Redshirt junior infielder Kyle Walker started the season hitting a measly 2-for-24. On March 2, Walker picked up a pair of hits against Minnesota to match his season total to that point, and he proceeded to go on a season-altering 19-game hitting streak.
"You guys didn't believe me early on when he was hitting .083, and I said he's having great at-bats, he's just not finding holes," head coach Willie Bloomquist said. "(But) he's continuing to put together solid at-bats, and that's all we ask for. He's the table setter, tone setter for this lineup."
In his 19-game hitting streak, Walker was 33-for-71 (.465 batting average) and scored 23 times. Of those 19 games, Walker had multiple hits in 11 of them. His overall stats show a .353 batting average, .458 on-base percentage and a .909 OPS.
Walker's offensive outburst timed up perfectly as the Sun Devils entered Big 12 play and he has helped ASU to an 8-4 conference record. In the 12 conference games played, Walker is second on the team in on-base percentage (.500) and third in batting average (.420) and OPS (1.100).
"He's done an outstanding job since he's moved into the leadoff spot in Kien Vu's absence and just really carried us offensively from that leadoff position and done a great job setting the tone and being a leader," Bloomquist said.
The turning point for Walker after his slow start was a couple of minor mechanical adjustments and settling down at the plate, according to hitting coach Jason Ellison.
"I think he came out trying to do too much, trying to prove too much, and once he settled in, things started falling in place for him," Ellison said.
Ellison said the mechanical adjustments that Walker made were to tone down his leg kick and hand movement. The toning down of his hand movement allowed Walker to get his hands in a better position to hit.
Getting moved to the leadoff spot has allowed him to keep an aggressive approach at the plate, which is perfect for Walker.
"I see myself as an aggressive hitter," Walker said. "I don't think that's something that's going to change, and it hasn't changed and I'll just continue to swing at pitches in the zone … (The) first pitch of the game, it's usually a fastball, so (I'm) just ready to jump on it every time."
Despite not getting a hit in the series finale against UA, Walker still drew a walk to keep his on-base-streak alive at 22 games. The hits are impressive, but what may be more remarkable is his ability to get on base and not strike out. This season, Walker has 15 walks, nine hit-by-pitches and only seven strikeouts.
Walker has become a spark plug for the Sun Devils' offense this season, and ASU will continue to lean on him from the leadoff spot to set the tone the rest of the way.
Edited by Henry Smardo, Sophia Braccio and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at jmjanes1@asu.edu and follow @JackJanes_ on X.
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Jack is a graduate student studying sports journalism. This is his second semester with The State Press. He has also worked at Walter Cronkite Sports Network and The Sporting Tribune.
