On March 25, the Cardinals confirmed the top prospect Jordan Walker will bypass Memphis (AAA) and begin his 2023 campaign with the big club. Walker had a great camp this spring with the Cards, giving him a chance to make his MLB debut this week. Here’s a closer look at the 22-year-old outfielder.
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A Look at Walker
A 2020 first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2020, infielder/outfielder Jordan Walker will begin the 2023 campaign with the St. Louis Cardinals. Walker’s debut comes on the heels of a strong 2022 season that was spent in Springfield (AA), in which he hit .306/.388/.510 with 19 home runs, 53 extra base hits, and 68 RBIs. The 22-year-old, known for being a tremendous athlete, stole 22 bases as well.
Primarily a third baseman in his MiLB career, Walker will shift to an outfield position in the Majors thanks to the presence of Nolan Arenado. This experiment was in full swing this spring, as Walker saw ample time in the outfield. Not to mention, he did very well with the bat over the past few weeks.
Walker clubbed three home runs and hit .286/.308/.508 across 19 games as of March 26. The young outfielder got off to a sizzling start this spring, effortlessly driving baseballs thanks to great strength and bat-to-ball skills. Now, he’ll get a chance to show off those skills in St. Louis.
Walker beat out Juan Yepez and several others for a roster spot on the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster.
What it Means
Walker is set to join an outfield that already includes Dylan Carlson, Lars Nootbaar, and Tyler O’Neill. The 22-year-old figures to get a fair amount of time in the outfield, but will also probably be an option as a DH as well. That would allow the Cardinals to get all four bats in at the same time, in a deep lineup that includes first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Willson Contreras.
One would have to think that Walker, a naturally gifted athlete with a great arm and a fantastic stroke at the plate, could be one of the favorites in what may be a deep NL Rookie of the Year race. But, he’ll need to prove he can hit at the MLB level in order to have a shot at that award.
