Former Pirate, WPIAL star Neil Walker dusts off skills in emergency MLB pitching debut

Neil Walker completed his WPIAL career at Pine-Richland High School as one of the best athletes in Western Pennsylvania history.

He was a three-sport star with the Rams (football, baseball, basketball), playing multiple positions along the way.

Walker emerged as one of the best baseball prospects in the country as a catcher. Drafted by the Pirates, he eventually made it to the big leagues as an infielder. He won a Silver Slugger award as a second baseman.

He dabbled in pitching in high school. But those old skills were called upon Thursday night as his Philadelphia Phillies were getting trucked by the Baltimore Orioles, 11-4.

Manager Joe Girardi turned to Walker for mop-up duty in the bottom of the ninth. He had been playing first base.

Walker walked one batter.

But then he retired Pedro Severino and Austin Hays to get out of the inning.

That was Walker’s MLB pitching debut. According to ESPN, he threw 14 pitches. Seven were balls. Seven were strikes (or put in play). All of his pitches were curveballs, except for one changeup.

Coincidentally, the changeup was his fastest pitch at 80 mph. So, technically, maybe that was Walker’s “fastball.”

We’ll see if Walker’s arm is too tired today or if Girardi decides to go back to him in a pinch against the New York Mets.