Phillip DeWayne "P. J." Walters (born March 12, 1985) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Mod ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
,
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
and
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
.
Career
High School and college
Walters played at
Faith Academy in
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
where he had an overall record of 36–1 and set school records in several categories including career wins and single season strikeouts and ERA.
He next attended the
University of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public research university in Mobile, Alabama. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in May, 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. The first ...
. After the 2005 season, he played
collegiate summer baseball
Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...
with the
Brewster Whitecaps
The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Whitecaps play their home games at Stony Brook ...
of the
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousan ...
and was named a league all-star. As a Senior he had an 11–3 record, 3.20 ERA and 166 strikeouts. He became the
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) is a collegiate athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Originally a non-football conference, the Sun Belt began sponsoring football in 2001. Its football teams participa ...
career leader in strikeouts and was selected as Conference co-pitcher of the year and
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' is a sports enterprise that covers baseball at every level, including MLB, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in the MiLB, college, high school, and international leagues. It is currently published in the form o ...
third team All-American.
[
]
St. Louis Cardinals
Walters was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
in the 11th round of the 2006 player draft (346th overall).[ He climbed three levels in 2007 and earned the Cardinals minor league pitcher of the year honors.][ He then spent most of 2008 in Triple-A ]Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
. He went 9-4 for the Cardinals' top affiliate, with a 4.87 ERA over 122 innings.
Walters made his major league debut on April 17, 2009, as the starting pitcher against the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
. He had been called up when Chris Carpenter
Christopher John Carpenter (born April 27, 1975) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals from 1997 to 2012. A Cy Young Award win ...
was placed on the 15-day disabled list
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 season, it was known as the disabled list (DL).
General guidelines
...
. He became the first Cardinals rookie to make his first major-league start at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a Major League Baseball (MLB) stadium on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Wh ...
in nearly three decades. Walters pitched 4.0 innings, leading 4-3 in the game before being replaced, pitching against veteran Carlos Zambrano
Carlos Alberto Zambrano Matos (born June 1, 1981), nicknamed "Big Z" or "El Toro", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2001 to 2012 for the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins. Zambrano ...
, giving up 6 hits (one hit was a double), 3 runs (all earned), walked 2, struck out 7, with a 6.75 ERA. He faced 19 batters, threw 98 pitches (59 for strikes), with 4 groundouts and 1 fly out. He picked up his first MLB win on May 27, 2010 when he pitched five scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
.
On July 25, 2011, Walters gave up a grand slam
Grand Slam most often refers to:
* Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves
Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to:
Games and sports
* Grand slam, winning category te ...
to Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
outfielder Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee (born June 20, 1976), nicknamed "El Caballo", is a Panamanian former professional baseball first baseman and left fielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999–2012 with the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, ...
. This made Walters and Lee the first pair of players in MLB history in which the batter (Lee) hit grand slams in each of his only two at-bats against the pitcher (Walters). (The previous one had been hit on July 21, 2009.) In parts of three seasons with the Cardinals, Walters was 2–0 with a 7.38 ERA in 19 appearances (four starts).
Toronto Blue Jays
On July 27, 2011, Walters was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
along with Colby Rasmus
Colby Ryan Rasmus (born August 11, 1986) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. He h ...
, Brian Tallet
Brian Curtis Tallet (born September 21, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Tallet played the majority of his career for the Toronto Blue Jays. He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians. He is 6' ...
and Trever Miller
Trever Douglas Miller (born May 29, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.
High school
Miller graduated from Trinity High School, where he was a pitcher and outfielder, in 1991 and was named Kentucky's Mr. Baseball and the G ...
for Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel
Octavio Eduardo Dotel Diaz (born November 25, 1973) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. Dotel played for 13 major league teams, the second most teams played for by any player in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB), setti ...
, Marc Rzepczynski
Marc Walter Rzepczynski ( ; born August 29, 1985), nicknamed Scrabble, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for th ...
and Corey Patterson
Donald Corey Patterson (born August 13, 1979) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. Currently, he is the manager of the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt Baseball League. He is the older brother of infielder Eric Patterson, a ...
. He pitched one scoreless inning for the Blue Jays before being demoted to the minor leagues.[ In the remaining months of 2011, he went 1-3 with an 8.38 ERA in Triple-A for the Las Vegas 51s.][ After the 2011 season, he elected for free agency.
]
Minnesota Twins
On December 14, 2011, Walters signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...
.[ He began the season with the AAA ]Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field ...
, where he was the opening day starter.[ His was called up by the Twins on May 9, 2012. On May 22, 2012, Walters threw his first career complete game against the ]Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
in a 9-2 win. He was 2–5 with a 5.69 ERA in 12 starts for the Twins in 2012[ and 3–3 with a 4.01 ERA in 14 starts for Rochester.][
On October 29, Walters became a free agent after refusing his outright assignment to the minor leagues. However, on November 1, Walters signed a new minor league deal with the Twins that included an invitation to spring training.
The low light of his 2013 season was on June 22, when he didn't even make it out of the first inning while pitching against the ]Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
. He walked five batters while only getting two batters out. He was designated for assignment on July 4. In eight starts for the Twins in 2013, he was 2–5 with a 5.95 ERA.[ He also started 19 games that year for Rochester and was 7–5 with a 4.18 ERA.][
]
Kansas City Royals
Walters signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...
on November 19, 2013,[ and started the 2014 season with the Triple-A ]Omaha Storm Chasers
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are located in Papillion, Nebraska, a suburb southwest of Omaha, and play their home games at Wer ...
. He appeared in 10 games for them, eight of which were starts and was 1–4 with a 7.97 ERA.[
]
Toronto Blue Jays
Walters and Melky Mesa
Melquisedec "Melky" Mesa (born January 31, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees.
Career New York Yankees
The Yankees signed Mesa as an in ...
were dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
for cash considerations on May 26, 2014. Walters split the season between the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major league club.
During the team's first seas ...
and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...
. He made eight starts for New Hampshire and was 2–3 with a 2.60 ERA and made nine starts for Buffalo and was 4–2 with a 4.56 ERA.[ He was released on September 14, 2014.
]
Philadelphia Phillies / Lancaster Barnstormers
Walters signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
on November 12, 2014.[ He did not make the roster and was released on April 4. He then signed with the independent ]Lancaster Barnstormers
The Lancaster Barnstormers (colloquially known as the Stormers) are an American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league ...
of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
. He made two starts for the Barnstormers, allowing seven runs in 10 innings.[
]
Los Angeles Dodgers
Walters signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...
on May 6, 2015. He started four games for the AAA Oklahoma City Dodgers
The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Bal ...
and one for the AA Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club.
Stadium
The Drillers play at ONEOK Field (pronounc ...
.[
]
Washington Nationals
On June 1, 2015, Walters was traded to the Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
for cash considerations. He was released on April 11, 2016.
Personal life
Walters was born March 12, 1985, in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan () is a city in Dale, Henry, and Houston counties and the Houston county seat in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is Alabama's eighth-largest city, with a population of 71,072 at the 2020 census. It is near the state's southeastern corner, ...
.[ He and his wife, Brittney, had three children and reside in ]Loxley, Alabama
Loxley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 1,632. It is part of the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metropolitan area. Loxley is becoming a popular location for the expansion of the su ...
.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walters, P.J.
1985 births
Living people
American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Baseball players from Alabama
Brewster Whitecaps players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Gigantes de Carolina players
Lancaster Barnstormers players
Las Vegas 51s players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Memphis Redbirds players
Minnesota Twins players
New Hampshire Fisher Cats players
Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Omaha Storm Chasers players
Rochester Red Wings players
South Alabama Jaguars baseball players
Sportspeople from Dothan, Alabama
Springfield Cardinals players
St. Louis Cardinals players
State College Spikes players
Swing of the Quad Cities players
Syracuse Chiefs players
Toronto Blue Jays players
Tulsa Drillers players