Walker saw some brief action in the majors in 2022 with the Rangers, but in 2023 he's missed time with injury and gone just 3-for-26 at the plate at Triple-A Toledo. He'll seek out another minor-league pact elsewhere.
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Tigers' Steele Walker: Active at Triple-A
Rotowire
Walker (hand) was activated from Double-A Erie's 7-day injured list Wednesday and assigned to Triple-A Toledo.
Walker has played in three of Toledo's four games since joining the club, going 1-for-11 with an RBI. Prior to being activated, Walker spent the previous three weeks on a rehab assignment at High-A West Michigan, where he slashed .262/.324/.377 over 68 plate appearances. The 26-year-old outfielder opened the season on Erie's IL after suffering a fractured right hand early in spring training.
The Tigers announced Thursday that Walker (hand) is expected to resume light baseball activities next week, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Walker suffered a fracture in his right hand in late February, but he is about ready to get back into some form of a workout routine following three weeks of rest and rehab. The 26-year-old will likely be sent to Triple-A Toledo whenever he's deemed fit for live games, which could be sometime in mid-to-late April.
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Tigers' Steele Walker: Suffers hand fracture
Rotowire
Walker was diagnosed with a fractured right hand after being hit by a pitch in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Walker is expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future and likely won't have a timeline for a return until he's cleared to resume baseball activities a few weeks down the road. The 26-year-old was vying for an Opening Day roster spot with the Tigers after being acquired from the Giants in November, but he'll now shift his focus to rehabbing his injury and returning to the outfield at some point this spring or summer. Once healthy, Walker will likely settle into an everyday role at Triple-A Toledo.
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Tigers' Steele Walker: Leaves after HBP on hand
Rotowire
Walker was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game versus the Blue Jays after being hit on the right hand with a pitch, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Paul Fry's offering plunked Walker, who took first base before being lifted after a conversation with the trainer. He will undergo X-rays to provide more clarity. Walker was acquired from the Giants via trade in November.
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Tigers' Steele Walker: Traded to Detroit
Rotowire
Walker was acquired by the Tigers from the Giants on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Walker was claimed off waivers by San Francisco in August and spent the rest of the campaign at Triple-A Sacramento. The 26-year-old played in five games for Texas earlier in the season but spent most of his time at the Triple-A level and had a .754 OPS in 309 plate appearances.
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Giants' Steele Walker: Clears waivers
Rotowire
Walker cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Walker was designated for assignment Wednesday but will remain in Sacramento going forward. Over his first five games with Sacramento, he's gone 3-for-18 with a home run, a double, five RBI, a walk and five strikeouts.
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Giants' Steele Walker: Excised from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Giants designated Walker for assignment Wednesday.
San Francisco moved Walker off the 40-man roster to clear a spot for reliever Andrew Vasquez, whom the team claimed off waivers from the Phillies and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. Walker, who went 3-for-18 with a home run and five RBI in his five games with Sacramento after being claimed off waivers from Texas, will likely remain with the affiliate if he goes unclaimed this time around.
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Giants' Steele Walker: Claimed by San Francisco
Rotowire
The Giants claimed Walker off waivers Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old was designated for assignment by Texas on Thursday, and he'll now join a new organization. Walker appeared in only five games for the Rangers and went 1-for-14, and he had a .277/.353/.435 slash line in 215 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Loses spot on 40-man roster
Rotowire
Walker was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Thursday.
Walker has been in the minors since mid-June, and he's slashed .265/.326/.402 with four home runs, four doubles, 17 runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases over 30 games since his demotion. It seems likely that the 26-year-old will remain in the organization if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Reinstated, sent down
Rotowire
Walker (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Walker was away from the Rangers since Saturday, and he'll head to the minors now that he's cleared the league's health and safety protocols. Zach Reks should serve as the top reserve outfielder while Eli White (wrist) remains sidelined.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Lands on COVID-19 injured list
Rotowire
Walker was placed on the COVID-19-related injured list Saturday.
Walker is the fourth Ranger to land on the COVID-19 list this week. It's unclear if he tested positive for the virus, so it remains to be seen when he will be ready to return. Zach Reks was recalled to take Walker's spot on the roster.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Slugs first MLB homer
Rotowire
Walker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 6-3 loss to the Guardians during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
The 25-year-old then went 0-for-1 with a walk after pinch hitting for Charlie Culberson in the nightcap. Walker's seventh-inning blast off Cal Quantrill in the matinee was his first career hit in the majors as he attempts to lock down a regular role in the Rangers' outfield.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Hitless in MLB debut
Rotowire
Walker started in left field and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.
Walker is part of a wave of players the Rangers have promoted recently due to injuries or insufficient production. Prior to Walker's arrival, Sam Huff, Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran joined the big-league club. It's unclear if Walker will remain up with the team when Brad Miller (hip) returns from injury, or if the organization is pivoting away from some veterans. Andy Ibanez was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday, and the team designated Willie Calhoun for assignment the same day, indicating a roster shuffle.
Walker's contract was purchased from Triple-A Round Rock prior to Sunday's game against the Mariners, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old outfielder hit .297/.395/.486 with three home runs and two steals in 20 games at Triple-A. His 12.8 K% was particularly impressive. He could see time in left field and at designated hitter.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Healthy at Triple-A
Rotowire
Walker (concussion) returned from Triple-A Round Rock's 7-day injured list May 3 and has gone 8-for-21 with two home runs, a stolen base, four walks, six runs and five RBI through his first five games of the season.
The concussion kept Walker on the shelf for nearly a month, but he hasn't needed any time to find his swing. The 25-year-old is back for his second tour at Triple-A after he produced a .635 OPS in 202 plate appearances at Round Rock in 2021 following his midseason promotion from Double-A Frisco.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Goes on minor-league IL
Rotowire
Triple-A Round Rock placed Walker (concussion) on its 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Walker is sidelined to begin the Triple-A season after he suffered a concussion late in spring training when he took a pitch to the head. Until he clears the concussion protocol, Walker will be without a clear timeline for making his 2022 debut with Round Rock.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: In concussion protocol
Rotowire
Walker is in concussion protocol after getting hit by a pitch, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.
It's not yet clear how much time Walker will miss. He probably wasn't in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot even if healthy, as he struggled to a .223/.287/.348 line in 48 Triple-A games last season.
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Rangers' Steele Walker: Joins player pool
Rotowire
Walker was added to the Rangers' player pool Tuesday.
Walker, who joined the Rangers in the Nomar Mazara trade over the winter, is unlikely to make his big-league debut this season, as he's yet to reach Double-A. He'll get the chance to work with the Rangers' coaching staff over the final month of the season.
