Following the Mets’ blowout win over the Pirates last night, Luis Rojas announced that Taijuan Walker, who had started the game, has been selected to the National League All-Star roster.
To say that Walker earned the spot is an understatement. Among qualified starting pitchers, his 2.50 ERA thus far ranks 11th in all of baseball and 8th in the National League. And when Jacob deGrom decided that he would not attend the All-Star festivities in favor of resting for the second half of the season, he said publicly that he wanted that roster spot to go to Walker, having seen first-hand just how good he’s been this year.
Widely considered one of the best prospects in baseball from 2012 through 2014, Walker has put together a solid major league career. But his best work has come post-Tommy John surgery, as he has a cumulative 2.57 ERA in 27 starts over the course of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. And his selection to the All-Star team is his first, which makes it all the more special.