From college champion to World Series hero: the rise of Walker Buehler
In short: After being drafted by the Pirates in 2012 but choosing college instead, Walker Buehler ascended to MLB stardom. From a 2014 Vanderbilt championship to securing a 2024 World Series save, his career has been defined by elite strikeouts and resilience through major surgeries.
Walker Buehler's journey to Major League Baseball was not a straight line. After the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB draft, he opted to attend Vanderbilt University. His collegiate career was marked by immediate impact, including a 2014 College World Series championship and a standout performance for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, where he was a co-winner of MVP honors.
His professional ascent with the Los Angeles Dodgers began in 2015 when he was selected 24th overall. However, his debut was delayed by Tommy John surgery. Once healthy, he climbed through the minor leagues, earning the Dodgers' minor league pitcher of the year in 2017 before making his MLB debut that September against the Colorado Rockies.
Buehler has become a cornerstone of the Dodgers' pitching staff, earning All-Star honors in 2019 and 2021. By accomplishing this, he joined Dwight Gooden and Pedro Martínez as the sole third pitcher in MLB history to record several games featuring 15 strikeouts and zero walks within one season. This occurred during his dominant 2019 campaign, where he finished with a 14–4 record and a 3.26 ERA.
Despite his success, Buehler has faced significant physical setbacks. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery for bone spurs in June 2022, he required a second Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair in August 2022. After missing the entire 2023 season, he returned to the mound in May 2024, continuing a career that includes two World Series titles (2020, 2024).
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Walker Buehler
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-walker-buehler.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
