FAIRHOPE, AL: 2012 has brought us a story that is intriguing to say the least. Major League Baseball has all of a sudden been introduced to a new prospect that sort of hit the sport by surprise. We had to travel to a small town in lower Alabama to catch up with 23 year old Matthew Walker. Walker who has officially punched his ticket to the 2012 MLB draft has become a hot topic around the nation.
Walker at the age of 23 already has received many critics and has been the top of many sports analysis conversations. He is already been counted out for coming into the sport at such a high age. Our trip to the small town of Fairhope, Alabama has been successful to say the least, as we have gathered a pretty good bit of information to say the least which brings us to a segment that we are proud to introduce.
We will be following the career of Matthew Walker whether he make it big or bust, we will be there to bring you around the table information. The story behind Walker is one that we are proud to make public and we are interested to see where he goes as not only a player, but a man as well.
Walker spent his years of High School pitching for the Pirates of Fairhope and we were able to catch up with his former coach Jason Fuller.
He was a great player for me. I don't believe I have ever seen so much dedication come from one person in all my years of coaching. He wasn't the best player I've ever coached. In fact, he never made it higher than a 3rd spot in our pitching rotation, but his effort and motivation showed and the players around him always responded well. - Jason Fuller
Walker had an average High School season at best. It definitely wasn't a career that saw record breaking numbers or one that would ever put him among the top of the nation or even state at that. So why is the young pitcher all of a sudden making a scene? How does an average High School player all of a sudden make a splash in Major League Baseball?
Walker was recruited to pitch for the University of South Alabama but had to withdrawal midway through his Freshman season after a startling phone call would perhaps change his life forever. News had reached Matthew, that his Mother had been involved in a serious accident and had been transported to a local hospital and was currently in ICU.
The next few months saw Matthew being in and out of the hospital every day visiting his mother until one day, the word was released that his mother would finally be cleared to return to their home in Fairhope. That was the day that Walker said changed his life forever.
I knew at that moment in time that everybody at some point in their life would face adversity and it was then that I learned I would have to overcome certain events in my life to get to where I wanted to get. I could have gave up on my dream and told myself it was to let to be where I wanted to be. I could have just took that 9 to 5 job and lived a normal everyday life but I told myself that wasn't enough. I pushed myself day in and day out to get to where I wanted to be and I feel like I'm finally there. - Matthew Walker
So now we will wait and see if we hear Walker's name called out during the 2012 draft. Will any team take a chance on a kid entering the sport at age 23 or will they all just turn their heads and grab a hot prospect right out of High School? Only time will tell but we will be there to deliver the news.
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