Rend Lake College Athletics recently issued the following announcement.
Former Rend Lake Warrior Walker Brockhouse is getting to realize his childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player.
Brockhouse signed a free agent agreement on Tuesday with the Houston Astros. He said he was at home with his family watching the Major League Baseball draft when he received a call from the Astros scout he had been talking to, who then asked him if he would like to sign a deal.
"It's really exciting," Brockhouse said. "I have always dreamed of being a professional baseball player. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to take the next step and actually sign a contract with a professional baseball team."
Brockhouse played for Rend Lake during 2017-18 season. He made 12 starts on the mound and tossed three complete games. The 6-foot, four-inch right-handed pitcher finished with a 4-6 record and a 5.02 ERA, logging in 57 and one-third innings.
One highlights of his impressive pitching career as a Warrior include striking out a season-high of 10 batters in seven innings against Olney Central College. He allowed three runs for Rend Lake to pick up the win that game. He also allowed one run on two hits during the five innings he pitched against Shawnee.
Overall, Brockhouse had 69 total strikeouts throughout his career at Rend Lake.
After playing for the Warriors, Brockhouse came aboard to play Division I ball for the University of Memphis in 2019. In his first season, he struck out a season-best six batters against Indiana. Another highlight was tallying five strikeouts in two innings in a game versus Western Kentucky University.
The next year, he tied again the season-high six strikeout count in two separate games – one against Central Arkansas and one versus Ole Miss. Throughout his career as a Tiger, Brockhouse pitched 33.2 innings and had a total save ERA of 6.15.
A graduate of Mt. Vernon Township High School, Brockhouse played both baseball and basketball for the Rams. He helped lead the team to a 26-10 record during his senior year in 2017. He made 15 appearances, including nine starts, and compiled a 1.87 ERA and a 7-3 record. He struck out 75 batters in the 60 innings he pitched.
Brockhouse said once he started playing college baseball, he was able to concentrate and better his skills. The drive to keep improving his game is something that he has always carried with him.
"There's always the aspect of competition that gets a little bit better at each level," Brockhouse said. "That was really when it started was at Rend Lake when you're facing bigger and better players from the high school level. You learn new things along the way and the work ethic takes you a long way."
Brockhouse leaves for West Palm Beach on Tuesday to begin working at the Astros' spring training facility. He will be staying there until he receives his affiliate team assignment. He said he is looking forward to beginning his new journey, meeting other players and continuing to put in the work to make his dreams come true.
"Your dreams can't come true unless you pursue them with everything you have," he said. "Hard work will take you to where you want to go and do. Whatever's meant to be will be. I've been blessed with this opportunity. You just keep working and everything will fall into place like it's supposed to."
Brockhouse is the son of Tim and Tranae Brockhouse.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up