The St. Louis Cardinals are making some noise this season, sitting at 37-29 and holding down second place in the NL Central. A key player catching everyone’s attention is Jordan Walker, whose journey to this point has been anything but smooth.
Walker faced his share of challenges in 2024 and 2025. Out of 301 players with at least 162 games over those seasons, Walker found himself ranked 292nd in OPS at .595, nestled between Orlando Arcia and Johan Rojas. It’s a stat that highlights just how tough those years were for him.
Reflecting on those struggles, Walker shared, “I don’t think I ever really struggled for that long, so it definitely was a shock and it didn’t feel very good at all. It was a grind, and I think what I underestimated about this game is how mentally tough you have to be. And I feel like every day I was just learning how to be better at that.”
Fast forward to this season, and Walker’s adjustments are paying off. Last year, he was in the second percentile for squaring up pitches and the fifth for launch angle.
Now, he’s moved up to the 25th percentile in squaring up and the 53rd in launch-angle sweet spot. That’s a significant leap and a testament to his hard work and adaptability.
Walker explained his approach, saying, “I’m doing things like I used to do before, but there’s a lot of new things that are incorporated as well: my body placement, stepping more towards the plate, things like that put me in a better position. But I don’t really think that. I’m like, ‘Let me be athletic and let me go to the ball.’”
As the season rolls on, Walker is poised to keep improving. Right now, he’s doing a lot to keep the Cardinals competitive, and his development is a big part of their current success. Keep an eye on this young talent as he continues to find his groove and contribute to the Cardinals’ push in the NL Central.