This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert’s D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox

A week ago today, D-backs first baseman Christian Walker hit the 100th home run of his career.  

It was a milestone that got very little notice at the time, but it’s one that Walker will cherish, not so much for the number itself, but because it represented an accomplishment that just a few short years ago seemed unattainable. 

Walker’s rise to one of the best first basemen in the game wasn’t rapid and it certainly wasn’t easy. 

Drafted by the Orioles in the fourth round in 2012, Walker languished in the Minors despite posting impressive numbers year after year. That’s because the Orioles had Chris Davis locked in at first base and he was in the midst of hitting 53 homers in 2013, 47 in 2015 and 38 in 2016. 

The Orioles designated Walker for assignment Feb. 25, 2016, and he was claimed by the Braves, who had first baseman Freddie Freeman. The Braves tried to send him through waivers, but the Reds claimed him. 

You might have heard of who the Reds had playing first base at that time -- a left-handed hitter named Joey Votto. 

Toward the end of spring, the Reds tried to put Walker through waivers and he was again claimed by the D-backs, who had Paul Goldschmidt at first base. 

Placed immediately on waivers again by the D-backs, this time Walker cleared and was sent to Triple-A. He was 26 and had been blocked at every turn.

It wasn’t until the D-backs traded Goldschmidt to the Cardinals prior to the 2019 season that Walker got a legitimate chance to start at the big league level and at 28, he knew his time to establish himself was running out. 

“I think what I felt the most was like my race against the clock,” Walker said. “Age is a number in this game and it's something that people pay attention to. Longevity is a huge battle for everybody, and just spending years like that in the Minors, you feel like maybe you're running out of time to prove what you can do.”

Aside from 2021, Walker has posted an OPS+ above 100 in each season and he won a Gold Glove last season. 

Last Thursday, Walker picked up his 500th career hit.  

“To feel like I still can accomplish these milestones is cool,” Walker said. “It kind of makes me settle in and realize that there's still time and trust the process and just keep going, but it's a good number for sure.”