Marcus Walden
Walden with the Boston Red Sox in 2019
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1988-09-13) September 13, 1988
Fresno, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 1, 2018, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record9–4
Earned run average3.81
Strikeouts100
Teams

Marcus Walter Walden[1] (born September 13, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut during 2018 after a decade of minor and independent league baseball. He both throws and bats right-handed, and is listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 195 pounds (88 kg).

Career

Early career

Walden attended Central High School in Fresno, California, and Fresno City College.[2] The Toronto Blue Jays selected Walden in the ninth round of the 2007 MLB draft.[3]

Walden with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2011

After pitching with Toronto's Rookie League and Low-A teams during 2007 and 2008, Walden missed most of the 2009 season and the entire 2010 season due to shoulder and elbow injuries that required surgeries, including Tommy John surgery.[4] He returned to pitch for several Toronto farm teams during the 2011 through 2014 seasons, ultimately being promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. The Blue Jays promoted Walden to the major leagues in April 2014, but they optioned him back to the minor leagues five days later without using him in a major league game.[5] Six days later, Walden was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays.[6]

Walden was claimed off of waivers by the Oakland Athletics in April 2014,[7] and he spent the remainder of the season with Oakland's Double-A and Triple-A teams. In 2015, Walden signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization and began the season with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double-A Southern League. He was released, and signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league.

On December 19, 2015, Walden signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[8] He split time between their Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, appearing in a combined 42 games with a 2.40 ERA and 1.065 WHIP with six saves and 40 strikeouts in 56+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Boston Red Sox

In December 2016, Walden signed with the Boston Red Sox.[9] He pitched for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox during the 2017 season, pitching 105+2⁄3 innings in 29 games (15 starts) with a 10–6 record, 3.92 ERA, and 1.306 WHIP while recording 86 strikeouts and 36 walks.

After pitching effectively during spring training, Walden was named to the Opening Day 25-man roster for the 2018 Boston Red Sox, expected to be the long reliever for rookie manager Alex Cora.[10][11] Walden made his major league debut on April 1, pitching 1+1⁄3 innings of relief against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up no runs and one hit while facing five batters.[12] On April 14, he earned his first save, pitching three innings of relief in a 10–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.[13] He was sent down to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox before the end of the month, was recalled very briefly in early May, and then spent the remainder of the season in the minors. With Boston, he appeared in a total of eight games with a 0–0 record and one save, while recording a 3.68 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 14+2⁄3 innings.[14]

In 2019, Walden was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Opening Day.[15] He was called up on April 6, when Brian Johnson was placed on the injured list,[16] and recorded his first MLB win the next day, pitching two innings of scoreless relief in a 1–0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.[17] He was optioned back to Pawtucket effective on April 16,[16] then recalled to Boston on April 19.[18] Overall with the 2019 Red Sox, Walden appeared in 70 games, compiling a 9–2 record with 3.81 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 78 innings.

In 2020, Walden was on Boston's active roster at the delayed start of the season.[19] He was optioned to the team's alternate training site on August 19,[20] and recalled on September 3.[21] Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Walden appeared in 15 games, all in relief, compiling an 0–2 record with 9.45 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 13+1⁄3 innings pitched.[22]

On February 24, 2021, Walden was designated for assignment by the Red Sox after the signing of Marwin González was made official.[23] On March 1, Walden was outrighted to Triple-A and invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee.[24] In 27 appearances for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, Walden recorded a 5–3 record with a 4.01 ERA and 40 strikeouts. On August 7, 2021, Walden was released by the Red Sox.[25]

Chicago Cubs

On August 19, 2021, Walden signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.[26]

Gastonia Honey Hunters

On April 20, 2022, Walden signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[27]

Milwaukee Brewers

On June 23, 2022, Walden signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. He made 16 appearances (9 starts) for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, logging an 0–3 record and 4.53 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched. Walden was released by the Brewers organization on December 16.

Gastonia Honey Hunters (second stint)

On April 28, 2023, Walden signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[28] He made 4 starts for Gastonia, logging a 2-1 record and 2.70 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 20.0 innings pitched.

Seattle Mariners

On May 22, 2023, Walden signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.[29] He elected free agency on November 6. [30]

Personal life

Walden and his wife, Nichole, have two daughters, Sutton and Palmer.[31] Walden and two business partners opened the DIB Baseball Academy in Fresno in 2015.[32]

References

  1. ↑ "Boston Red Sox Media Guide" (PDF). 2019. p. 239. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 15, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019 – via pressbox.athletics.com.
  2. ↑ Bataller, David (June 6, 2014). "Good Sports: Marcus Walden". abc30.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Barnstormers closer Marcus Walden signs with Minnesota Twins | Baseball". lancasteronline.com. January 5, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Jays prospect Walden finally ready to make an impact | The Toronto Observer". Torontoobserver.ca. March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Blue Jays recall Wagner, demote Walden". ESPN. April 9, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Blue Jays select contract of Bisons' Kawasaki". MiLB.com. April 15, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  7. ↑ Jeff Todd (April 16, 2014). "Athletics Claim Marcus Walden Off Waivers From Blue Jays". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Sign David Martinez, Marcus Walden and Others". puckettspond.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ Smith, Christopher (December 20, 2016). "Boston Red Sox sign Matt Dominguez, Junior Lake, 4 others to minor league deals with invites to spring training". masslive.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. ↑ Smith, Christopher (March 12, 2018). "Boston Red Sox Opening Day 25-man roster: Marcus Walden, Bobby Poyner win final spots in bullpen". masslive.com. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ Drellich, Evan (March 26, 2018). "Surprise! Poyner and Walden make Red Sox pitching staff". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Red Sox vs. Rays - Box Score". ESPN. April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles (5-10) 3, Boston Red Sox (12-2) 10". MLB.com. April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Boston Red Sox win 2018 World Series". MLB. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  15. ↑ Mastrodonato, Jason (March 23, 2019). "Surprises in Red Sox bullpen after roster cuts". Boston Herald. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. April 2019. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Red Sox vs. Diamondbacks". ESPN. April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Red Sox's Marcus Walden: Called up to big leagues". CBS Sports. April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  19. ↑ @RedSox (July 23, 2020). "The 30 men for the job" (Tweet). Retrieved July 23, 2020 – via Twitter.
  20. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. August 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. September 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Marcus Walden Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  23. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (February 24, 2021). "Boston Red Sox announce Marwin Gonzalez signing; Marcus Walden designated for assignment". MassLive.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  24. ↑ Polishuk, Mark (March 1, 2021). "Minor MLB Transactions: 3/1/21". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Red Sox sign lefty reliever Alex Claudio to minor-league deal, release Marcus Walden from WooSox". August 10, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Cubs Sign Marcus Walden to Minor League Deal". August 19, 2021.
  27. ↑ Atlantic League Transactions
  28. ↑ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  29. ↑ "Transactions". MLB.com.
  30. ↑ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-11-06
  31. ↑ Galaviz, Anthony (March 31, 2018). "Who knew Marcus Walden could make the big leagues? His wife, and that's all that matters". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  32. ↑ Rodriguez, Robert (April 24, 2015). "Word on the Street: Baseball academy opens in northwest Fresno". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

Further reading

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