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Philip Walby

Baseball Pitching Instructor

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In 2021, in his first year as the head pitching coach at Grand Valley State University, the Laker pitching staff led the conference in ERA for the first time since 2013. The Laker staff also held the crown for the fewest walks per 9 innings and hits per 9 innings in the conference.

Walby’s pitching staff honored 2 pitchers as All-GLIAC Conference second-team winners as well as winning a Rawlings Gold-Glove Award. This award is given to the best defensive player per position. Only one of these awards was granted to a single pitcher in all of Division-2 baseball.

Before receiving the job at Grand Valley State, Walby was the head pitching coach at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan from 2018-2020. In his first season coaching, the SC4 Skippers won more games than the previous two years combined.

During his time as a professional baseball player, Walby held the active record for most consecutive innings recorded without giving up a homerun at 173 innings. He also never appeared on the disabled list.

Walby prepped at Scripps Ranch High School in San Diego, California, and led the Falcons to their first Eastern League title as a senior in 2010.

He made 10 starts and recorded four complete games including a pair of shutouts. He compiled a record of 7-4 with a 2.38 earned run average and held opponents to a .231 batting average. He was a first-team All-Eastern League and second-team All-Division II selection as a junior in 2009 with a record of 7-2 with one save and a 1.88 earned run average. Named to the San Diego Union-Tribune all-academic team honoree in both 2009 and 2010.

After a successful prep career, Walby was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 50th round of the 2010 amateur draft.

Walby received a scholarship to play baseball at San Diego State University under head coach and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. Walby was ranked the 39th best incoming freshman pitcher in the nation according to Baseball America.

During his junior season as an Aztec, Walby complied a 5-3 record with a 3.82 earned run average over 94 innings of work. He held opponents to a .251 batting average. Walby was instrumental in leading San Diego State to their first regional appearance since 2008. Walby was the winning pitcher in the Mountain West Championship game against top-ranked University of New Mexico, earning him All-Mountain West Tournament 1st team honors.

Walby was drafted for a second time by the New York Yankees in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB draft.

In short-season A ball, Walby finished the season with a 2.75 earned run average, striking out 37 batters in 36 innings or work. He was promoted to high-A during his first full season in professional baseball. During his time as a Yankee, Walby recorded 145.2 innings with a 3.76 earned run average. He struck out 150 batters during that time.

In 2016, Walby signed a two-year contract with the Washington Nationals. During that year, Walby was 7 for 7 on save opportunities and finished with a 3.29 earned run average, striking out 33 batters in 27 innings.

After a successful 2016 campaign, Walby was selected in the second round, pick 36, of the Rule-5 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. This AAA phase of the draft granted the Blue Jays with the rights to Walby’s last year of his contract.

After winning the Florida State League Championship for the Blue Jays in 2017, Walby played for the Trois-Rivieres Aigles in the Can-Am League where he finished the season with a 3.47 ERA. In 2018, Walby signed a contract with the York Revolution in the Atlantic League, playing on a roster with 18 former Major League players.

During his off-seasons, Walby was the head pitching coordinator for 2 years at a training center in Michigan, leading one-on-one lessons and team practices at the youth level. He helped coaches understand and implement personal player development of their teams, and trained players from ages 8-18 develop as pitchers.

As head pitching coordinator he helped prepare 2 professional players for Spring Training: Anthony Misiewicz (MLB with Seattle Mariners), and Hunter Brown (Houston Astros #3 Top Prospect, currently in AAA).

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