Taijuan Walker Named No. 2 Right-Handed Pitching Prospect by MLB.com

Taijuan Walker is listed as the No. 2 right-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker has been named the No. 2 right-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com heading into the 2013 season.

Here is what MLB.com prospect guru Jonathan Mayo had to say about Walker.

Walker looks like one of the biggest steals of the 2010 Draft after being picked 43rd overall and signing for $800,000. He has a plus fastball that stays in the mid to upper 90s throughout games to go along with a plus curveball and an improving changeup. The 2012 Futures Gamer faded a bit in the second half of last season, but he still has all the tools to be a top-of-the-rotation type of starter.

Here is a breakdown of when MLB.com will list their top prospect lists prior to the start of spring training. Prior to the 2012 season the Mariners have five players listed amongst the MLB.com Top 100 (Jesus Montero – #12, Danny Hultzen – # 16, Taijuan Walker – #18, Nick Franklin – #52, James Paxton – #77). Walker moved up from his #8 listing to #2 this season as top RHP prospects.

Here is a look at the MLB.com schedule for prospect rankings by position:

• Right-handed pitchers
• Jan. 22 – Left-handed pitchers
• Jan. 23 – Catchers
• Jan. 24 – Shortstops
• Jan. 25 – Third Basemen
• Jan. 26 – Second basemen
• Jan. 27 – First basemen
• Jan. 28 – Outfielders
• Jan. 29 – Top 100 Prospects