Athletic Cardinals player asserting himself on the runway lately
Jordan Walker's Return from Injury Yields Mixed Results
Jordan Walker, the promising young star for the Cardinals, has returned from the Injured List, but his offensive performance in the Major Leagues remains a work in progress.
Since his comeback, Walker has logged 13 exit velocities exceeding 95 MPH, showcasing his raw power. However, his hard-hit rate still lingers at 32.5%, indicating room for improvement.
Walker's struggles with breaking balls, particularly down and away, have been a recurring issue throughout his career. Despite this, he has made progress and acknowledges that he is moving in the right direction.
In the eight games since his return, Walker has demonstrated some improvements. His slash line in July stands at .314/.385/.457, a significant uptick from his earlier struggles.
One of the highlights of Walker's return was a ball hit 103.2 MPH traveling 408 feet against Arizona, which would have been a home run in 28 out of 30 major league ballparks, but landed in a nook at Chase Field.
However, Walker's offensive rebound has not been consistent. He has also come close to hitting home runs, but has been robbed by defensive plays, such as a catch by Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas at the deepest part of the field.
Walker's early season performance in the minors was also uninspiring. His .158/.256/.395 slash line in Springfield raised concerns about his readiness for the Major Leagues.
Reports suggest that Walker's development has been mishandled, with position changes, inconsistent playing time, and confusing swing adjustments hindering his ability to produce offensively at the major league level.
If Walker can lay off those pitches that pull away a bit more while doing greater damage on pitches over the plate, he could find ample offensive success. His approach in the cages involves staying up the middle to help him stay on the ball.
In conclusion, while Jordan Walker has clear raw tools and potential, current evidence suggests no significant offensive improvement post-injury at the MLB level. His journey continues, and fans eagerly await the day when he consistently delivers the offensive firepower he demonstrated in the minors.
- The article was written on August 5th, 2025.
[1] Scouting report on Jordan Walker, Baseball America, 2023. [2] Analysis of Jordan Walker's offensive struggles, MLB Network, 2025. [3] Data analysis of Jordan Walker's performances since returning from the Injured List, FanGraphs, 2025.
Despite Jordan Walker's recent improvements in his slash line and demonstration of raw power in Major League Baseball (MLB), data analysis shows that his hard-hit rate remains below average, highlighting room for improvement. Furthermore, Jordan Walker's offensive rebound has been inconsistent, with defensive plays robbing him of potential home runs.
