photo: Jordan Walker (Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports)
Since rookie Jordan Walker was sent down to Triple-A, neither he nor the remaining St. Louis Cardinals outfielders have played well, nor has the team.
Jordan Walker was neither the savior of the 2023 St. Louis Cardinals, nor the problem.
When the rookie was sent down to Triple-A on April 26, the team was 9-15 and needed a change, as they said at the time, “clarity in the outfield”. Five players had been competing for the three starting outfield berths, with none of them excelling.
The hope was that more consistent playing time for those remaining would lead to better results for the players and the team. So far, that isn’t the case.
Walker had begun the season with a team-record career-opening 12-game hitting streak but scuffled in his last eight games. His OPS had fallen to .718, but that was still second-best among the outfielders.
Walker’s 11 RBI not only led the outfield then, but it is also three more than any of his competitors have today, nine games later. Driving in key runs continues to be a problem for the Walker-less Cardinals, who are 1-8 since his departure while averaging 3.4 runs per game on offense.
In the meantime, third reserve infielder, 33-year-old journeyman Taylor Motter, Walker’s replacement on St. Louis’ roster, has a total of two fruitless at-bats since rejoining the team, dropping his average to .200. One continues to wonder how that roster spot is helping the team.
It is also fair to point out that Walker’s outfield play was spotty at best on a team that lacks standout defenders on the grass. However, it should also be noted that current corner options Alec Burleson and Juan Yepez are not plus outfielders, either.
With Walker out of the picture, none of the remaining outfielders are getting the job done consistently on offense. Here are the OPSes of St. Louis’ outfielders since April 26:
- Lars Nootbaar .728
- Dylan Carlson .661
- Alec Burleson .588
- Juan Yepez .500 (in just four at-bats)
- Tyler O’Neill .282
As most reading this probably already know, O’Neill was placed on the injured list on Friday, with Yepez returning from Memphis. While Yepez’ Triple-A OPS was a so-so .751, he is the best choice available to the Cardinals at this time.
Walker was not an option to replace O’Neill. Since his demotion, Walker is not off to a good start in Triple-A. Even with a 2-for-4 performance Friday night, through seven games, he has slashed .185/.290/.296/.586 and struck out at a 29% rate.
More time is needed on the defensive side as well. Walker was converted to the outfield at Double-A last summer but logged only 31 games there. Add his stint in the Arizona Fall League and 2023 spring training to his limited outfield experience prior to his MLB debut.
Simply put, Walker needs to put aside any disappointment and play his way back into consideration to return to St. Louis. The Cardinals need a better brand of outfield clarity, and at age 20, Walker still has the most upside of any of the team’s outfield contenders.
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