By: Mike Carter Follow me on my Twitter account for more baseball content.
Jordan Walker is a 20-year-old rookie for the St. Louis Cardinals who forced his way on to the team with a torrid Spring Training. In a year full of hot rookies like Corbin Carroll and Gunnar Henderson, Walker has gotten his fair share of coverage this last month. He was a first-round pick in 2020 and has skyrocketed through the minor leagues with few issues.
Walker took Spring Training by storm and forced the management team to keep him on the 26-man roster to start the season. All he did in the Grapefruit League with 63 at bats was hit .286 with three home runs, a couple of steals and a .816 OPS.
If by any chance you listen to the podcast I cohost called “The Fantasy Baseball Beat,” we had MLB.com writer John Denton on the show last month, who covers the Cardinals. Not only did he rave about Walker’s obvious physical gifts, who measures up to 6’6” and 245 pounds, but even more about his mental makeup and how impressive this young man is: eloquent, well-spoken and polished, a product of two educated parents who clearly imparted significant lessons on him.
Walker started his precipitous climb last season in AA with Springfield, where he was more than four years younger than the average league player. He hit 19 home runs, knocked in 68, stole 22 bases, and hit .309 with a .898 OPS. Walker then proceeded to the Arizona Fall League, where he hit another five homers, drove in 16 more and stole three bases while hitting .286. I was able to see him play in the AFL, and one thing I can tell you for sure, is that he passes the eye test. He is a physical specimen of a man. On the day I was there he hit a long home run and also hit an opposite field single. It was an impressive display to say the least.
From a fantasy baseball perspective, Walker offers a tantalizing blend of speed and power that makes you think of the 30/30 type guys: Ronald Acuna, Jr., Kyle Tucker, Jazz Chisholm, Jose Ramirez. But as my cohosts Chris Torres and Carlos Marcano preach, it’s important to recognize there are a range of outcomes here too. Walker has started his young career with a six-game hit streak, with eight hits in first 24 at bat, including his first career home run on earlier in the week. Early results have been encouraging. But it’s possible, even likely, that slumps will come; major league pitchers are known not only for their incredible repertoire of pitches, but also their cunning and guile. Walker will be tested, and it could happen soon. Do not be surprised if he continues to impress, but also do not be surprised if he struggles and needs more seasoning in the minor leagues. Time will tell, as it always does. One of the things that was noted about Walker in the Arizona Fall League was that he struggles to pick up spin. So, the best guess here is that spin will be forthcoming from savvy MLB pitchers.
Walker has looked the part in the first week of the season, hitting .333 with his first MLB home run and five RBI’s. Perhaps more impressively, he has only struck out three times. Will he be able to continue his play thus far? Time will tell. I use a projection system through Fangraphs (which you should financially support if you can) called Steamer. No projection system is perfect, but Steamer is a little bearish on Walker’s season statistics: 13 home runs, a .255 batting average, nine steals and 55 RBI. Those are impressive numbers for a 20-year-old player. From a fantasy baseball projection, it’s great to have Walker on your team, but pump the brakes a bit before anointing him the next Julio Rodriguez. He’s likely going to be excellent but it is going to take patience and time to develop into what he can be. As my podcast partners say, be prepared for a range of outcomes. Nothing would be more exciting than if this young man took the major leagues by storm and exceeded everyone’s expectations immediately.
Regardless of how he performs, he will be a joy to watch on the field, and I strongly recommend you watch him on TV or in person should you get the chance. Be sure to get out to some games this year, whether they be Little League, high school, college, minors or majors. Get out and support the game you love.