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Adam Brett Walker II - 2014

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lightfoot789

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Adam Brett Walker II - DOB 10/18/1991 (22)

Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI

6'4 230 lbs. - RF R/R

Drafted 3rd Round - 97th pick

 

College Career

Played his college ball at Jacksonville University (FL) with fellow Twins & Miracle teammates Jonathan Murphy and Matthew Tomshaw. Entered college as a 17year old and was Drafted following junior year as a 20 year old. He was one of the youngest college draftees in the 2012 draft.

 

In 2010 Walker II was honored as a Freshmen All American by Louisville Slugger. In2011 Walker II was named first team All-America from Perfect Game USA and second team All-America from CollegeBaseballInsider.com, Baseball America, Louisville Slugger (Collegiate Baseball), the NCBWA and the America Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Walker II also was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy (NCBWA) and Golden Spikes Award (USA Baseball). He earned the ABCA All-south region honors and named District III Player of the Year by NCBWA to round out the list. He received these honors as a 1st baseman.

 

As a junior, Walker II enjoyed his best season as a Jacksonville Dolphin after leading the A-Sun with a .409 batting average, 99 hits and 23 doubles in helping the Dolphins reach the NCAA regionals for the fourth time in the last six seasons. He also paced the squad with 13 home runs, 75 RBI, 165 total bases and a .685 slugging percentage. His hits and total bases totals each broke single-season records for the program. For his efforts Walker II took home the A-Sun Player of the Year and first team all-conference honors. Finished his college career 40 for 41 in stolen base attempts. Off the field, Walker picked up two A-Sun All-Academic honors for his work in the classroom.

Collegiate Summer Wood Bat Leagues

2010- Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League (GLSCL) - Voted Top Prospect and Led team to first regular season title in team history.

 

2011 - Cape Cod League - Led the Cape in strikeouts which hurt his draft status. However, he led his team in home runs and rbi on their way to winning their first regular season title in over 23 years. 2nd in Cape All Star Game HR Derby.

 

Professional Career

2012- Led Appalachian League in HRs (14) and hit another 3 HRs in the post season to help E'Town win the Appalachian League Title. Hit a 3 run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning in the deciding game with 2 outs to send Championship game to extras. Was named the League Post Season Offensive Player of the Year in the playoffs. [3rd Runs - 3rd Triples - 4th RBI - 2nd K's - 5th Total Bases (League Ranking)]

 

2013 - Led Midwest League in HRs (27) -RBI (109) - Total Bases (267). Was second in league in Runs Scored (83) and Xtra Base Hits (65). Walker was named MWL Player of the Week 3x during the season. Two more times than anyone else. He was honored as a Mid-season All Star and Post Season All Star. He was named Topps MWL Player of the Year after helping the Cedar Rapids Kernels to the best record in minor league baseball. He was named a Twins MiLB OrganizationalAll Star in 2013.

 

Walker II is 17 for 17 in stolen base attempts (including playoffs) as a professional. He is 57 for 58 including his college career as a base stealer.

 

2014 - Hit a HR on the first pitch he saw after being called up by the MLB Twins for their final Spring Training game. He concluded his day by also hitting a double and finishing 2 for 2.

(1.000 OBP / 3.000 SLG / 4.000 OPS)

 

Video of Walker Highlights

These individual highlights must be viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. They do not show individual highlights on phones or IPads. FYI

 

AdamBrettWalkerKernelHighlights2013

 

Click either link and judge for yourself

Mr. Brooks Cedar Rapids Kernels

Mr. Brooks

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Walker might be the prospect I'll be watching most closely this year. I think the 'age' issue starts to become less and less of an issue each level he moves up.

While I tend to side a little bit with the skeptics, I am ready to jump in head first if he can continue to put up numbers in the FSL this year.

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lightfoot789

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Minors: Next crop of Twins' offensive talent on display with 2014 Miracle

April 2, 2014 Article quote - Naplesnews.com

Mientkiewicz got an early glimpse of Walker in the instructional league in spring training.

 

“If how he was seeing the ball this spring is any indication, we are in for a treat,” Mientkiewicz said. “His numbers speak for themselves, but he has been better than advertised.

 

“When he clicks a ball, there’s not too many guys in the Major Leagues right now that have his kind of pop.”

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lightfoot789

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http://www.news-press.com/article/20140403/SPORTS/304030054/0/NEWS0104/Miracle-loaded?odyssey=nav|head

Miracle are loaded

Last year's team was excellent; this one could be better

“He’s a beast,” Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said of Walker, who is 6-4, 223 pounds and a third-round pick in 2012 out of Jacksonville University.

 

“If it were any other year,” Antony said, noting the presence of Buxton and Sano, “he would have been our minor league player of the year.”

 

Walker sometimes wears stirrups over his socks, a baseball fashion statement that goes back to Jackie Robinson.

 

“I like to change things up a little bit,” Walker said. “I wear them when I’m in the mood. I’ll dust off the stirrups.”

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  • 2 weeks later...
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lightfoot789

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Walker has 4 home runs thru 10 games, but needs to get his average up (.231 BA) and strikeouts down (12 in 39 ABs) if the Miracle are going to benefit from his production long term this season. That being said - He is on pace for 56 Homeruns and 140 RBI (10 RBI thru 10 games) :)

Walker also had a milestone come to an end this week as he was caught stealing for the first time in his professional career. Actually he has been caught stealing only twice since 2010 (college and professional career / 56 for 58 in stolen base attempts). He did bounce back and stole a base on Saturday April 12th. [1 for 2 in 2014].

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa621791&position=OF

  • 2 weeks later...
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lightfoot789

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Since April 13th - Walker has really struggled at the plate. He is hitting a horrid .125/BA (5 for 40) with 13 K's / 0 HRs / 1 2B / 3 BBs / .186 OBP / & .150 Slug%. He has shown little power and can not seem to get the ball out the infield when he does make contact. He received his first day off for the season yesterday (after 19 straight games). Hopefully this day off can re-energize his motor and get him going.

 

The good part for Walker is that the season is still early. The Miracle however, are going to need him to step up their game if they are to achieve the hyped success they are expected to achieve this season. Hopefully it is a feeling out process for Walker as he learns to recognize more pitches in this league.

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=509&stn=true&sid=t509

  • 2 weeks later...
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lightfoot789

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Walker has been very inconsistent this season. He has failed to get the ball in the air consistently with any authority. That being said: The Miracle are still in first place and have yet to hit thier stride.

Walker team ranks:

Runs 3rd; Hits 5th; HRs 1st; RBI 3rd; TB 5th; BB 4th (4 back of leader); K's 1st (almost doubling #2); & SB 2nd

His 3 doubles; 0 triples; and 5 HRs are the disturbing part of his game this year. The lack of power numbers. The entire team for that matter has shown a lack of power numbers.

 

Miracle are 8th in the League in Slugging; BA; and HRs as a team. Thier .322 OBP isn't what they expected either. I claim - "As Walker Goes - So Do the Miracle". He needs to find that missing "It" and jump start this Miracle lineup like he did last year in Cedar Rapids.

 

I understand new level = new results, but they are much better players than what they are showing thus far. They need that spark and that spark is Walker.

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TRex

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I have really been paying attention this year to Walker's at bats, and for someone who is an RBI-guy, he can't drive a guy in from 3rd with less than 2 outs to save his soul. It seems like he is striking out nearly every time. I sure wish we had heat-maps for MiLB contact!

  • 2 weeks later...
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lightfoot789

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Adam Brett Walker is still struggling at the plate, but is still 3rd in FSL in HRs and RBI. That being said - the Miracle are still in second place and if the season ended today -would be in the playoffs. Walker is on pace for 25+ HRs and 100+ RBI. His walks are up but so are his Ks. He has 4 HRs (2 grand slams) in last 10 days. Let's hope he's figuring it out. He also leads all the Twins minor league affiliates in HRs and RBI as we'll (keeping things in perspective).

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lightfoot789

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Walker makes Honorable Mention on Twins Daily "Hitters of the Month" (May). He showed solid production but can still improve his OBP and BA.. The selections ahead of him were very good choices as well.

.262/.296/.524 (.821) with six doubles, seven homers and 20 RBI.

 

Don't forget to read article Seth recommends (above) from David Dorsey on Adam Brett Walker II - I agree (Tremendous Read)- Click link below

http://www.news-press.com/story/spor...racle/9824837/

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FSL notes: Walker continues to wallop

Miracle slugger undaunted by Florida circuit's challenging conditions

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140604&content_id=77990800&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=l123

 

Walker hit his League leading 13th HR last night at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.

The Florida State League is the most difficult League to hit HRs at. That covers all "A" ball Leagues thru the Major Leagues.

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lightfoot789

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Walker hits FSL leading 14th Home Run last night as the Miracle remain in first place by 1.5 games. Walker leads the FSL with 14 HRs & 109 TB. He ranks second in RBI by 1 with 50. These are his rankings thru 60 games this season. 80 more game to go - to keep it in perspective:)

 

Tomshaw tames Flying Tigers in 4-3 victory

Walker homers, Tomshaw earns sixth straight win

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140607&content_id=78754746&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t509

VandyTwinsFan College Ball

VandyTwinsFan

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I just check his current stats at milb and over the last 10 games his BA was higher than his OBP. I'm guess one sacrifice and ZERO walks over 10 games. It's hard to argue with a .390 BA, 10 game hitting streak (could be longer), 5 HR, and 15 RBI's...but ZERO walks in 10 games? Seems strange. Maybe teams will adjust after his recent outburst and things will trend back towards normal.

  • 2 weeks later...
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Adam Brett Walker II hit his league leading 18th home run today (July 4th). The home run was his 3rd Grand Slam of this short season. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400)with the bases loaded this season with 19 RBI. That is some awesome production!! This is the second consecutive fourth of July that Walker has hit a home run.

 

Despite his .235 BA and lowly .288 OBP - he is on pace to have similar production numbers than his MVP season in the Midwest League last year [runs scored (46); home runs (18); and RBI (62)]. The FSL league is "the" hardest league in minor league baseball and even the MLB to hit HRs and produce runs. It is a pitchers league and players are expected to struggle.

 

In many areas - Walker is seriously struggling. His doubters stated that he would not be able to do what he's doing because of his poor walk rate and plate discipline. Nothings has changed however - Not even his production or the fact that his team still won the first half championship (pitchers league) and made the playoffs. Just Win

lightfoot789 Draft Eligible

lightfoot789

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Adam Brett Walker II hit his league leading 18th home run yesterday (July 4th). The home run was his 3rd Grand Slam of this short season. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400)with the bases loaded this season with 19 RBI. That is some awesome production!! This is the second consecutive fourth of July that Walker has hit a home run.

 

Despite his .235 BA and lowly .288 OBP - he is on pace to have similar production numbers than his MVP season in the Midwest League last year [runs scored (46); home runs (18); and RBI (62) thus far]. The FSL league is "the" hardest league in minor league baseball and even the MLB to hit HRs and produce runs. It is a pitchers league and players are expected to struggle.

 

In many areas - Walker is seriously struggling. His doubters stated that he would not be able to do what he's doing because of his poor walk rate and plate discipline. Nothings has changed however - Not even his production or the fact that his team still won the first half championship (pitchers league) and made the playoffs (with several sub .250 hitters in lineup). Just Win

Brock Beauchamp GOAT

Brock Beauchamp

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Walker thru 1st week of July (6) games:

.318 BA

3 HR & 10 RBI

4 K's

3 BB's

.400 OBP & .727 SLG%

 

A positive trend if he can keep it up. The guy has always worried me because of his swing-happy nature; those guys are often crucified in the high minors or majors.

 

While his BA is down this season, his isoD is up so it's possible we're looking at a guy who's trending in the right direction.

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