Minnesota Twins MiLB Weekly: Walker Shows Off Power
Minnesota Twins top 10 prospect Adam Brett Walker put on a power display last week.
Seven hits, five of them home runs, seven RBI, and six runs scored. These are the numbers of recent triple-A player of the week, Adam Brett Walker. The Minnesota Twins top 10 prospect also slashed .350/.480/1.100 during the same week.
The stats are quite impressive. Before last week Walker had four home runs with 11 RBI. While he didn’t drive in many, he did more than double his home run total. As for the five he hit last week, they were hit in bunches.
Walker hit two home runs in game one of a four game series against the Durham Bulls. In game three of the series hit three more. Walker became the first player to hit three home runs in a game since Leo Gomez did it April 9, 1990.
Add Adam Brett Walker to this list of @RocRedWings with three HR in one game. pic.twitter.com/4wwXfIccJn
— Josh Whetzel (@JoshWhetzel) May 22, 2016
Walker had two more opportunities to hit a fourth home run but failed to do so. There is only one recorded instance of a four home run game in Rochester Red Wings history. George “High Pockets” Kelly, a Hall-of-Fame first baseman, accomplished the feat on June 24, 1919, according to SABR.
Nevertheless, Walker was impressive to say the least. Just look how far he was hitting baseballs.
All three of Adam Brett Walker's HRs tonight. #Twins pic.twitter.com/SXqV87Zyic
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) May 22, 2016
Josh Norris also sent out a tweet regarding one of Walker’s other home runs.
I missed the first game of the series, but the white dot in this pic is where scouts said one of Walker's HR's hit. pic.twitter.com/7loqAzU9wb
— Josh Norris (@jnorris427) May 22, 2016
Despite the terrific week and long home runs, Walker has high strikeout totals. He’s currently on pace to strikeout 282 times. It’s highly unlikely that he could reach that total but there’s no doubt he will strikeout more than 200 times. Last season, he came close to the 200 strikeout threshold with 195 strikeouts.
However, Walker is also on pace to hit 43 home runs with 81 RBI. Again, that pace would be hard to keep. Yet Walker said in a MiLB.com article that he’s just concentrating on being more consistent. “I’ve been a little up and down this season,” he said, “but I think it’s starting to come around: feeling comfortable in the box and just not missing my pitches. Feeling locked in a little bit.”
Next: Great stats on Abad bullpen
With another home run last night, Walker may have found his stroke and a more consistent approach at the plate.