How Walker Buehler’s Competitive Spirit in High School Shaped Big Game Success with Dodgers
Two months ago, Walker Buehler was left hoping for the best. He was in the middle of one of the toughest stretches in his career following a second Tommy John surgery and was left questioning whether he would secure a place in the Dodgers’ postseason rotation.
On Wednesday night, he emerged from the bullpen to save Game 5 of the World Series. It only took him 16 pitches to preserve a 7-6 series-clinching win.
“He went through a lot, but now he’s etched in Dodger glory and royalty forever,” Clayton Kershaw said.
Buehler further established his reputation as a big-game pitcher, becoming the latest Dodgers starter to shut down the Yankees’ offense when delivered five scoreless innings during the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory in Game 3.
Buehler only allowed one earned run in 18 innings.
“There’s no other way to say it,” Buehler said. “The lights. The big lights. The big thing. It’s hard to explain what that does to you.”
To know Buehler and understand what makes him perform in these big moments time after time requires a trip to Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Ky., where the hallways are filled with No. 21 Dodger jerseys and his high school coach Jordan Tarrence’s phone constantly goes off because of the masterpiece his former player painted throughout the postseason.
Tarrence spoke to Dodgers Nation on Tuesday but sent a text when the final out was recorded.
“Didn’t see a save in the cards tonight but that was freaking awesome,” he said.
After Game 3, Tarrence described how he knew Buehler was destined for greatness.
“When people talk about him being competitive and being a big-game pitcher, he’s always been super competitive and never shied away from the moment,” Tarrence said. “He’s been pitching big games his whole life.”
After Monday night’s performance, Buehler has set himself apart from the majority of pitchers in the postseason becoming the first and only one with at least three World Series outings of five or more innings and allowing four or fewer baserunners.
Tarrance brought up the stat posted on X by MLB’s Sarah Langs and said that Buehler didn’t become that type of pitcher until his sophomore year.
“It went from he’s really good to he’s got a chance to be special,” Terrance reminisced. “He could do everything better. His fastball was a little faster than everyone else, his offspeed pitchers were better than anybody else’s, he competed a little harder than everyone else and the way the ball came out of his hand was effortless.”
Buehler progressed each year and by the time he was a senior, it wasn’t a matter of if he was going to be drafted but when.
“If you looked at him then, you wouldn’t think there was a professional athlete,” Tarrence said. “He’s just been naturally good at anything he has done. The confidence was always there.”
Buehler’s former coach drew a direct correlation between Monday night and when the right-hander was in high school – he had to pitch.
“The reason he was pitching as a freshman was because he could pitch. He wasn’t throwing hard but he could throw three or four pitches for a strike. He was one of the few high school kids who could throw a curveball and a slider and he could legitimately throw four pitches as a high school kid.”
The adrenaline rushed through Buehler’s veins on Wednesday and his velocity crept closer to triple-digits. The bottom of the ninth inning lasted eight minutes. It was the perfect script for a comeback story.
“He saw what was happening,” Kershaw said. “He knew we were going to need him. It takes big balls. There’s no way to say it. Just do it.”
Catcher Will Smith didn’t have to say a single word to Buehler when he entered the game. A ground out and two strikeouts later, the Dodgers were champions.
Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-MLB
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