Cardinals' Jordan Walker hits MLB-leading 8th HR

Young slugger joins franchise greats Musial, McGwire, Rolen and Pujols

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:56am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player in mid-swing, with the action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually representing the explosive energy of a home run.Jordan Walker's early-season power surge has him joining the ranks of Cardinals legends.Cleveland Today

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker hit his MLB-leading 8th home run of the season on Monday night in a 9-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. Walker's early-season power surge has put him in elite company, joining Cardinals legends Stan Musial, Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen, and Albert Pujols as players who have started a season with such a hot hitting display.

Why it matters

The 23-year-old Walker is considered one of the top young talents in baseball, and his fast start is an encouraging sign for the Cardinals as they look to return to the playoffs this year. His ability to match the early-season home run production of franchise icons like Musial and Pujols shows the immense potential he possesses.

The details

Walker's 8th home run of the year came in the 5th inning of Monday's game against the Guardians. It was his only hit of the night as the Cardinals fell 9-3. Through the first 12 games of the season, Walker is batting .333 with 8 home runs and 16 RBIs, leading the majors in both homers and RBIs.

  • Walker hit his 8th home run on Monday, April 14, 2026.

The players

Jordan Walker

A 23-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who is considered one of the top young talents in Major League Baseball.

Stan Musial

A Hall of Fame outfielder who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963 and is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Mark McGwire

A Hall of Fame first baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1997 to 2001 and is best known for his record-breaking home run chase with Sammy Sosa in 1998.

Scott Rolen

A Hall of Fame third baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2002 to 2007 and was a key member of the team's 2006 World Series championship squad.

Albert Pujols

A future Hall of Fame first baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2001 to 2011 and is considered one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Jordan Walker is showing why he's one of the most exciting young players in the game. To match the early-season power of Cardinals legends like Musial and Pujols is truly remarkable.”

— Mike Shildt, Cardinals Manager

What’s next

Walker and the Cardinals will look to bounce back on Tuesday night as they continue their series against the Guardians.

The takeaway

Jordan Walker's historic start to the 2026 season has put him in elite company among the greatest players to ever wear a St. Louis Cardinals uniform. If the young slugger can maintain this torrid pace, he could be on his way to a breakout year and cement his status as one of baseball's rising superstars.