Frustration among former top St. Louis Cardinals two prospects in The Lou is growing. And it’s coming from all sides, including the organization’s chief decision-maker, John Mozeliak.
Cardinals supporters are understandably frustrated with their inadequacies. Manager Oli Marmol’s patience is running out, and he has openly urged them to use their opportunity before it is too late. Now, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has weighed in, claiming he doesn’t know how much longer he can tolerate this.
Soon after manager Oli Marmol hinted that Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman wouldn’t have unlimited time to figure things out, Cardinals president John Mozeliak reinforced that message with nearly identical comments. While Mozeliak chose slightly different words, he made it clear there’s a fine balance between giving players a fair shot and holding the team back.
“We’re trying to win,” Mozeliak said in an interview with Katie Woo of The Athletic. “We said we’d be patient, and we are. They’ll have an extended opportunity to turn things around—but it’s not unlimited.”
Mozeliak highlighted that Walker and Gorman must make certain strategic adjustments to fulfill their potential and contribute meaningfully. If those improvements don’t materialize, the organization can’t keep waiting and hoping for different results.
“We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome,” he emphasized.
So far, Walker and Gorman are struggling in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal season. Mozeliak acknowledged the urgency, noting 2025 is a critical year with only so many chances left to prove themselves. The Cardinals are trying to juggle player development with staying competitive—but at the moment, they’re falling short on both fronts.
Marmol and Mozeliak appear to be fully aligned in their approach, which doesn’t bode well for Walker and Gorman. Once highly touted as the future of the franchise, both players have yet to meet expectations, while other young talents like Victor Scott II are beginning to surpass them.