Walker cherishes promotion to Sox
PawSox pitching coach named Bush’s assistant for next season
PAWTUCKET — The primary joy that Kevin Walker gets as a professional pitching coach stems from putting players in a prime position to thrive and flourish.
“Regardless of the level, to see a player who you have invested time in and built a relationship with fulfill their dreams, there’s no feeling like it,” said Walker.
Along those lines, there’s no single emotion that exemplifies what it’s like to learn you’ve been promoted for a big-league gig following an 11-year run as a coach in the same farm system.
On Thursday, the Red Sox announced that Walker’s two-year run as Pawtucket’s pitching coach had come to an end. In 2020, he’ll be known as Boston’s assistant pitching coach.
“To work your way up through a system, especially a system like the Red Sox where I’ve spent my whole coaching career and going from every level that we have all the way up … to be able to get a big-league opportunity with the Red Sox is really special and something I cherish,” Walker said Friday.
“This group is family. It’s the only organization I know as a coach. There’s a lot of special people here.”
After Pawtucket’s 2018 season was complete, Walker spent the month of September as an extra set of eyes in Boston. In 2019, Walker went home to California after Pawtucket’s season ended on Labor Day. In some circles, it was seemed as a curious decision, especially since rosters had expanded and a number of pitchers who Walker worked with in Pawtucket had been moved to Boston.
Walker didn’t put too much stock into not receiving the coaching version of a September callup.
“It kind of varies each year as far as the coaches who go up, but I didn’t read anything into it,” he said.
He noted that before an interview for the position for Red Sox assistant pitching coach came about, a trip to check in on the organization’s pitching prospects in the Arizona Fall League was on the itinerary. Walker never made it to Arizona after becoming a strong candidate to join Alex Cora’s staff. He ended up touching base with PawSox pitcher Tanner Houck – an AFL participant – via the phone.
“As a coach, you’re always hopeful the work you’ve done in the past and the relationships you built will provide you with an opportunity,” said Walker. “It was a few weeks ago when I got a call for the position and I was very thankful.”
To work with new Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush figures to be a seamless transition, said Walker. Bush has been no stranger to McCoy Stadium over the past few seasons after joining the Red Sox in 2016 as a pitching development analyst.
“We have a very good relationship and get along very well. There’s a mutual level of respect and trust between both of us,” said Walker. “We’ve bounced ideas off each other and relied on one another. For me personally, I think it’s a great fit.”
Walker’s time with the PawSox may have been short, yet there was no shortage of noteworthy returns. In 2018, Walker was a guiding hand during Ryan Brasier’s dominant stretch as a Triple-A reliever. Later that same season, Walker watched Brasier become a key bullpen piece during Boston’s march to the World Series title.
The development of Jalen Beeks was also noteworthy and came under Walker’s watch. Walker worked with Beeks in Double-A Portland and again in Pawtucket in 2018 before the Red Sox swung a deal with Tampa Bay that netted 2018 World Series contributor Nathan Eovaldi. The player sent to the Rays was the aforementioned Beeks.
This past season, Trevor Kelley was the PawSox pitcher that blossomed the most under Walker’s care. Kelley climbed his way up the Triple-A relieving depth chart, became an International League All-Star, and eventually landed a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster.
In the cases of Brasier, Beeks, and Kelley, they all represent the kind of success stories that make Walker’s role all the more rewarding. All told, Walker worked with 30 Pawtucket pitchers in 2018 and 35 Pawtucket pitchers this past season.
“I’m not sure if knowing the guys the way I do played a part, but knowing a lot of the players and having relationships with them is going to help me as I transition into this new role,” said Walker.
Walker becomes just the second PawSox pitching coach in franchise history to make the direct leap from McCoy Stadium to Fenway Park. In 1999, John Cumberland went from PawSox pitching coach to Red Sox bullpen coach.
“You think about all the times you spent in the minors. You’re really proud because those experiences helped make you who you are,” said Walker.