By james art 
For the third year in a row, South Carolina baseball grad Christian Walker won the Rawlings Gold Glove. As the National League winner at first base, Walker beat out Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. Ironically, Harper was rumored to be committed to South Carolina before opting to head to junior college for a quicker path to pro ball; if he had become a Gamecock, he would have been in Columbia at the same time as Walker.
Walker deserved the prestigious honor. The Arizona Diamondbacks star is a defensive wizard at first base. According to Baseball Savant’s advanced stats, Walker registered very similar defensive production to his previous two Gold Glove Award wins, despite playing in fewer games thanks to a trip to IL. This year he led the league in Defensive strikeouts above average with a +13.
Walker’s three Gold Gloves are the most of any former Gamecock.
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Walker, 33, is in line for a big payday this offseason. He is a free agent after one of the best three-year stretches of any first baseman in baseball. Since 2022, Walker has averaged 32 home runs, 94 RBI, 81 runs scored and 62 walks while slashing .250/.332/.481/.813 and playing elite defense. He had a real case as an MLB All-Star each of those three seasons, but was overlooked each time.
During his baseball career at South Carolina, Christian Walker became a legendary figure in Columbia. The big first baseman started his career at third base before moving across the diamond. However, in three years with the Gamecocks, Walker made two All-American teams and the Freshman All-American squad. He is also a two-time national champion. The Pennsylvania native posted an elite career slash line of .336/.427/.533/.960. He also posted 80 extra-base hits and tied the College World Series record with 28 hits. He accomplished all of this despite playing injured in two of his three seasons in garnet and black.