Standing at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighing 190 pounds (86 kg), Walbeck was selected by the Chicago Cubs 192nd overall (eighth round) in the 1987 MLB draft.

Walbeck made his Major League debut on April 7, 1993, at the age of 23 against the Atlanta Braves.

On November 24, 1993, the Cubs traded Walbeck (with Dave Stevens) to the Twins for pitcher Willie Banks.

On December 11, 1996, the Twins traded Walbeck to the Tigers for minor leaguer Brent Stentz.

On November 20, 1997, the Tigers traded Walbeck with Phil Nevin to the Angels for minor leaguer Nick Skuse.

Mostly used as the team's starter in 1998, Walbeck hit .257 with a career high six home runs (a total that would be matched in 2000).

Walbeck-who was signed by the Cincinnati Reds and then purchased by the Phillies in June 2001, playing a total of 107 games in the minors that season.

Before he could appear in a single regular season game with the Padres, though, he was traded back to the Tigers, on March 22, 2002.

After his retirement in 2003, the Detroit Tigers offered him the manager position of their low Class A affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps.

[4] In addition to those duties, Walbeck also handled the catchers and coordinated spring training activities.

On December 19, 2008, Walbeck landed back in the minors, managing the Eastern League Altoona Curve.