Ryan Walker

Lore & Background

Walker attended Arlington High School in Arlington, Washington. He then attended Washington State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and played college baseball for the Washington State Cougars. As a freshman in 2015, he pitched in 25 games, and was 1–1 with a 2.72 ERA. As a sophomore in 2016, he pitched in 18 games and was 6–3 with 5 saves and a 2.40 ERA, and was named All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention and Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.

As a junior in 2017, he pitched in 21 games and was 5–5 with one save and a 5.67 ERA, and was named Pac-12 Conference All-Academic honorable mention. As a senior in 2018, he pitched in 23 games out of the bullpen and was 4–4 with 5 saves and a 3.98 ERA, and was named Pac-12 Conference All-Academic honorable mention. The San Francisco Giants selected Walker in the 31st round, with the 916th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed.

He spent his first professional season split between three affiliates, the rookie-level Arizona League Giants, the Low-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and the High-A San Jose Giants. In 20 games between the three, Walker registered a 2.51 ERA with 31 strikeouts and three saves. He spent the entire 2019 season with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, pitching in 37 games and logging a 3.36 ERA with 61 strikeouts and seven saves in 59 innings. Walker did not play in a game in 2020, due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walker returned to action in 2021, playing for the High-A Eugene Emeralds and Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels. In 39 appearances, he posted a 3.65 ERA with 66 strikeouts. In 2022, Walker split the season between Richmond and the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. In 50 combined appearances, Walker registered a 7–3 record and 3.74 ERA with 65 strikeouts and two saves in 53 innings pitched.

He used a unique deceptive crossfire delivery, starting on the first base side of the pitching rubber and then stepping towards the third-base line and throwing across his body with a sidearm release, throwing a 94 mph sinker and an 82 mph slider. Walker returned to Sacramento to begin the 2023 season, where he made 15 appearances and recorded an 0.89 ERA with 23 strikeouts and one save.

Did You Know?

• Walker made his MLB debut on May 21, 2023, and earned his first major league victory on June 3, 2023, against the Baltimore Orioles.
• He married Alexis Dirige, a former Washington State University volleyball player who set a school record for career digs.