ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Christian Walker producing as D-backs await Jake Lamb’s return

May 10, 2019, 4:56 PM | Updated: 11:09 pm
Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run...
Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on April 16, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. All players are wearing number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks went from one .300-hitting first baseman to another.

A year ago, it wouldn’t have been surprising to learn that in 2019, Arizona would have the NL’s doubles co-leader playing well on both sides of the ball, hitting .295 with a .949 OPS as of May 10. The surprise might’ve been that that player is Christian Walker, not Paul Goldschmidt.

Nearly 40 games into the season, several of Walker’s key offensive numbers are better than Goldschmidt’s, as is his WAR. Ironic, for a player who was stuck behind Goldschmidt in the Diamondbacks’ system and was expected to share first base with Jake Lamb when this season began.

When the injured Lamb returns from a quad injury, which could in the near future, manager Torey Lovullo will be adding a corner infielder when he has two productive ones already: Walker and Eduardo Escobar.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a huge challenge for me,” Lovullo said of balancing playing time when Lamb returns. “But what it means is we’re getting a really good player back in Jake Lamb. And now we have an extra bat, and extra guy, an All-Star that’s back in our lineup that’s going to help us win some baseball games.”

Lovullo has time to figure out what he’ll do, and nothing is set in stone. But the manager said Friday that as he looks at it now, Lamb could play some at third and Escobar could go to second base.

Walker earned the right to keep his spot.

“Definitely the back end of a lot of hard work,” Walker said when asked about his strong start. “Lot of reps, a lot of hours. But also, a sense of confidence that’s given to us from the staff. And it’s just in the atmosphere here: Everybody’s here for a reason. Everybody has a job, everybody has a role. Have confidence in yourself, trust yourself and go out and play.”

It’s probably not a coincidence that the increase in productivity has come in the same season as his increase in playing time (he’s already far exceeded his career high in plate appearances).

“I think there’s an element of just knowing that day-to-day, I’m going to be out there,” Walker said. “You always have tomorrow. Takes some of the pressure off of each individual at bat.

“It sucks that Lamb went down. I know me and him were really excited to tag team first base and I think that would’ve been a great situation. But moving forward, we’re looking forward to having him back in the lineup and I think the team still has room to grow.”

In 2017, Walker was in his first year with the D-backs organization after spending his whole career with Baltimore up to that point. That first season with the Reno Aces, Walker hit .309 with 32 home runs and 114 RBI.

But his production in 61 career major league games before this season amounted to a .170 batting average, six home runs, nine RBI and a .683 OPS in 99 plate appearances.

“I definitely had a lot of belief in myself, a lot of trust, a lot of confidence,” Walker said. “But it’s hard to stack yourself up against this competition until you get a certain amount of time against it. I still don’t think I’m there yet. I still have a lot of room to grow, a lot of reps to earn. And I’m just honored to be getting this opportunity.”

Arizona Diamondbacks

Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of Team USA throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of th...
Alex Weiner

D-backs’ Merrill Kelly set up to start World Baseball Classic final for Team USA

Team USA "looks like" it will turn to Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday. 
1 day ago
Paul Goldschmidt #46 of Team USA celebrates with Moookie Betts #3 after hitting a two-run home run ...
Associated Press

Turner, Goldschmidt lead Team USA to WBC final with win vs. Cuba

Defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic final.
1 day ago
David Peralta #6 and Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after scoring on a si...
Haboob Blog

Former D-backs OF David Peralta rekindles Eduardo Escobar’s cat fear with Team Venezuela

David Peralta had some fun with Eduardo Escobar's fear of cats when they were teammates with the Diamondbacks.
1 day ago
Brandon Pfaadt #90 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati ...
Kellan Olson

Diamondbacks reassign Brandon Pfaadt, send Seth Beer to Triple-A

The Arizona Diamondbacks made 11 roster moves on Sunday that cut their spring training roster down to 40.
1 day ago
United States' Mookie Betts (3) is congratulated by teammates after he scored on a throwing error b...
Associated Press

Team USA comes from behind to defeat Venezuela, advance to WBC semis

Trea Turner hit a grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 Saturday night and into the WBC semis.
2 days ago
Manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks speaks to the media during the Spring Trainin...
Alex Weiner

Lovullo gives example on how D-backs monitor players at World Baseball Classic

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is watching every single play in the World Baseball Classic to monitor his players.
1 day ago
Christian Walker producing as D-backs await Jake Lamb’s return