PITTSBURGH — Time wasn't moving fast enough for Neil Walker.

So the Pine-Richland graduate sped it up a bit.

Walker, who turns 24 today, was the Pittsburgh Pirates' first-round selection — No. 11 overall — in the 2004 amateur baseball draft. He was a catcher back then.

Since moved to third base in the Pirates' farm system, he was struggling with a batting average below .250 at Class AAA Indianapolis this season. Walker was sidelined from June 2 through July 16 with knee and finger injuries as well.

He used a hot August at the plate to grab the Pirates' attention.

"If you bet on Neil Walker becoming a September call-up back in June, you'd have made a lot of money," Pirates roving instructor Rich Donnelly said.

Walker was called up to the Bucs Sept. 1 and has since collected two hits in 10 at bats.

"He'll get a spot start and will do some pinch-hitting for us," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "Neil got hot at the right time. He forced us to take a look at him and he's very much in our plans."

Walker said the injuries turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

"It gave me time to re-energize a bit and get my priorities in check," he said. "I was pressing way too much at the plate instead of just letting the game come to me."

During the month of August, Walker hit .339 (37-for-109) with 14 doubles, four homers and 29 RBI at Indianapolis. In a series against Toledo Aug. 27-29, he was 8-for-12, including a two-homer, five-RBI game.

"I had to figure out that it was important to hit my pitch no matter when it comes in the count, early or late," he said. "It's made all the difference in my performance."

A switch-hitter, Walker was converted from catcher to third base in 2007. He was named team MVP at Indianapolis last year, leading the club with 16 homers, 80 RBI and seven triples.

In only his second year as a third baseman, Walker was named the International League's Best Defensive Third Baseman by Baseball America.

"Neil is a very impressive athlete," Donnelly said. "I've been with clubs that converted third basemen — Henry Blanco and Russell Martin — into catchers, but never catchers into third basemen.

"Catchers are supposed to be slow-footed. This guy isn't. He's nimble at third and covers a lot of ground."

Walker is the son of former major league pitcher Tom Walker.

"I'm sure that's helped his development," Donnelly said. "Neil grew up around professional baseball. He's accustomed to it. He's unfazed by it."

Of Walker's 94 hits at Indianapolis this year, 47 went for extra bases.

"The guy's good for 30 doubles a year," Donnelly said. "For a switch-hitter to have half his hits go for extra bases is a rare thing in baseball."

Huntington said Walker will remain a third baseman "for the forseeable future." Current Pirate third baseman Andy LaRoche turns 26 Sunday and 2008 first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez doesn't turn 23 until February.

"I can't think about that," Walker said of the organization's competition at third base. "Honestly, I think it's good. You always want to have somebody pushing you."

Before being drafted by the Pirates that June, Walker led Pine-Richland to the WPIAL baseball championship by hitting .657 with 13 home runs.

Since being chosen by the Pirates, he's dreamed of reaching the major leagues.

"It never left my mind, what the moment would be like .... especially with my hometown team," he said.

Walker made his major league debut in Cincinnati last week under less than a compelling atmosphere. The Pirates and Reds were well below .500, buried in the standings, and less than 5,000 fans were at Great American Ballpark.

"The atmosphere didn't spoil the moment for me," Walker said. "My family and friends were in the stands and that made it special."

When the Pirates returned home, Walker was able to stay at his family's house in Gibsonia. There were even more family and friends in the stands at PNC Park Sunday as Walker scored his first big league run and connected for his first hit — a solid single to right off St. Louis relief pitcher Jason Motte.

Cardinals all-star first baseman Albert Pujols congratulated Walker when he reached first base. The hit came during his first major league start and in a come-from-behind Pirate victory.

"I'll never forget this day," Walker said.

He's hoping to relive it — over and over again.

"To play major league baseball right down the road from where I grew up, where my family and relatives still live ... Believe me, I recognize how fortunate I am," Walker said.