Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker was arrested Friday morning on charges of speeding and driving under the influence, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. (WFLA’s Nathaniel Rodriguez broke the news.) Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling adds that Walker was released on a $500 bond later that morning, and that he will make a statement to media following the Jays’ game with the Yankees this afternoon.
According to the affidavit, Walker was allegedly driving 82mph in a 45-mph zone when pulled over by police. Walker failed sobriety tests, and told officers that he had been drinking at a local restaurant earlier that evening.
Walker has been a member of Toronto’s coaching staff for 10 seasons, working as the club’s bullpen coach in 2012 and then moving into his current role as pitching coach. He previously worked for the organization as a minor league pitching coach and instructor, and also pitched for the Jays during four of his eight MLB seasons as a player. Walker has been highly regarded for his work with Jays pitchers over the years, most recently credited with helping turn Robbie Ray into the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner after Ray suffered through a disastrous 2020 season.
