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A Review of the Minnesota Twins' 1994 MLB Draft

Senior Writer Written on May 13, 2009

Originally published by me at my blog, TwinsFix.com.

The 2009 June Draft is just around the corner and I'm sure quite a few of you weren't aware of it. Unless your name happens to be Buster Olney I'll bet you couldn't list the top ten prospects.

Over the next few weeks I will be reviewing the last 15 years' worth of Minnesota Twins' drafts. Up first: 1994.

The 1994 MLB Draft

First Round

Pick No. 8: Todd Walker, 2B, Louisiana State University

Walker was drafted out of college as a 21-year old. Having had the extra years to mature his play, the Twins shipped him directly to the Fort Myers Miracle. He proved very capable in 46 games there, posting a batting line of .304/.406/.532.

The next year he advanced to the Double-A affiliate of the Twins at the time; Hardware City. He spent an entire season there but sported a pedestrian .290/.365/.478 batting clip.

In 1996 and 1997 Walker experienced his first taste of major-league baseball. The Twins, quite similar to a problem they recently experienced, had a gaping hole at third base left when Scott Leiuswas granted free agency.

Dave Hollins was signed as a free agent, but the 30-year old was shipped to Seattle for a certain player by the name of David Ortiz. (Funny how the Curse of Big Papi ties into everything, isn't it?)

Walker played a combined 77 games with the Twins in '96-'97 and hit at a .244/.286/.345 clip. In 1998 Walker moved permanently to second base while Ron Coomer took over the duties at third. (Corey Koskie would become the third baseman in 1999.

Playing two more years for the Twins, Walker hit a combined .297/.357/.435 with a poor 99/148 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Walker was just 27 years old when he began the 2000 season with the Twins when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies (along with Butch Huskey) for minor-league project Todd Sears. Sears had been tearing up Double-A ball but never enjoyed a successful major-league career.

Walker would be traded by the Rockies to the Reds before starting a long free agency cycle. His career was spent with seven teams; in 2007 the Oakland Athletics signed Walker in March only to release him in May.

While Walker provided a great transitional third-baseman to help bridge the gap between Scott Leius and Corey Koskie, he didn't enjoy the All-Star career that many expected him to.

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