Christian Walker, 1B, D-backs
Key stats: 2022-23: Most 1B OAA (25), eighth-most HR of any player (66)
May I interest you in baseball’s best defensive first baseman, with back-to-back 30+ homer seasons? Because Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson exist, and because the D-backs are rarely in the spotlight, and because when you do think about them you think about Corbin Carroll, Walker gets overlooked. But last year, he won a Gold Glove while mashing 36 homers, and this year, he’s going to win another Gold Glove with 30+ more homers. Only seven players in the game have hit more homers over the last two seasons.
Maybe getting claimed off waivers three times in a month, as Walker was in 2017, dims the shine of your stardom somewhat. If that’s what has happened, that’s on us. Walker has earned the title of superstar.
Key stats: 2022-23: Most 1B OAA (25), eighth-most HR of any player (66)
May I interest you in baseball’s best defensive first baseman, with back-to-back 30+ homer seasons? Because Freddie Freeman and Matt Olson exist, and because the D-backs are rarely in the spotlight, and because when you do think about them you think about Corbin Carroll, Walker gets overlooked. But last year, he won a Gold Glove while mashing 36 homers, and this year, he’s going to win another Gold Glove with 30+ more homers. Only seven players in the game have hit more homers over the last two seasons.
Maybe getting claimed off waivers three times in a month, as Walker was in 2017, dims the shine of your stardom somewhat. If that’s what has happened, that’s on us. Walker has earned the title of superstar.