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"I don't want to portray this as me quitting on the team," #Pirates 2B Walker said a few minutes ago after ...

... revealing that he's been shut down for the rest of the year due to a herniated disc. “It's frustrating (because) my goal was to get back and help this team as much as I could,” Walker said. “I tried to play through it as much as I could. My goal is to help this team as much as I can. I’m sure I was raising eyebrows when I’d play one day and then not play again for a few days. It’s getting better, but rest is important.” Walker has not started a game since Monday, when he went 2 for 3 v. Mets. He missed 16 straight games due to the injury from Aug. 27 to Sept. 14 and the Pirates went 4-12 in that stretch. Walker will end the year with a .280 batting average. He ranks fourth among National League second basemen with 69 RBI and fifth with 14 home runs. Manager Clint Hurdle said he will use a mix of players – Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison and Brock Holt – in Walker’s absence.