill they deem they've payed their dues or reached a certain age (not by actually doin their job). They were afraid Walker will handle Ft Myers before their 'planned' date has arrived.

[maxisagod]

Make no mistake, I absolutely get why they did Murphy.....they are a very cheap organization who fret about airfare/short term team charges. Same reason that Hicks/Arcia didnt get callups in Sept with roster spots open.

They arent willing to give a real prospect a promotion untill they deem they've payed their dues or reached a certain age (not by actually doin their job). They were afraid Walker will handle Ft Myers before their 'planned' date has arrived.

 

Could be. To be honest I have no idea how someone organizes a business with 7 offices over 6 cities where everyone wants to be transfered to one city but not to the other. Where you need to fire 40 guys a year only to replace them with 40 more right away. Where you need to make arraignments in cities like Cedar Rapids for people to stay in other peoples homes. Or how to deal with top performing employees who start showing promise. How long do you wait? How does demoting someone play with their brain? I'm glad it's not my job. if I worked somewhere like this, I'd just like to know that the company had a plan, what that plan was, and what I can do to make sure I'm part of their plans. I think Walker is doing his job telling the Twins to make him a part of their plans. And the Twins are paying attention.

[Seth Stohs]

Make no mistake, I absolutely get why they did Murphy.....they are a very cheap organization who fret about airfare/short term team charges. Same reason that Hicks/Arcia didnt get callups in Sept with roster spots open.

They arent willing to give a real prospect a promotion untill they deem they've payed their dues or reached a certain age (not by actually doin their job). They were afraid Walker will handle Ft Myers before their 'planned' date has arrived.

 

This is pretty ridiculous ovreall, but for some reason, I'm still going to respond. Prospects are the ones that HAVE TO be handled appropriately ,and that's all that matters. Walker was a third round pick LAST YEAR. Obviously they like him a lot. Murphy was in Ft. Myers. He'll be up with the Miracle for maybe a week. No reason to uproot Walker for that time span. Walker will move quickly. He's been good now for almost a month. A couple more weeks and he'll be up, I would think. At latest, it's after the All Star game in mid-June, which is just fine too.

[lightfoot789]

I agree with Seth. No rush and he needs to just stay consistent until it's time. My question is who will they move throughout system? Especially with the draft approaching prior to all star games. How many drafted position players will shift the balance of the minor league system?

[Seth Stohs]

Adam Brett Walker named MWL Player of the Week | Cedar Rapids Kernels News

 

Adam Walker was named the Midwest League Hitter of the Week for the 2nd time this season.

[ericchri]

Remember that time long ago when it seemed the Twins outfield was going to be too crowded, so they traded away a couple of their major league starters to start making room?

 

Buxton, Arcia, Hicks (fingers crossed he finds his game again), Kepler, now Walker staking a claim. I think if I was an outfielder I didn't just name in the Twins system I'd be tempted to do something stupid to try and get the Twins to waive/trade me so I could try somebody else's system to have a chance.

 

His bat is obviously rocking at the moment, but what does Walker look like defensively?

[amjgt]

Tell me I am not the only one that assumed Adam Brett Walker II was a 6'4" white guy.

 

I've heard comments, probably on here, but maybe somewhere else about how it might be difficult for him to keep weight off with his size and build. Could he be a 2015/16 potential solution at 1B?

 

Seems like he could be a prototypical modern 1B. Masher. OK Average. K rate a little higher than you'd like.

[TRex]

I might have missed the blurb about him keeping the weight off...

 

The comparison I have always heard is that he is built like a linebacker. I was going to comment that the still photos and videos I have seen make it look like his man-muscles hadn't even filled in yet, and can you imagine how much power he will have when that happens!

 

So perhaps it is time to appeal to anyone with firsthand knowledge to describe Mr. Walker's build.

[kab21]

He will be a big guy but I'm not sure 1B is in his future. It's not difficult to move from the IF to the OF but usually guys that end up in the IF (even 1B) moved from other IF positions. Fielding grounders isn't something that you just pick up if you haven't been regularly doing this for several years.

[lightfoot789]

For those of you who didn't know - Adam Brett Walker II was a 2nd Team All American at 1B in several (4+) major publications (including Baseball America). I believe he is destined for RF in his early career, but I have no doubt he could play 1B later on in his career. BTW - He hit his 10th HR (Grand Slam) today and now has 44 RBI in 35 Games. And he is buildt like a LB. Not worried about weight issues for some years.

 

Walker receives first team All-America honors from Perfect Game USA - Jacksonville University Official Athletic Site

[greengoblinrulz]

This is pretty ridiculous ovreall, but for some reason, I'm still going to respond. Prospects are the ones that HAVE TO be handled appropriately ,and that's all that matters. Walker was a third round pick LAST YEAR. Obviously they like him a lot. Murphy was in Ft. Myers. He'll be up with the Miracle for maybe a week. No reason to uproot Walker for that time span. Walker will move quickly. He's been good now for almost a month. A couple more weeks and he'll be up, I would think. At latest, it's after the All Star game in mid-June, which is just fine too.

Seth & I disagree on this constantly. Twins admit themselves, they are one of the more conservative teams in moving players thru the system & that drives me crazy. Seth agrees with it & they've had a solid 10 yr run doin it their way. Im not saying rush guys at all, but the 'paint by numbers' approach frustrates me to no end.

One thing that has come out the past 3 yrs or so is MN is showing that once a hitter reaches AA & produces, that's all the farther a player needs to go. Pitchers are a different story & thats fine. Knowing that, its not as difficult to move thru the system.

I dont care who disagrees, the reason for keeping Arcia/Hicks away last Sept was money/arbitration/service time driven. If both are up for good (Arcia is IMO/Hicks??), bein up last Sept wouldnt change anything as Arcia is on track for a full season of service time( how it was explained on MLB tv anyways) , even tho he played 9 gms in AAA. Wasted a month of experience that went to Matt Carson.

[TRex]

Well, as long as you don't care who disagrees I guess the case is closed... good thing we don't have to waste any more space arguing with you!

[amjgt]

For those of you who didn't know - Adam Brett Walker II was a 2nd Team All American at 1B in several (4+) major publications (including Baseball America). I believe he is destined for RF in his early career, but I have no doubt he could play 1B later on in his career. BTW - He hit his 10th HR (Grand Slam) today and now has 44 RBI in 35 Games. And he is buildt like a LB. Not worried about weight issues for some years.

 

Walker receives first team All-America honors from Perfect Game USA - Jacksonville University Official Athletic Site

 

Good info. Thanks.

[lightfoot789]

I like this kid more and more each time. The future is bright.

 

Adam Brett Walker II - Minneapolis TV News Interview

Byron Buxton's Promising, But Don't Forget Adam Brett Walker | Watch the video - Yahoo! Screen

 

What a great CR team - all around.

[TRex]

After putting up one of the hottest 10-game stretches in recent memory, AB Walker has come back down to earth. In his last 10 games, his triple-slash was just .129/.200/.226, with just a single extra-base hit (HR), and a K-rate of >35%... not all that unusual for a slugger coming off a power binge.

 

After playing 43 games (161 AB), he is still hitting .284/.335/.580, and leads the league in HR (10) and RBI (45) and is second in total bases (92) to teammate Byron Buxton.

[Mr. Ed]

2 HRs in todays game(7-15), now 18 HRs/79 rbis. 5 HRs in past 6 games.

[TRex]

June was a down month for Walker, and he managed an OPS of 'only' .722. However, he did steal 4 bases and got his SO rate back down below 25%.

 

Now Walker is on another streak... Over his last 14 games (covering July), his triple-slash is .314/.362/.725. He has hit 2D and 6 HR in that time and has already driven in 19 runs.

 

For the season, Walker is hitting .282/.332/.540, with 20D, 5T, and 18 HR. He has stolen 7 bases without being caught and scored 57 runs. He has driven in 79 runs and, with today's promotion of Hicks, you would imagine that he will be able to take a run at Sano's magic number from last year (100 even; side note, only 2 people reached this milestone in the MWL in the last 6 years, Sano and some 23 yr old nobody. David Winfree was the last Twin to do it in 2005).

 

 

He is on the leader board in the following categories (NB, I have left off the Kernels who were promoted):

 

HR (1st)

RBI (1st)

Runs (4th)

Total Bases (2nd)

SLG (1st)

OPS (4th)

 

Another notable placing (or lack thereof) is that Walker is 17th in the league in strikeouts , and well below 25% SO 'danger' rate (22.6%; 79 in 349 PA).

[TRex]

Walker has had another HOT week, even considering it started with a marathon 0-7 game! After that, he went 10-24 with 2D, 4HR and 9 RBI; which equates to .417/.417/1.000. As you can tell by the equal AVG and OBP, Walker was not true to his name and, indeed, that is the only thing missing in his resume. In 380 PA this year, Walker has only walked 23 times... well below the 10% rate most prospectors would like to see.

 

For the year, he has hit 22 HR and driven in 88 runs (.286/.332/.560). He remains on the leader board in the following categories:

 

HR (1st, by 7 HR)

RBI (1st, by 17 over anyone not named Hicks)

Runs (4th)

Total Bases (1st)

SLG (1st)

OPS (2nd)