The Cardinals have been clear all year that 2025 is about evaluating young talent. For Jordan Walker, it was supposed to be a defining season. Once touted as a future middle-of-the-order bat, he backed that up as a 21-year-old rookie in 2023 with a .276/.342/.445 line and 16 homers.
Two years later, that debut feels distant. Walker slumped badly in 2024, hitting just .201/.253/.366 over 51 big-league games while spending much of the season in Triple-A. The Cardinals promised he’d get a full look in the majors this year to see if he could establish himself as part of the core as John Mozeliak hands the front office to Chaim Bloom in 2026.
So far, the results haven’t been encouraging. Injuries have disrupted his season — wrist inflammation in June, then appendicitis in midsummer — but he’s been unproductive even when available. In 331 plate appearances, he has just five homers and a .218/.272/.309 slash line, striking out a career-high 31.7% of the time. Among 249 hitters with 300-plus trips to the plate, Walker ranks in the bottom ten in both OBP and slugging. Unlike others in that range, he doesn’t bring defensive value, grading out as well below average in right field. Since returning from his second IL stint, he’s at .229/.279/.328 with poor plate discipline.
True to their word, the Cardinals have kept playing him, but that leash likely won’t extend into 2026 unless he shows progress. Both hitting coach Brant Brown and manager Oli Marmol issued candid evaluations this week. Brown said Walker needs to improve his preparation, noting that he must study not only starters but also opposing bullpens to avoid being caught off guard. Marmol echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for “urgency” in Walker’s approach, cage work, and in-game adjustments.
Walker, for his part, said he didn’t quite understand the “urgency” comment but pointed to a strong stretch after the All-Star break when he hit .304 with a .373 OBP as proof his approach can work. He emphasized that he’s working with Brown to recapture that feel.
Despite the struggles, Marmol reiterated that the organization isn’t giving up on him: “There’s too much talent there. It’s about commitment to adjustments and pregame work. He still has the opportunity to be the player we thought he could be.”
Even so, the Cardinals face tough roster questions. Their outfield is crowded, with Lars Nootbaar entrenched in left and Alec Burleson (.286/.337/.451) having his best year before a wrist injury. Iván Herrera has emerged as one of the team’s top hitters and now takes most of his reps at DH and occasionally left field.
With Chaim Bloom set to reshape the roster, Walker may open 2026 back in Triple-A, especially since he still has an option left. That would buy development time but also risks tanking his trade value. A sell-low deal this winter isn’t out of the question, particularly with fellow young hitter Nolan Gorman also under evaluation as a league-average bat.