Josh Walker Is Turning Heads at Orioles Camp - And Not Just for His Pitching
Spring training is always full of storylines-some serious, some just plain fun. For the Baltimore Orioles, most of the early buzz has centered around roster battles, Jackson Holliday’s injury, and the recent addition of veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt. But amid the usual roster shuffling and injury updates, there’s one unexpected name generating attention for a very different reason: Josh Walker.
Now, if you’re not familiar with Walker, you’re not alone. The 6-foot-6 lefty has just 27 big-league appearances to his name, and none of them came in an Orioles uniform.
Baltimore scooped him up off waivers from the Phillies, but he’s since been removed from the 40-man roster and hasn’t exactly been a lock to make the club. On paper, he’s bullpen depth.
But in person? He’s something else entirely.
According to reports out of camp, Walker is built like a Marvel superhero. Orioles insider Roch Kubatko didn’t mince words when he described Walker as potentially “the most jacked pitcher in baseball - ever.”
That’s not your average spring training hyperbole. We’re talking about a guy whose presence on the mound might be as physically intimidating as it is strategic.
And for longtime Orioles fans, the comparison that immediately comes to mind is Kyle Farnsworth-the fireballing, no-nonsense reliever who spent 16 seasons in the majors and seemed to relish every opportunity to make hitters uncomfortable. Farnsworth wasn’t just known for his stuff; he was known for looking like he could bench press a bullpen cart. His infamous 2003 takedown of Paul Wilson during a mound charge is still one of the most jaw-dropping moments in baseball’s unwritten-rules history.
Walker, to be clear, hasn’t done anything remotely like that. But the visual comparison is hard to ignore.
A towering, muscle-bound lefty showing up to camp looking like he just walked off a bodybuilding stage? That’s not something you see every day.
And while it might not earn him a roster spot on its own, it certainly makes him one of the most talked-about players in Sarasota right now.
Of course, the Orioles are evaluating more than just biceps. Walker’s path to the Opening Day bullpen still depends on his ability to miss bats and throw strikes. But in a camp full of young talent and veteran additions, he’s managed to carve out a little spotlight for himself-and not just because of his stat line.
Whether or not he breaks camp with the big-league club, Walker has already made an impression. He showed up ready, both in body and (we’ll soon find out) in game. And if nothing else, he’s added a bit of unexpected fun to spring training-a reminder that sometimes the best stories come from the most unlikely places.
So, while the focus will rightly shift back to roster battles and performance soon enough, don’t forget the name Josh Walker. Even if he doesn’t throw a pitch for the Orioles this season, he’s already made one thing clear: he didn’t just show up in shape-he showed up looking like he could throw a fastball and a punch. Just ask anyone who remembers Farnsworth.