Prospect Jordan Walker Profiles As A Future Power Threat For The St. Louis Cardinals

Right-handed hitting outfield/third base prospect Jordan Walker has a very promising future for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Walker, 20, is the top rated Cardinals prospect. Scouts rank Walker among the top prospects in the game.

At 6-5, 220 pounds, Walker is a large presence on a baseball field.

About Jordan Walker:

Jordan Walker was a 1st round selection of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2020 draft. He was selected out of Decatur (Georgia) High School.

Walker was the No. 21 player chosen overall in the draft.

Walker had been slated to play baseball at Duke University, but the Cardinals made him their top draft pick, and gave him a $2.9M signing bonus.

Walker has now played parts of two minor leagues seasons in the Cardinals development program. He has already reached Double-A, having played 119 games for Springfield in the Texas League last season.

While at Springfield, Walker hit .306/.388/.510/.898 with 19 home runs, and 68 RBIs in 536 plate appearances. He drew 58 walks and struck out 116 teams.

High school draft selections that make it to Double-A as quickly as Walker have special talent.

With good reason, Walker is on a fast-track to the parent Cardinals. His Double-A production is just an example of his overall, multiple-tool abilities.

Scouting Jordan Walker:

This scout was able to evaluate Walker this past fall in the Arizona Fall League.

A versatile athlete, Walker played left field, center field, and right field for his Peoria Fall League team. He has also played third base in both Class-A and Double-A in the Cardinals organization.

Walker had a fine fall season, showing the type of athletic ability, offensive skills and upside that could translate to All Star type power production.

Ironically, this scout thinks Walker is capable of much more than we saw from him last fall. He can become an impact hitter for St. Louis.

In his 21 fall games, Walker had 90 plate appearances, which is a good sampling for evaluation.

Walker hit .286/.367/.558/.925 with five Fall League home runs and 16 RBIs. He drew 10 walks and struck out 23 times.

Walker also played for the National League in the 2022 MLB Sirius XM All Star Futures Game in Los Angeles.

Playing third base in the Futures Game, Walker went hitless in two plate appearances. He started the game, and hit cleanup.

Putting it mildly, Walker can crush a baseball.

By the time he is a seasoned veteran, Walker has the upside to become the best power hitter in the Cardinals organization.

Tall, but well proportioned, Walker has long limbs and offers an impressive and striking presence in the batter’s box.

Walker does have a long swing, and if he makes any adjustments, becoming more compact, and more measured with his swing might be something he considers. However, even if his swing remains as is, he’s still getting the barrel of the bat to the ball, with quick hands and wrists.

With good pitch recognition, and with solid awareness of the strike zone, Walker is selective in his approach at the plate. This scout did not see wild, aggressive swings. Long, yes. Overly aggressive? No.

Using all fields, Walker can hit the gaps, get his share of doubles, and with his speed, stretch those doubles to triples. His long, loping strides carry him around the bases with excellent efficiency.

While Walker has had success hitting for average so far in his development, it will likely be his power that carries his game. This scout feels Walker has Grade 60+ power, which is an occasional All Star type power hitter.

Because they have an All Star third baseman in Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals have played Walker more in the outfield. He also may be too tall to have the range and quickness to play third base on a regular basis. As a result, the outfield suits him well, and he is up to the task.

Walker has the look and the actions of a premier athlete. He knows how to carry himself on a baseball field, and has a type of self confidence that is evident in most outstanding players.

That said, Walker still needs refinement as a player. He will benefit from more experience in the Cardinals development program during the 2023 season. He needs more time hitting against good breaking ball pitchers at the upper minor league levels, with Triple-A being his next likely stop on his journey to the big leagues.

Summary:

Highly regarded outfielder/third baseman Jordan Walker is the top St. Louis Cardinals prospect, and he is getting closer to his graduation to the parent club.

Given an outfield that has young, powerful Tyler O’Neill in left, competent Dylan Carlson in center, and up and coming Lars Nootbaar in right, along with All Star Nolan Arenado at third, it seems the Cardinals don’t need to rush Walker to their big league club.

With outstanding outfield depth, the Cardinals can afford to allow Walker the time he needs to take full advantage of instruction at the minor league, developmental level in the Cardinals organization.

Once Walker does graduate to the parent club, he has the upside to provide consequential run production, with gap and home run power from the right side of the plate.