The St. Louis Cardinals are riding a nine-game winning streak, leaving little to complain about overall. Still, some of the team’s younger players haven’t lived up to expectations—outfielder Jordan Walker among them. If his struggles continue, other emerging players like 24-year-old Victor Scott might start to see expanded roles.
Just a week ago, manager Oli Marmol addressed the challenges faced by former top prospects like Walker and Nolan Gorman. While the organization remains committed to giving these players time to grow—regardless of wins or losses—that patience isn’t unlimited.
“There’s a runway in terms of giving them room to fail,” Marmol told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We entered the season knowing things would look different, and we don’t want them constantly worried that if they don’t get a couple of hits in a game, they’ll be sent down to Memphis.”
Cardinals young star Victor Scott II has taken major steps forward
Scott is one player who has truly capitalized on his opportunity. This season, he’s posted a 1.6 WAR and is batting .288 over 38 games, mostly in center field. He’s clearly made the most of his chances.
“I’m just trying to absorb whatever I can — whether it’s small tips or big insights — from anyone around me,” Scott said. “My focus is on learning, developing, and accelerating my growth so I don’t hit roadblocks or fall behind.”
After making some key adjustments in Triple-A last year, Scott arrived at Cardinals spring training ready to put those changes into action. Now hitting near the bottom of the lineup, he’s consistently getting on base and creating problems for opposing defenses with his speed.
“Victor is the ideal example of what we’re looking for,” said manager Oli Marmol. “Last year, when he started the season, he got a real sense of how teams prepare to attack you. He went down to Triple-A, worked hard during the offseason, and came back with improvements not just to his swing, but also to his mental approach and daily habits — and it’s made him more consistent.”
Marmol hopes other young Cardinals, like Walker, will follow Scott’s lead. If they don’t, Walker could see even less playing time moving forward.