Pilot signs with White Sox

He arrived in Anchorage on June 21, but the first-round pick in this year's Major League Baseball draft will leave Saturday to prepare for the start of his professional career with the Chicago White Sox.

"It's been my dream ever since I was a little kid to play pro baseball," Walker said. "Gettin' paid to play a kids sport. It's the best job in the world."

Walker, 20, will begin his career in Montana with Chicago's rookie- level team, the Great Falls Voyagers. First he has to pass a physical next week and make his signing with the White Sox official. Walker's agent is handling all negotiations and Walker said he doesn't know how much money he'll make.

Walker was drafted twice before, going in the 16th round to the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and in the 38th round to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010. Walker didn't think turning professional was a possibility on either occasion.

This year was different, because Walker, also a talented football player, turned his attention solely toward baseball for the first time.

"Football just kinda hit a dead end," he said.

Walker went from seeing little playing time for the Central Arizona College baseball team last season to becoming a star this season, the result of being more dedicated on the practice field and in the weight room.

"This year, I just absolutely worked my tail off," he said.

The switch-hitting leadoff man stole 65 bases in 68 attempts last season and batted .402. He helped the Vaqueros finish second in the Junior College World Series last month, hitting .500 over six games and leading all tournament players with 12 hits and five stolen bases.

He was drafted by the White Sox around the time the tournament was ending, so he took a week or so to see if he might get a professional contract right away. When nothing materialized, he decided to come to Alaska to get some live at-bats.

Walker hit his second home run in eight games Thursday, even though he said the ball doesn't carry well in the cool, damp Anchorage air. Going into Thursday's game with the Anchorage Bucs, he was hitting .222 (6 of 27), had four runs, two RBIs and three steals on four attempts.

Pilots manager Yogi Cox said Walker shows some good pop at the plate and has a great pair of hands, but his athletic ability on the basepaths is what sets him apart from the other players.

"He's got big-league speed," Cox said. "He puts a lot of pressure on the defense. He can really move down the line."

Walker will have to shorten up his swing and improve his arm strength to compete with the pros, Cox said, but he thinks Walker can do both.

"He's a good kid," Cox said. "He's played hard for us."

Reach Jeremy Peters at jpeters@adn.com or 257-4335.