PITTSBURGH -- Back in Spring Training, Neil Walker vowed to turn what he viewed to be unfair criticism of his physical conditioning in 2007 into incentive to finish strong in 2008.

To do so, Walker altered his winter workout habits so he could avoid the second-half swoon he endured in '07 during his first full season at Double-A. This week, speaking from PNC Park, where he is spending three days with the big league club, Walker seemed pleased with this year's end result.

"I finished strong, which was an important part of what I wanted to do," Walker said. "There is still a lot of work to be done and a lot to learn. The way I felt at the end of the year hitting, hopefully it will only continue to get better."

That second-half offensive fade was non-existent for Walker this year. Despite finishing the season with a modest .242 batting average, Walker's best month was -- of all months -- August. The converted third baseman hit .275 with 17 RBIs in his final month of the Triple-A season.

He also finished the year leading Indianapolis with 16 homers and 80 RBIs.

Walker, a Pittsburgh native and former first-round pick in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, will reduce his offseason activity even more this winter than he did last. For the first time since being drafted in 2004, Walker won't be playing offseason ball.

"It's definitely something I'm going to take advantage of," said Walker, who amassed 534 plate appearances during the season. "I'll be able to get myself physically into position where I'm prepared and ready for the long season. I'm looking forward to a little extra time off."

Walker will be added to the Pirates' 40-man roster during the offseason so the club won't risk losing the third baseman, though his arrival in Pittsburgh is still not guaranteed to happen next April. Management has already hinted that Walker likely will start in Triple-A, with Andy LaRoche being the favorite to take the Opening Day spot.

However, Walker's become accustomed to proving people wrong and insists he wouldn't mind doing so again.

"I was disappointed I wasn't called up this year," he said. "But at the same time, I'm going to use it as an incentive to get as prepared as possible for next spring."