A monstrously bad start overshadowed a solid summer for Walker. He was popped for nine earned runs in his season debut, five in his next, and then after two good starts (one earned in 12.3 IP), he was smashed again for seven earned leaving him with an 8.74 ERA through five starts. That took him off the radar for just about everybody, at least as a premium fantasy option. He reeled off a 2.88 ERA in his next 11 starts with 69 K in 68.2 innings. From that point on his final 13 starts saw the normal ups and downs of a young, inexperienced pitcher. He’d have three good starts here, two duds there, en route to a 4.83 ERA in 78.1 innings. Home runs were the main problem behind his struggles. He had a 7.44 ERA in seven starts where allowed two-plus home runs and a 3.78 ERA in 22 starts with 0-1 home runs allowed. If loved him last year, you still should. He still has all the tools for a huge breakout.

The organization's top pitching prospect, Walker's ascension to the Seattle rotation did not go smoothly last season. He began the year on the disabled list with shoulder stiffness, missing the first three months. He then had to endure the wrath of manager Lloyd McClendon after an uninspiring start at Triple-A over the All-Star break. Consequently, the Mariners kept him at Tacoma longer than expected, and when he finally returned in late July he walked six and was demoted right back down after the game. He didn't make it back to Seattle until September when he worked out of the bullpen for three appearances before making two starts. He fared well in that stretch, though, posting a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings with 20 strikeouts and five walks. It's at least something to build on for 2015 when the 22-year-old will again compete for a rotation spot in spring training. Walker still has incredible upside, and last year's experience could serve him well this season.

After he rolled through Double-A and Triple-A last year, the Mariners gave their 21-year-old future ace a taste of the big leagues in September. Walker acquitted himself nicely across three starts with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 15 innings. The 6-foot-4 right-hander throws his four-seamer at 95 mph but hits the high 90s, pairing it with a low-90s cutter that keeps hitters off-balance. His offspeed stuff needs continued development, but he looks ready for the big-league rotation, which he appears likely to make coming out of spring training. It wouldn't hurt if he got a little more minor-league seasoning, but he should be in the rotation to stay by summer if he doesn't make the rotation out of spring training.

Walker had an inconsistent 2012 campaign, not extremely surprising for a hurler at the Double-A level who only turned 20 in August. After dominating the first two months of the season, Walker struggled in summer and late in the year, finishing with a bloated ERA. The most curious part of his numbers was the massive decrease in groundballs induced. Despite those concerns, he was still hitting 98 mph late in the season, and the Mariners liked the development of his breaking pitches too. It's too optimistic to expect the 6-foot-6 right-hander to make the Seattle squad out of spring training, but he's an elite talent who could see the bigs by the end of this year.

Named the organization's top prospect by Baseball Prospectus, Walker is a 6-foot-6 right-hander who could be about a year away from Seattle. The 19-year-old dominated at Low-A Clinton last season, striking out 113 in 96.2 innings with a 1.54 GO/AO and a .202 opponents' average. A 2010 supplemental pick out of high school, Walker was named the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Walker is just 19 and needs more seasoning, but he's not too far away. He could go to spring training in 2013 with a shot at a rotation spot. Keep an eye on his progress this season.