Christian Walker is Going for 100 RBI in 2022

The veteran first baseman is having a career year

© Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Christian Walker is having a career year for the Diamondbacks. He's played in 156 of 158 team games, starting 153. He's long since set career highs in homers with 36 and RBI with 93, to go along with an .803 OPS and career high 125 OPS+. Seven More RBI in the final five games to reach 100 may seem like a lofty goal. But he's been hot for the last two months and is coming off a three hit game where he fell just a homer shy of the cycle. 

He's increased his batting average with runners in scoring position each month, and over his last 57 games since August 1st has hit .300/.357/.544, .901 OPS overall with 13 homers and 41 RBI. 

Walker leads all MLB first baseman in defensive runs saved with +17 and should be the favorite for the NL Gold Glove Award at first base. It's all added up to five WAR as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com. The only two first baseman in MLB who have a higher total are Paul Goldschmidt of the Cardinals and Freddie Freeman of the Dodgers.

The 31 year old Walker is a veteran leader in the clubhouse and it's not uncommon to see players, both younger and older, on chairs gathered around his locker discussing the day's game. 

Entering his second year of arbitration during the off season, Walker is due for a hefty pay increase from his current $2.6 Million, and could see that number go as high as seven or eight million.