Mets Pitching Prospect Josh Walker Finding Rhythm in Binghamton
The Rumble Ponies have been piling up some more wins of late. One of the players that have stepped up big during this stretch is starting pitcher Josh Walker.
Binghamton has won each of the last 3 games he has started, 2 of which he allowed 0 runs in. This includes the combined no-hitter he pitched in against Reading on June 22nd where in 6 innings of work he allowed just one walk. In his 7 starts since joining the Rumble Ponies he has a 4-1 record with a 2.97 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and striking out 39 batters in 39.1 innings of work. Walker believes his recent success stems from his focus on getting ahead in the count right from pitch one and trusting his defense.
“Just trying to go right at guys, attack them and throw a lot of strikes,” says Walker. “Hitting is hard to do. I feel like when we get in trouble is when we try to be too fine on the corners and worry about putting the ball over the meaty part of the plate and worrying about outcomes and what not.”
As it stands currently, Walker has a better ERA and WHIP during his time in Binghamton than his former roommate and Rumble Ponies 2021 Opening Day Starter Tylor Megill. Megill has gone on to make 4 starts for the New York Mets this season. Walker says that hearing that his numbers are on par with a former Rumble Pony that has made his way to the show this season makes him feel like he’s on the right track.
“I’m not somebody who goes and looks at my numbers and obsesses and tries to think about that all the time,” says Walker. “It’s just one inning at a time, one pitch at a time, and just attacking guys and letting the rest take care of itself.”
Going forward this season Walker says he's focused on being efficient with his mechanic to help see an uptick in velocity and control. He's also working on developing a couple of pitches.
The Ponies are back in action tonight in Altoona as they take on the Curve.