23 Facts About Walker Buehler

1. Walker Buehler appears ready to challenge Clayton Kershaw as staff ace.

2. Walker Buehler said he threw several bullpen sessions leading into Spring Training at the University of Kentucky.

3. Walker Buehler agreed that his command improved when Bellinger stepped in, offering two reasons.

4. Walker Buehler will throw his first bullpen of the spring Wednesday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.

5. Walker Buehler threw bullpen sessions before arriving in Arizona and reported to camp healthy.

6. Walker Buehler is getting there based on what he's done so far, but for something like Opening Day starter, that's an honor Kershaw has earned.

7. Walker Buehler told the OC Register's Bill Plunkett that not even he feels he should get that honor over Kershaw.

8. Walker Buehler was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 7, 2017, with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

9. Walker Buehler could have been a draft pick in the top two rounds out of a Kentucky high school in 2012 had he been signable away from Vanderbilt.

10. Walker Buehler has great aptitude for the game and his ability continues to move forward.

11. Walker Buehler was a star at Vanderbilt in both academics and athletics.

12. At the time of the 2012 draft, Walker Buehler was rated the best baseball recruit to come out of Kentucky and the number 50 overall recruit in the country.

13. In 2012, Walker Buehler was drafted in the 14th round of the MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he eventually decided to opt out of the draft in favor of completing an undergraduate degree first.

14. Walker Buehler will be the starting pitcher for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series.

15. Walker Buehler has long been a rising prospect in the MLB, having opted out of the 2012 draft in favor of attending college first.

16. Walker Buehler finished third in voting for the National League Rookie of the Year.

17. On October 26, Walker Buehler threw 7 scoreless innings in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.

18. Walker Buehler made his first major league start on April 23, 2018, against the Miami Marlins, pitching five scoreless innings.

19. Walker Buehler finally made his professional baseball debut on August 23, 2016 for the Arizona League Dodgers, striking out three and retiring all six batters he faced.

20. Walker Buehler was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 14th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and attended Vanderbilt University.

21. Walker Buehler was selected by the Dodgers 24th overall in the 2015 MLB draft out of Vanderbilt University, and made his MLB debut in 2017.

22. Walker Buehler will start for the Dodgers as the defending NL champions try for a sixth straight West title.

23. Walker Buehler gives Dodgers a much-needed star performance in Game 3.