For Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, the platoon role he’s found himself in upon his return to the majors is one he said he’s given little time to examine.
Instead, the 22-year-old outfielder is focused on what he needs to do when that opportunity comes up.
“It’s an adjustment. … It’s definitely tough, but I’ve got a job to do, and I need to do it well, so I have to always be ready,†Walker said on Friday while standing in front of his locker.
The former top Cardinals prospect was recalled to the majors Monday ahead of the Cardinals’ three-game road series against the Reds. Before the call-up, Walker played in 78 games with Class AAA Memphis and batted .257 with a .426 slugging percentage, and a .747 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). The 22-year-old clubbed nine homers and produced a .343/.400/.687 slash line in 16 games from July 24 to Aug. 11.
People are also reading…
His return to the majors provides the Cardinals with a right-handed outfield bat that can start in games when opposing teams have a left-handed starter and be used off the bench as a counter to southpaws from the bullpen.
With the Dodgers starting left-hander Justin Wrobleski in Friday’s series opener against the Cardinals, Walker started in right field and batted seventh in ºüÀêÊÓƵ’ lineup. The appearance on Friday was Walker’s first game at Busch Stadium since April 23.
“I haven’t really thought much about this, to be honest,†Walker said when asked about the platoon role. “As soon as I got the call, I just thought about playing in the big leagues again. That’s pretty much as simple as I can get to it. Plans and everything like that really haven’t come across my mind. The only thing I thought about is that when I get time to play or get time on the field, I just want to perform.â€
The platoon role is one Walker, a former first-round pick, is yet to experience at any level of professional baseball. It’s one he said he’d have to “predict†when he could be deployed off the bench when he doesn’t start and use the indoor batting cages to get ready for the moment he comes into a game.
“Obviously, it’s tough, man, mentally and physically. It’s the big leagues,†he said.
After making his minor league debut in 2021, Walker became an everyday player — at third base and eventually in right field after a positional switch during the 2022 season — as he rose to prominence as one of the top prospects in baseball.
While in the minors, the 22-year-old adjusted his stance and setup, which allowed him to cut down on his swing-and-miss rate after he opened his second MLB season with a .155 average and a .497 OPS.
Now that he has rejoined a Cardinals club looking to solve lefties and keep pace in the race for a spot in the postseason, could the platoon role be limiting Walker’s development?
“If you’re asking me this in May, I would say yes,†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said to reporters. “I would say it’s a bad idea because you want to give them as much time down there uninterrupted to be able to develop. The minor leagues are built to feed the big-league team (with) what they need when it’s needed, and I just feel like we have a need at the moment that could change a week from now. But when you look at this series playing out the way we thought where we’d get two lefties, and we knew were going to get one in (Cincinnati). Every game matters.â€
Players’ Weekend gets going
Friday kicked off a “reimagined†Players’ Weekend across Major League Baseball. This year’s version of Players’ Weekend featured specialty hats that included each player’s number stitched onto the right side in varying fonts. Players can utilize customized bats during games.
Lars Nootbaar’s custom bat featured his nickname, “Nooooot,†in red ink in contrast to the black barrel and had a photo of him and his mother, Kumi Nootbaar (nee Enokida), on the knob of the bat.
Extra bases
Lance Lynn threw a bullpen session Friday as he continues to rehab from right knee inflammation that landed him on the 15-day injured list July 31. Lynn, who is eligible to come off the IL as of Friday, said the intensity of Friday’s session was to be around 75% of a standard bullpen.
Michael Siani was set to get reevaluated Friday night to determine if he could get cleared to begin swinging a bat Saturday, Marmol said. Siani, who has been on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain, has been able to run, play catch and go through defensive drills.
Steven Matz (lower back strain) completed 4 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out six on 76 pitches in his rehab start with Class AAA Memphis. The rehab appearance was Matz’s fourth since resuming his assignment at the start of August.
Former Cardinals utilityman Tommy Edman is expected to be activated for the Dodgers on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during his appearance on MLB Network radio Friday. Edman was dealt to the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade deadline deal that brought Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to the Cardinals from the White Sox.
Six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee and former Cardinals player Ray King threw out the ceremonial first pitches ahead of the series opener between ºüÀêÊÓƵ and Los Angeles.