Gregory Lee Walker (born October 6, 1959) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1982 to 1990. He is the former hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox, the team for which he played all but the last 14 games of his career, until leaving the White Sox to become the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves, a position he held from 2012 until 2014.
Walker was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round (511th overall) of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft in 1979. He was called up to the major leagues in 1982 and spent almost his entire MLB playing career with the White Sox. In 1988, Walker had a seizure on the field at Comiskey Park during fielding practice.[2] He was released by Chicago early in the 1990 season and subsequently signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore released him shortly thereafter.[3]
Over his career, Walker hit 113 home runs and drove in 444 runs while scoring 368 times in 855 career games.[3]
Coaching careeredit
When he began his coaching career, he did so with the White Sox Triple-A club in Charlotte. In 2003, he joined the parent club as hitting coach.
After nine seasons serving as the hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox, including their victory in the 2005 World Series, it was announced on October 21, 2011, that Walker was hired by the Atlanta Braves to serve as their hitting coach for the 2012 season. Walker filled the role vacated by the firing of Larry Parrish.[4] Walker resigned in September 2014, as the team compiled a .241 batting average, 573 runs, 123 home runs, and 1,369 strikeouts, struggling mightily in the final month of the season.[5] He returned to the Braves as a special assistant of baseball operations in February 2015.[6]
^O'Brien, David (October 21, 2011). . The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
^"Braves' Greg Walker resigns". ESPN. Associated Press. September 30, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
^Bowman, Mark (February 9, 2015). "Braves tab McGriff, Walker as special assistants". Atlanta Braves. MLB.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
February 20, 2024
greg, walker, baseball, gregory, walker, born, october, 1959, american, former, professional, baseball, first, baseman, played, major, league, baseball, from, 1982, 1990, former, hitting, coach, chicago, white, team, which, played, last, games, career, until, . Gregory Lee Walker born October 6 1959 is an American former professional baseball first baseman He played in Major League Baseball MLB from 1982 to 1990 He is the former hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox the team for which he played all but the last 14 games of his career until leaving the White Sox to become the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves a position he held from 2012 until 2014 Greg WalkerWalker left with the Braves in 2014First basemanBorn 1959 10 06 October 6 1959 age 64 Douglas Georgia U S Batted LeftThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 18 1982 for the Chicago White SoxLast MLB appearanceJuly 1 1990 for the Baltimore OriolesMLB statisticsBatting average 260Home runs113Runs batted in444TeamsAs player Chicago White Sox 1982 1990 Baltimore Orioles 1990 As coach Chicago White Sox 2003 2011 Atlanta Braves 2012 2014 Career highlights and awardsWorld Series champion 2005 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Playing career 1 2 Coaching career 2 Personal 3 References 4 External linksCareer editPlaying career edit Walker was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round 511th overall of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft 1 He was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 draft in 1979 He was called up to the major leagues in 1982 and spent almost his entire MLB playing career with the White Sox In 1988 Walker had a seizure on the field at Comiskey Park during fielding practice 2 He was released by Chicago early in the 1990 season and subsequently signed with the Baltimore Orioles Baltimore released him shortly thereafter 3 Over his career Walker hit 113 home runs and drove in 444 runs while scoring 368 times in 855 career games 3 Coaching career edit When he began his coaching career he did so with the White Sox Triple A club in Charlotte In 2003 he joined the parent club as hitting coach After nine seasons serving as the hitting coach of the Chicago White Sox including their victory in the 2005 World Series it was announced on October 21 2011 that Walker was hired by the Atlanta Braves to serve as their hitting coach for the 2012 season Walker filled the role vacated by the firing of Larry Parrish 4 Walker resigned in September 2014 as the team compiled a 241 batting average 573 runs 123 home runs and 1 369 strikeouts struggling mightily in the final month of the season 5 He returned to the Braves as a special assistant of baseball operations in February 2015 6 Personal editWalker is a cousin of Harry Spilman a former MLB player 3 References edit 20th Round of the 1977 MLB June Amateur Draft Baseball Reference com Retrieved December 16 2022 Newman Bruce April 17 1989 Just Happy To Be Here Sports Illustrated Retrieved August 27 2014 a b c Greg Walker Statistics and History Baseball Reference com Sports Reference Retrieved September 14 2014 O Brien David October 21 2011 Walker hired as Braves hitting coach The Atlanta Journal Constitution Archived from the original on October 23 2011 Retrieved October 23 2011 Braves Greg Walker resigns ESPN Associated Press September 30 2014 Retrieved October 1 2014 Bowman Mark February 9 2015 Braves tab McGriff Walker as special assistants Atlanta Braves MLB com Retrieved February 11 2015 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greg Walker baseball amp oldid 1167528417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
