O's game blog: Christian Walker on rejoining the O's and a look at tonight's game

The 2014 Orioles minor league Player of the Year is back with the team. First baseman Christian Walker was called up from Triple-A Norfolk after the end of the Tides' season Monday.

After a slow start this season with Norfolk - one where he hit .205 in April - Walker had a big second half and felt his season overall was solid.

In 138 games, he hit .257 with 33 doubles, 18 homers, 74 RBIs and a .748 OPS. In the second half, Walker hit 13 homers with 44 RBIs, a .515 slugging percentage and an OPS of .856. Walker finished tied for third in doubles (33) and extra-base hits (52), and fourth in total bases (226) in the International League.

"I'm happy with it," he said of his season. "All things considered, the way I started was not what I wanted, but I bounced back, turned it around and it was a good year for me.

"I think I was pressing a little bit (in the first half), trying to hit the ball too far. Had to trust in my strength and my ability and the work that I do pregame and in the offseason. It was just a learning curve, where you learn a lot about yourself."

Walker played in one game with the Orioles this season, going 1-for-2 with a walk July 8 at Minnesota. He is 4-for-20 in seven major league games. Last Sept. 20, he hit what is so far his one and only major league homer at Camden Yards off Boston's Rubby De La Rosa. Having been with the club before can help him now.

"Yeah, it is just as exciting for sure. I love being here and being part of the team," he said. "It does kill a little bit of the nerves. I'm anxious to show what I can do and prove myself. But yeah, it helps the second or third time around for sure."

Walker is quite aware the Orioles will be looking for a first baseman if they don't re-sign Chris Davis. Any impression he can make now could help his cause for later.

"Yeah, absolutely, anything can help. Hopefully they understand what kind of player I am and what I can do on the field," Walker said.

Two young pitching prospects are on the mound at Camden Yards tonight when 25-year-old Mike Wright (2-4, 5.45 ERA) pitches for the Orioles against Boston's 23-year-old lefty Henry Owens (2-2, 5.25).

Wright is 0-1 with a ERA of 7.00 in two September starts for the Orioles. He has pitched five innings or less in his past six starts and is 2-1 with a 4.84 ERA this season at Camden Yards.

Owens was ranked by Baseball America as baseball's No. 40 prospect after the 2013 season and No. 44 at the end of last season. He has made seven big league starts this year after going 3-8 with a 3.16 ERA at Triple-A. His walk rate has been an issue for him this year. He's averaged 4.12 walks per nine innings in the minors and 4.25 in the majors this season.

The Orioles (71-73) are looking for a fourth straight win and for their seventh in the past eight games. They are 11-4 this year against Boston (68-76) and have won nine of the last 10 games between the teams.