South Carolina Baseball: Gamecock legend makes history in MLB Postseason

South Carolina Baseball legend Christian Walker has developed into one of the best first basemen in Major League Baseball.

It took him until the age of 28 to be given a shot as an everyday player in the league. He was drafted after three seasons with the South Carolina baseball program but spent just 13 games over four seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Walker then had brief Minor League stints with the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds before signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There were some injuries and struggles in the first two years with the D-Backs organization, but the Snakes didn’t give up on Walker. He rewarded their patience by hitting 29 home runs as the team’s primary first baseman in 2019.

Since becoming the starter, he is in the top-30 in the sport in total home runs (despite missing almost 50 games with injuries in 2021), and he has turned into one of the league’s best gloves at first base, winning the 2022 Gold Glove Award.

Now, as a middle-of-the-lineup bat for an MLB Postseason squad, Walker helped his Diamondbacks team make history in the National League Division Series.

On Wednesday, when Arizona eliminated the rival Los Angeles Dodgers with a 3-0 sweep, they also made history by becoming the first team to ever hit four home runs in one inning in the playoffs.

Off of Dodgers pitcher Lance Lynn, the Diamondbacks’ offense ended the series early with their 3rd-inning barrage when Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Walker, and Gaby Moreno all went yard.

Walker’s home run (the third of the inning) was a blazing line drive to left field that left the park in a hurry. Combined with his stellar regular season, it was Walker’s 34th long ball and 108th RBI of the year.

Walker and the Diamondbacks will play the winner of the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series with a berth in the World Series on the line. Fellow South Carolina baseball alum Jordan Montgomery will play in the American League Championship Series with the Texas Rangers.