Cardinals' Patience with Jordan Walker Not Paying Off

St. Louis outfielder struggling to replicate 2023 breakout season

Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:35am

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The St. Louis Cardinals are focusing on their youth in 2026 and giving more opportunities to players who haven't exactly had the chance to shine in their time in the big leagues. However, one player who may be down to his last chance is outfielder Jordan Walker, who burst onto the scene in 2023 but has since fallen on hard times.

Why it matters

The Cardinals are rebuilding and want to see results from Walker, but other younger players like Nelson Velazquez and Thomas Saggese are performing better at the plate and pushing for more playing time. At some point, the Cardinals may have to make a tough decision on Walker's future with the team.

The details

Walker is hitting just .176/.222/.176 without any home runs and only two RBIs this spring, while Velazquez and Saggese are producing more. Walker has struggled to replicate his 2023 success, with a big issue being that he's hitting the ball on the ground too frequently. The Cardinals need to see him tap into his power if they're going to give him a full runway this season. With Lars Nootbaar returning from injury and top prospect Joshua Baez emerging, the outfield picture is becoming more complicated for St. Louis.

  • In 2023, Walker burst onto the scene and was one of the few bright spots in the Cardinals' disastrous 71-91 season.
  • For the past two seasons, Walker has been unable to replicate his 2023 success.
  • This spring, Walker is hitting just .176/.222/.176 without any home runs and only two RBIs.

The players

Jordan Walker

A St. Louis Cardinals outfielder who burst onto the scene in 2023 but has since fallen on hard times, struggling to replicate his early success.

Nelson Velazquez

A Cardinals outfielder who is performing better at the plate this spring compared to Walker and pushing for more playing time.

Thomas Saggese

A Cardinals outfielder who is performing better at the plate this spring compared to Walker and pushing for more playing time.

Lars Nootbaar

A Cardinals outfielder who is returning from heel surgeries, further complicating the outfield picture in St. Louis.

Joshua Baez

A Cardinals minor league prospect who is emerging as a real power threat, potentially further complicating things for Walker.

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What’s next

It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals decide to do with Walker, but at a certain point, they are going to have to make a decision on Walker and give other players opportunities if he can't get his bat going.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' patience with Jordan Walker is being tested, as the once-promising outfielder has struggled to replicate his 2023 breakout season. With other younger players performing better and the outfield picture becoming more crowded, the Cardinals may soon have to make a tough decision on Walker's future with the team.