MESA, Ariz. – The weather is great, but the days are long and taxing.

Wheeling Park grad Corey Walter wouldn’t have it any other way.

The 23-year old is back in spring training, preparing for his third season of professional baseball as part of the Oakland Athletics organization.

“I am excited and ready to get back at it,” Walter said during a phone interview. “It seems like I just got done playing yesterday, so the offseason definitely goes pretty quickly.”

Who are you trying to kid, Corey? There’s no offseason for professional athletes.

“I feel pretty good because of the work I’ve done in the offseason,” Walter admitted. “I’ve really picked up my bullpens the last few weeks and I’ve had some really good sessions.”

Along with the bullpen sessions, Walter has been on a strict weight-lifting program for the last few months. He’s also been giving pitching lessons, too.

Walter hopes to carry that momentum along with what he built toward the end of last season, which was spent in Class A with the Stockton Ports in the California League.

After a call up, Walter shifted from a set-up man to the Ports’ closer. He finished with a 1-2 record and eight saves. He worked 57 innings and allowed just nine earned runs en route to a 1.71 earned run average.

“I am not against being in either role (closer or set up),” Walter said. “I like closing, but as long as I am in the game pitching I will be doing my best to help the team.”

Walter thought he got off to a slow start last season and knows he’ll need to be ready quicker once camp breaks late next month.

“After the slow start, I kind of figured out the hitters and had a good season,” Walter explained. “It was a rocky first month though. I need to try to avoid that.”

Though he realizes it’s not up to him, Walter hopes to start this season in Double A, which would send him to the Midland RockHounds in the Texas League.

“I think my ERA was (low) enough in High A to start in Double A, assuming I have a good spring,” Walter said. “I am really focusing on getting off to a good start.”

There are a handful of areas that Walter is hoping to demonstrate to A’s brass that he’s improved upon since last season.

“I need to continue to get guys out with ground balls and get more strikeouts this season,” Walter offered. “When you’re closing, you have one inning to get it done. The hitters are going to continue to get tougher, too.”

Fastball command and improving his change-up were two of the big items on Walter’s to-do list this winter.

“I didn’t throw my change up much last year,” Walter said. “I know that if I want to take my game to the next level, I’m going to need that pitch. I definitely plan on using it in spring training.”

Walter, who pitched collegiately at West Virginia University, was recently ranked in the A’s top 50 prospects. Though he was honored to see his name mentioned, he realizes a lot of work remains ahead to reach his ultimate goal of pitching in the big leagues.

“I’d like to keep advancing every year,” Walter said. “I don’t have a timetable for myself. I know it’s a long journey, and I just have to take it one day at a time. Hopefully, I pitch well every day and then just let the days stack onto each other.”