Cardinals' Jordan Walker Faces Uphill Battle for Roster Spot

Young outfielder struggles at the plate as competition heats up in St. Louis

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:37am

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Jordan Walker, a top prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals, is facing an uncertain future with the team as he struggles at the plate this spring. With the outfield competition heating up and other players performing well, Walker may be running out of chances to prove he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are in the midst of a rebuild and have high hopes for Walker, but his poor performance this spring has raised questions about his readiness for the big leagues. The team has other options in the outfield, and Walker's inability to produce could cost him a roster spot if he doesn't turn things around quickly.

The details

Walker, who is expected to be the starting right fielder, has just six hits this spring, all of them singles. The Cardinals want to see him hit the ball in the air more frequently, but he has struggled with that aspect of his game. With Lars Nootbaar unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, the left field job is open, but the team is also looking at other players like Thomas Saggese, Jose Fermin, Nelson Velazquez, and Nathan Church, who have all put up solid numbers this spring.

  • On Thursday, Walker went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .200 this spring.
  • The Cardinals have been waiting for several years to see Walker break out and become the slugger they expected him to be.

The players

Jordan Walker

A top prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals who is struggling at the plate this spring, putting his roster spot in jeopardy.

Lars Nootbaar

A Cardinals outfielder who is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day after double heel surgery in the offseason, leaving the starting left field job open.

Chaim Bloom

The Cardinals' manager who may have to make a decision on whether to keep Walker on the roster if his struggles continue.

Oli Marmol

The Cardinals' manager who may give other players a chance to play more frequently if Walker continues to underperform.

Nolan Gorman

A Cardinals prospect who has shown flashes of his potential this spring, unlike Walker.

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What’s next

The Cardinals will continue to evaluate their outfield options throughout the remainder of spring training, and it remains to be seen whether Walker will be able to turn things around and secure a spot on the Opening Day roster.

The takeaway

Jordan Walker's struggles this spring have put his future with the Cardinals in jeopardy, as the team has other promising outfield options that are performing better. If Walker doesn't start producing soon, the Cardinals may have to move in a different direction, even though they have high hopes for the young prospect.