February 17, 2026

Down the stretch of the 2024 season, San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Ryan Walker emerged as a viable ninth-inning option, pitching to a 1.21 ERA and logging 10 saves in the second half of the year. Walker's performance was enough for him to open 2025 as San Francisco's primary closer. However, the 30-year-old struggled this past season, posting a 5-7 record with a 4.11 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 60 strikeouts, and 17 saves in 61 1/3 innings pitched. Walker was largely supplanted from the closer role in the middle of the season by Giants right-hander Randy Rodriguez (elbow). However, Rodriguez underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in late August and is unlikely to pitch in 2026. As a result, Walker appears likely to get the first shot to reclaim the closer role in San Francisco. If Walker is going to stay in the role, he will need to reverse some worrying trends. His strikeout rate dipped from 32.1% in 2024 to 22.6% in 2025, while opponents' hard-hit rate against him jumped from 30.2% to 35.6%. Still, Walker has had big-league success in a high-leverage role before, and the Giants do not have an obvious replacement option behind him. With a current average draft position of pick 201, Walker could be a low-cost bounce-back candidate for fantasy managers to target heading into 2026.--Will Brady
Source: RotoBaller