A NY Mets-World Series connection that goes back to 1990

New York Mets connections are pretty clear in the 2025 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a few exes with the Toronto Blue Jays employing quite a few more. We can even extend it beyond just those who actually played for the Mets and look into ones the Mets tried to add. Kevin Gausman and George Springer immediately come to mind.

What about the coaching staff? Don Mattingly’s presence in the Blue Jays dugout has New York Yankees fans accepting their AL East rival winning a championship. Mets fans’ rooting interest doesn’t have much involvement with the coaches although the longtime Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker is an ex-Mets draft pick and big league player.

Way back in 1990, the Mets selected Walker in the 7th round of the MLB Draft. He’d debut in the big leagues in 1995 and would end up in Flushing again, pitching 3 games combined in 2001 and 2002. After one relief appearance in 2002, he was put on waivers and the Blue Jays picked him up. He has been a Blue Jays lifer, working as the club’s pitching coach since 2013.

The Blue Jays got to know their pitching coach Pete Walker thanks to the Mets’ decision to bail on him in 2002

Walker pitched parts of 4 seasons with the Blue Jays, making 20 starts in 2002 and logging 124 games. Most were as a reliever. He last pitched for them in 2006, only adding a handful of games in the minor leagues for the Yankees a year later.

A relationship was built, though. Just a career 4.48 ERA in the major leagues, Walker is your prototypical player turned coach. He wasn’t an award-winning All-Star household name. He was a guy whose experience with the Blue Jays put him on the radar for the organization when they needed to hire coaches. The same could be said about Jeremy Hefner whose lone big league experience came as a member of the Mets in 2012 and 2013.

Coaching hires may seem random at times. In this case, it seems to be a direct result of already being familiar with Walker. 

Not a universally known coach in MLB, but with a rising profile thanks to his team being on the cusp of a championship, Walker’s resume includes working with 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. Had the Mets kept him around in New York, maybe he never makes his way to Toronto and extends his career. An entirely different Blue Jays history might unfold.

Walker’s longevity as the pitching coach in Toronto speaks volumes about how they feel about him. Pitching might not be what wins them a World Series. Nevertheless, there’s something to appreciate about a coach who’s able to survive as long as he has with one team.