Just before taking the mound in the first inning on Tuesday, Taijuan Walker could feel his nerves awaken. It might have been spring training, but the new Diamondbacks right-hander had a few things on his mind as he made his Cactus League debut.
First game of the year. First outing since surgery. First time putting a new delivery into action.
But everything came together nicely for Walker, who struck out three in two scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium.
“I was feeling good the whole time and then when we had two outs (in the top of the first) I started getting nervous, even though it’s spring training,” Walker said.