Jordan Walker, once the top prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, looked like a future star after a solid rookie season, hitting .276 with 19 home runs in 117 games. But things haven’t gone as expected.
Now in his third MLB season, Walker has a -1.2 WAR, showing he’s underperforming both offensively and defensively. Despite a strong start this year, his performance has dropped sharply—he’s batting near the Mendoza line and has only three extra-base hits with a .533 OPS.
He had a five-game hitting streak to open the season, including some of the hardest-hit balls in MLB by exit velocity. But since then, he’s slumped badly, going 1-for-23 on the Cardinals’ recent road trip. His strikeout and chase rates are rising, and even his expected stats reflect poor performance.
Some blame is also directed at the Cardinals’ coaching staff. In a 2024 interview, Walker said he relies more on teammates and self-assessment than on coaching for improvement—concerning, given his talent level and potential.
The article argues that Walker isn’t getting better, and it might be best for both him and the team if he’s sent down to Triple-A Memphis to work on his game rather than continue to struggle in the majors.
