D-backs’ Walker crushes first career homer in return from birth of his child

SAY GOODBYE!!! @tai_walker hit's his first career HR after returning from paternity leave. Fatherhood agrees with him! (110mph off the bat) pic.twitter.com/htMHveyz5b

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) July 26, 2017

Coming off the paternity leave list after the birth of his first child, Taijuan Walker showed a little extra power on Tuesday.

How are we certain skipping his last start to be with his newborn child and wife, Heather, gave him more power? Just look.

In an 8-3 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday, Walker crushed Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz’s high, 96 mph fastball to left field for a home run that registered at 110 mph off the pitcher’s bat and 455 feet in distance. It was the 24-year-old’s first career home run, and the hit tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning.

For a pitcher, it was impressive.

That’s 455 feet!

Second-longest HR by a pitcher since 2015, behind only Jon Gray’s 467-foot blast this year. #Statcast https://t.co/RpsQeR1Wnz

— #Statcast (@statcast) July 26, 2017

That HR by Walker had hightest exit velocity by a pitcher not named Madison Bumgarner since Statcast was introduced in 2015.

— Steve Gilbert (@SteveGilbertMLB) July 26, 2017

On the mound, Walker pitched six frames, allowing three hits and two runs (only one was earned) along with a walk and six strikeouts.

Related

How Diamondbacks’ 2025 trade deadline played out 1 year laterDiamondbacks have more options to handle closer-by-committee than in the recent pastDiamondbacks president: ‘I would be surprised’ if we don’t make tradesDiamondbacks will not make a trade that leads to luxury tax penaltiesDiamondbacks going back to closer-by-matchupsDiamondbacks lean on brilliant Eduardo Rodriguez effort to win key series over Pirates