IMAGE: St. Louis Cardinals teammates surround St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (18, center) as they celebrate their 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants after Walker doubled to left, scoring shortstop Masyn Winn (not shown) and second baseman Garrett Hampson (not shown) in the bottom of the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. / USA TODAY NETWORK-USA TODAY NETWORK / Imagn Images
Jordan Walker’s Road Back: Why the Cardinals Shouldn’t Close the Book Just Yet
At 23 years old, Jordan Walker is still younger than some top prospects who haven’t even debuted yet – and yet, the conversation around him in St. Louis feels like it’s already veering toward a postmortem.
Two tough seasons at the plate will do that, especially in a market as passionate and baseball-savvy as St. Louis.
But the idea that Walker has run out of time with the Cardinals? That’s premature.
Yes, the numbers from the past two seasons paint a tough picture. A 72 wRC+ in 2024 followed by a .215/.278/.306 slash line over 111 games in 2025 is not what anyone had in mind for a former top prospect.
His 66 wRC+ and -1.2 fWAR from this past season are hard to ignore. But they also don’t tell the full story – not even close.
The Talent Is Still There – And It’s Loud
Let’s start with what hasn’t disappeared: Walker’s elite bat speed. He averaged 78.1 mph on his swings in 2025, which placed him in the 99th percentile among qualified hitters.
That’s not just good – that’s elite territory, the kind of raw tool that front offices dream about. Bat speed like that doesn’t just vanish, and it’s the foundation for the kind of pull-side power that can change games.
Of course, that bat speed has to be harnessed. Walker’s issues with chasing and whiffing are real – and they’re holding him back.
But those are fixable flaws, especially for a hitter with his physical tools and track record. Just two seasons ago, he was showing why he was such a highly touted prospect, putting up a 116 wRC+ with 16 home runs in his rookie year.
That wasn’t a fluke. That was a glimpse of what he can be.
Even in a rough 2025 campaign, there were signs of life. His second-half OPS jumped more than 40 points from the first half, and he strung together a few stretches that reminded fans of the player he was – and could be again.
A Rebuild Is the Time to Bet on Upside
With Chaim Bloom now at the helm in St. Louis, it’s fair to wonder how much patience the new front office will have for a player drafted under the previous regime. But if the Cardinals are truly committed to a rebuild – and all signs point that way – then Walker is exactly the kind of player they should be betting on.
Why? Because the upside is still immense. And because, frankly, there aren’t a lot of better options demanding at-bats right now.
Lars Nootbaar is penciled in as the starting left fielder – assuming he’s not moved this offseason. Victor Scott has center field locked down thanks to his glove, but he’s not expected to carry the offense.
Beyond that? Joshua Baez and Nathan Church are the only other full-time outfielders on the 40-man roster.
This isn’t a logjam. It’s a depth chart begging for someone to step up.
Defense Still a Work in Progress – But Manageable
Walker’s glove remains a concern. His -11 Defensive Runs Saved in 2025 is a tough number to overlook, and he’s still learning the nuances of playing right field at the big-league level. But he’s got a cannon for an arm, and with the DH spot mostly occupied by the team’s rotating group of catchers, there’s still room to give him reps in the outfield without sacrificing too much elsewhere.
No one’s saying the leash should be infinite. But for a team that’s not trying to win now, there’s no better time to let a young, toolsy player try to find his footing again.
The Verdict: Don’t Give Up Yet
Jordan Walker has struggled – no question. But he’s also still just 23, with elite bat speed, a track record of success, and tools that can’t be taught. For a Cardinals team in transition, holding onto Walker and giving him a real shot to rebound isn’t just a reasonable move – it’s a smart one.
Sometimes, the best bets a rebuilding team can make are the ones on players they already have.
