Jordan Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder who was called up on August 12, is still seeing limited action. When will he get an opportunity to improve?
Jordan Walker Continues to be Mismanaged by Cardinals
Offensive Woes
Walker, who began the 2023 season as the Cardinals’ #1 prospect and the #4 prospect in MLB, was expected to start in right field in 2024. Walker slashed.276/.445/.342 in 117 games in 2023, fueling hopes that he would solidify his position as the organization’s best talent. He demonstrated plus power, as expected of a prospect, hitting 16 home runs. Despite the Cardinals’ worst season in almost 30 years, Walker’s progress stood out as a bright spot in an otherwise bleak environment.
However, at the start of the 2024 season, Walker began to struggle significantly. Walker had a.155 batting average in 58 plate appearances between March and April. During that period, he had no home runs and four RBI. Despite their preparations in spring training, the Cardinals were obliged to send Walker down to Triple-A Memphis.
Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar’s injuries sparked an outfield issue for the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Alec Burleson and defensive phenom Michael Siani have stepped in to fill the void.
Resurgence in Memphis
Walker, who struggled early in the season, found his stride while in Triple-A Memphis. He slashed in 78 games.257/.426/.321, with nine home runs and 33 RBI. His performance peaked in July, when he hit a massive 434-foot homer.
Return to St. Louis
As the Cardinals approached.500, they were heavily criticized for their poor performance against left-handed pitching. In a primarily left-handed hitting lineup, games against lefty starters frequently resulted in the uneven offense being shut down. In 2024, the Cardinals have only hit.232 versus lefties, a 19-point differential from their right-handed splits.
The Cardinals failed to win games following the All-Star break against a lineup of left-handed pitching. To address this issue, the front office added outfielder Tommy Pham as a platoon hitter. Pham fared well in his first several games. His inability to hit for power, as well as his lack of defensive consistency, have restricted his effectiveness.
Although there were many cries for Jordan Walker to be given another chance in the majors at this time, the Cardinals only opted to do so when veteran baseman Matt Carpenter suffered an injury. While this freed up a roster slot, many wondered why the decision had been delayed so long, given the Cardinals’ need for offensive power.
Walker only started the first game of his comeback series against the Cincinnati Reds, going 0-for-3 with a walk. Despite this, with the Cardinals having lost the series to the Reds, one question remains: why is Walker still on the bench?
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Platoon Role
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals intend to deploy their prospect in a platoon role down the stretch, mainly against lefties.
The Cardinals have received much criticism in recent years for their treatment of prospects, particularly those in the outfield. Dylan Carlson, a highly touted prospect, never lived up to expectations and was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays before the deadline. Players like Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena were traded away, only to become stars in new markets. Is Jordan Walker just the latest example of a mismanaged Cardinals prospect?
The decision to send down an expected starter after only 20 games is problematic. The same is true for the choice to postpone his call-up until later in the season, when his playing time will be severely limited due to the team’s schedule.
Despite the mystique surrounding prospect analysis and projection, there is one tried and true fact. A player does not improve sitting on the bench.
In the midst of the Cardinals’ terrible season, it is tempting to look ahead. The ongoing mismanagement of a promising prospect does not speak well for such an outlook.
