{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Jordan Walden | image = Jordan Walden.jpg | image_size = 240 | caption = Walden with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | position = Pitcher | team = | number = | bats = Right | throws = Right | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|16}} | birth_place = Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = August 22 | debutyear = 2010 | debutteam = Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = April 29 | finalyear = 2015 | finalteam = St. Louis Cardinals | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 12–14 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 3.00 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 266 | stat4label = Saves | stat4value = 39 | teams = * Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2012}}) * Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2014}}) * St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2015}}) | awards = * All-Star (2011) }} '''Jordan Craig Walden''' (born November 16, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, and St. Louis Cardinals.
==Early life== Walden was born November 16, 1987, in Fort Worth, Texas, and graduated in 2006 from Mansfield High School. While playing for the amateur league team D-BAT Mustangs of Carrollton, Texas, he was teammates with future fellow MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Allison |url=http://www.nbcdfw.com/blogs/red-fever/North-Texans-on-Opposite-All-Star-Teams-125391833.html |title=North Texans on opposite All-Star teams |publisher=NBCDFW.com |date=March 8, 2010 |access-date=July 12, 2011}}</ref> After attending Grayson County Community College, Walden was drafted in the 12th round of the 2006 draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim he did not sign until a year later in May 2007.
==Professional career== ===Los Angeles Angels=== ====Minor leagues==== Walden was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 12th round, with the 372nd overall selection, of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft,<ref>{{cite news |title=Kimbrel and Walden are newest rookie closers |url=https://news.yahoo.com/news/kimbrel-walden-newest-rookie-closers-200000017--mlb.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHLQbxCWyAw-aUnMj7qYyH_ysW9FVT6kR_gthgdTAnaF1plZy0NgEHEBMpkLfXwdl2DpTLGcgoFGUStzAVLBW5JxgjtuNPud2gwEasPBGNvUodgOmRIAPZWONXvUqpwVwnf0_GMfVWEXmdd7K1uKXkklIXNQLvtKqAH5IEy7G88H |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=April 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Alaniz and Boone chosen on second day of 2006 MLB Draft |url=https://texassports.com/news/2006/6/7/060706aab_138.aspx |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=University of Texas Longhorns |date=June 7, 2006}}</ref> and began his professional career the next season.
Walden pitched for the rookie-level Orem Owlz in 2007, going 1–1 with a 3.08 ERA in 15 starts. In {{fraction|64|1|3}} innings, he allowed 49 hits and three home runs while striking out 63 batters. Prior to the 2008 season, ''Baseball America'' named Walden the 81st best prospect in minor league baseball. He split that season between the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels (with whom he went 4–6 with a 2.18 ERA in 18 starts) and the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (5–2, 4.04 ERA in nine starts), going a combined 9–8 with a 2.76 ERA in 27 starts. He pitched 156{{fraction|1|3}} innings, allowing 122 hits and seven home runs while striking out 141 batters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jordan Walden Minor Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=walden001jor |access-date=2021-05-05 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
Before the 2009 season, Walden was named the 70th best prospect in baseball. He pitched for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers and went 1–5 with a 5.25 ERA in 13 starts that season. In 2010, he converted to relief pitching, spending 38 games with the Travelers and six games with the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees without making a start. Walden also was named Texas League Mid-season All-Star from the Arkansas Travelers in 2010.
====Major leagues==== The Los Angeles Angels promoted Walden to the major league roster on August 22, 2010, by purchasing his contract from Triple-A Salt Lake.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DiGiovanna |first1=Mike |title=Angels reliever Jordan Walden's whirlwind weekend takes him to big leagues |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2010-08-22/angels-reliever-jordan-waldens-whirlwind-weekend-takes-him-to-big-leagues |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=August 22, 2010}}</ref> Within the first week of his major league career, Walden's fastball had been recorded at speeds up to {{convert|101|mph}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saxon |first1=Mark |title=Angels experimenting with youth |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/columns/story?id=5505912 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=August 28, 2010 |quote=Then there's Jordan Walden, a strapping 6-foot-5 Texan who arrived a week ago and has been clocked throwing 101 mph a few times. After a week in the big leagues, Walden was already being mentioned by Scioscia as a setup candidate after the team traded Brian Fuentes to Minnesota on Friday. Walden looked electric pitching the ninth inning Friday, striking out Ty Wigginton and Felix Pie.}}</ref>
When the Angels traded Brian Fuentes to the Minnesota Twins on August 27, 2010, they began to use Walden as their setup pitcher in his place in the eighth inning.<ref>{{cite web |author=(Unknown) |url=http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/14005500/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113906/http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/14005500/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Rodney tabbed closer of reshaped bullpen |work=MLB.com |date=August 27, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2011}}</ref> Walden recorded his first MLB save on September 19, against the Tampa Bay Rays.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=waldejo01&t=p&year=2010 |title=Jordan Walden 2010 pitching game log |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 13, 2015}}</ref>
The Angels named Walden their full-time closer on April 5, 2011,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saxon |first1=Mark |title=Jordan Walden takes over as closer |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=6297223 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=April 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Plunkett |first1=Bill |title=Rodney out as closer, Walden in |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/04/05/rodney-out-as-closer-walden-in/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Orange County Register |date=April 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Kevin |title=Angels' Fernando Rodney loses closer job to Jordan Walden |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-04-05/angels-fernando-rodney-loses-closer-job-to-jordan-walden |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 5, 2011}}</ref> replacing Fernando Rodney.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fraley |first1=Gerry |title=Former Mansfield pitcher Jordan Walden closes game for Angels |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2011/05/15/former-mansfield-pitcher-jordan-walden-closes-game-for-angels/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=May 14, 2011}}</ref> On July 7, Walden was selected to appear in the MLB All-Star Game for the first time, taking the place of an injured Mariano Rivera.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saxon |first1=Mark |title=Jordan Walden in for Mo on AL All-Stars |url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/mlb/news/story?id=6747103 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=ESPN.com |date=July 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Angels' Walden to replace Rivera at All-Star game |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-angels-walden-to-replace-rivera-at-all-star-game-2011jul07-story.html |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=San Diego Union Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=July 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaikin |first1=Bill |title=Angels' Jordan Walden selected to American League All-Star team |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2011-07-07/angels-jordan-walden-selected-to-american-league-all-star-team |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 7, 2011}}</ref> He recorded his 30th save for the first time on September 13 against the Oakland Athletics,<ref>{{cite news |title=Howie Kendrick's HRs help Halos keep up with Rangers |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/recap/_/gameId/310913111 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=September 14, 2011}}</ref> and finished the season with 32.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DiGiovanna |first1=Mike |title=Angels closer Jordan Walden looks to change things up |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/sports-now/story/2012-01-25/angels-closer-jordan-walden-looks-to-change-things-up |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 25, 2012}}</ref>
In 2012, Walden struggled with his command early in the season. The Angels demoted him from the closer role on April 27, replacing him with Scott Downs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DiGiovanna |first1=Mike |title=Walden loses job as Angels closer; Downs to pitch ninth inning |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2012-apr-27-la-sp-sn-walden-loses-job-as-angels-closer-20120427-story.html |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 27, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=DiGiovanna |first=Mike |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0428-angels-notes-20120428,0,774824.story |title=Angels' Jordan Walden loses closing job |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 27, 2012 |access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Angels move Walden out of closer role |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/angels-move-walden-out-of-closer-role |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=Fox Sports |date=April 27, 2012}}</ref>
===Atlanta Braves=== thumb|right|Walden pitching in 2013 NLDS game. On November 30, 2012, the Angels traded Walden to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Tommy Hanson.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crasnick |first=Jerry |author-link=Jerry Crasnick |date=November 30, 2012 |title=Tommy Hanson swapped for Walden |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/8694819/tommy-hanson-traded-atlanta-braves-jordan-walden-los-angeles-angels |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Braves trade Hanson to Halos for Walden |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/braves-trade-hanson-to-halos-for-walden/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Sportsnet |date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> He pitched 47 innings, with a 4–3 win–loss record, 3.45 ERA, and 54 strikeouts during the 2013 season. Walden agreed to a one-year contract for the 2014 season, worth $1.49 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan Walden avoids arbitration |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10125148/jordan-walden-atlanta-braves-agree-149m-1-year-contract |access-date=June 18, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=December 12, 2013}}</ref>
===St. Louis Cardinals=== On November 17, 2014, the Braves traded Walden and Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bowman |first1=Mark |title=Braves acquire Miller, send Heyward, Walden to Cards |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-acquire-pitchers-shelby-miller-tyrell-jenkins-from-cardinals-for-outfield |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com |date=November 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Langosch |first1=Jenifer |title=Cards land Heyward in four-player deal with Braves |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-get-jason-heyward-jordan-walden-in-four-player-trade-with-braves-c1016 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com |date=November 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Heyward, Miller in Braves-Cards swap |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11892064/atlanta-braves-trade-jason-heyward-jordan-walden-st-louis-cardinals-shelby-miller-tyrell-jenkins |access-date=June 18, 2023 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=November 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cardinals trade Shelby Miller to Braves for Jason Heyward |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/11/17/cardinals-braves-trade-jason-heyward-shelby-miller/19171947/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=USA Today |date=November 17, 2014}}</ref> Walden and the Cardinals signed a two-year extension on December 23, 2014, worth $6.6 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan Walden agrees to $6.6M deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12072906/jordan-walden-st-louis-cardinals-agree-66-million-2-year-deal |access-date=December 24, 2014 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=December 23, 2014}} Republished by [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/12/23/jordan-walden-cardinals-agree-to-6-6m-2-year-deal/20818555/ USA Today], [https://www.sj-r.com/story/sports/2014/12/24/walden-gets-6-6m-deal/35672225007/ The State Journal-Register]</ref> Through April 29, 2015, he made 12 appearances with 12 strikeouts and one run allowed in {{frac|10|1|3}} innings pitched for an 0.87 ERA. However, Walden was unable to pitch after that due to shoulder stiffness. On May 6, he was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain.<ref>{{cite web |last=Connell |first=Jim |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/baseball/Springfield-Cardinals/2015/07/23/walden-hungers-chance-get-back-big-leagues/30604473/ |title=Walden hungers for chance to get back to big leagues |publisher=Springfield News-Leader |date=July 23, 2015 |access-date=August 13, 2015}}</ref> The Cardinals initially estimated a timetable of six-to-ten weeks before he could return to pitching,<ref>{{cite web |last=Langosch |first=Jenifer |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/st-louis-cardinals-reliever-jordan-walden-to-be-shut-down-6-to-10-weeks-with-right-shoulder-strain/c-122765316 |title=Walden likely out until after All-Star break |work=MLB.com |date=May 6, 2015 |access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref> but recovery took much longer than expected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langosch |first1=Jenifer |title=Cardinals slow down Walden's rehab assignment |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-jordan-waldens-rehab-slowed-down/c-141137032 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com |date=August 4, 2015}}</ref> Instead, Walden's shoulder did not recover, leaving the possibility of surgery to repair the rotator cuff. On September 6, the Cardinals ruled out his return for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story?id=13600049 |title=Walden's season likely done for Cards with shoulder injury |publisher=ESPN.com |date=September 6, 2015}} Republished by [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/09/06/waldens-season-likely-done-for-cards-with-shoulder-injury/71828086/ USA Today]</ref> Walden rehabilitated the shoulder the following off-season in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, adopting a program that was five days a week, four hours per day. He worked with former teammate Matt Belisle.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goold |first=Derrick |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/walden-out-to-prove-i-can-still-pitch/article_aa5bd30b-08f2-5ac7-bf36-b58f16fa31ed.html |title=Walden out to 'prove I can still pitch' |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=February 18, 2016 |access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref>
After sustaining a grade 2 latissimus dorsi muscle strain, the Cardinals placed Walden back on the disabled list to start the 2016 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langosch |first1=Jenifer |title=Mozeliak: Walden to be out 'few months' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-jordan-walden-to-miss-few-months-c170283882 |access-date=June 18, 2023 |publisher=MLB.com |date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> He became a free agent following the season.
On November 12, 2016, Walden signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/braves-sign-jordan-walden-to-minor-league-deal.html|title=Braves Sign Jordan Walden To Minor League Deal|last=Wilmoth|first=Charlie|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 12, 2016|access-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref> The Braves and Walden mutually agreed to void his contract on February 9, 2017, after discovering that his rehab had not been progressing as expected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/braves-void-minor-league-deal-with-jordan-walden.html|title=Braves Void Minor League Deal With Jordan Walden|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017}}</ref>
==Pitching style== Walden was a hard thrower, with a four-seam fastball ranging from 96 to 99 mph. His off-speed pitch to right-handed hitters was a slider in the mid 80s. He also threw the slider to lefties, but in 2011 he developed a changeup at 86–89 mph that he used more often. His off-speed pitches worked extremely well in tandem with his fastball, with whiff rates of about 48% on his changeup and 61% on his slider — each well above the league averages. He also experimented with a two-seam fastball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=477229|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Jordan Walden|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=29 May 2012}}</ref> The high whiff rates have contributed to a 10.9 K/9 ratio through mid-2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/waldejo01.shtml|title=Jordan Walden Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=3 August 2012}}</ref>
Walden had an unusual pitching motion. He hopped in the middle of his windup, and actually had both feet in the air for a split second, before returning to the ground and throwing the ball.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hummer |first1=Steve |title=Braves’ Jordan Walden spring-loaded, summer-proven |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-jordan-walden-spring-loaded-summer-proven/gP1yh4HP6SdWyIWVVjLeVO/ |access-date=June 18, 2023 |work=Atlanta Journal Constitution |date=August 3, 2013 |quote=On display for a scoreless eighth inning during last Sunday’s nationally televised game against St. Louis, Walden’s singular delivery was the subject of slow-motion fascination by the ESPN crew. Look how he raises up as he goes into his motion. Then, for the briefest moment, both feet actually leave the ground as he begins coming forward. Is that a hop off the rubber? Why, yes, and a good one at that, a move that would be as useful in throwing a spear as a baseball. Nothing quite like any other pitcher you’ve ever seen. San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum takes a huge stride off the rubber, hurling himself forward with almost unnatural force. But nobody gets air quite like Walden. The move seems to defy some of the traditional physics of pitching. And still he throws in the upper 90s.}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|Baseball}} {{baseballstats | mlb=477229 | espn=29323|br=w/waldejo01|fangraphs=3271|brm=walden001jor}} *{{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walden, Jordan}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American League All-Stars Category:Sportspeople from Mansfield, Texas Category:Baseball players from Ellis County, Texas Category:Baseball players from Fort Worth, Texas Category:Los Angeles Angels players Category:Atlanta Braves players Category:St. Louis Cardinals players Category:Grayson Vikings baseball players Category:Orem Owlz players Category:Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players Category:Arkansas Travelers players Category:Salt Lake Bees players Category:Gwinnett Braves players