Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is itching to rejoin the team's rotation. He let his actions speak loudly during a rehab start Tuesday for Double-A Jackson, as he struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings.
"I felt really good. My arm feels good, 100 percent," Walker told MLB.com. "I feel like I can just go out there and play catch and not feel anything. It's good I can go out there and have no worries. I want to get up there as soon as possible. Not only do I feel really good, but I wanted to go out there, pitch and compete. I wanted to make sure I was out there competing and throwing all my pitches for strikes, so when they do call me back up I'm ready to go out there and give my team a chance to win."
Walker, who threw 85 pitches Tuesday, said he felt he had better command in his second rehab start. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings for Class A High Desert in his first rehab start.
"My curveball was much better than it was in High Desert," Walker said. "I threw a lot more of them (Tuesday) because it was working. My changeup is one of my best pitches right now, too."
The Mariners have not yet revealed the next step in Walker's rehab, but the initial plan was to have him throw 95-100 pitches before returning to the major-league rotation. Although, James Paxton's injury could alter the Mariners' plans for Walker.