Alan Walden. Staff file photo.Alan Walden again is taking a personal interest in Major League Baseball’s annual player draft.
The former Red Bank High School star hopes to have his name called for the first time since 2009, when he spurned an Atlanta Braves offer to follow through on a University of Tennessee scholarship.
Scouts found a more mature – and certainly more healthy – Walden this time around, and they found him at Chattanooga State rather than in Knoxville with the Volunteers. Pro scouts also are interested in Tigers teammate Patrick Merkling, a left-hander who was the TCCAA pitcher of the year.
“I don’t think the year in Knoxville was a wasted year. I grew up a lot,” Walden said. “I was living on my own and I had a lot of responsibility. I learned a lot. I got tougher mentally. I could take criticism.”
Walden spent much of his one season at UT rehabbing after shoulder surgery and rebuilding his confidence.