As Class AAA Memphis’s two-hole hitter on Tuesday against Iowa, Cardinals youngster Jordan Walker went two-for-four with two doubles and an RBI in Memphis’s 4-3 road loss to Iowa. One of Walker’s two doubles had a 106.2 mph exit velocity, per Statcast. The other came with two outs in the seventh inning and hit high off the left field wall at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa.
The two-hit performance was Walker’s second in five games since returning to the minor leagues a week ago. Walker, 22, is seven-for-19 (.368) with four RBIs and two doubles following his option from the majors on Aug. 20.
Walker began his Tuesday performance by striking out in the first inning when he chased a 3-2 sweeper from Caleb Kilian. Walker popped out to first base in the third inning and followed that with a double in the sixth on a chopper that bounced over the third baseman’s head and rolled to the warning track in left field. The double advanced Mike Antico to third base and, after Nolan Gorman drew a walk, set up Matt Koperniak to push across two runs with a line drive double to center field.
People are also reading…
Walker collected his second double in the seventh inning when he pulled a 96.3 mph sinker from Michael Arias that Arias left over the middle of the strike zone. The 22-year-old's second double scored Gavin Collins from second base with two outs in the frame.
Here are other performances from around the Cardinals minor league system:
Left-handed pitcher Steven Matz, Class AAA Memphis (MLB rehab assignment): In his latest rehab start as he works his way back from a lower back injury, Matz allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits across three innings. Matz struck out three batters on 64 pitches (45 strikes). Matz was expected to be around the 65-pitch mark in the outing. Matz’s sinker averaged 91.8 mph in the start. Six of the 12 balls put in play against him were registered as hard contact with exit velocities above 95 mph, per Statcast.
Outfielder Michael Siani, Class AA Springfield (MLB rehab assignment): Siani began a rehab assignment for a strained right oblique. Siani, 25, played five innings in center field and took three at-bats in Springfield’s 4-3 road loss to Wichita. Siani struck out swinging, grounded out, and popped out before exiting, as planned, after five innings in the field. Siani is expected to play seven innings in his next rehab game as a part of a build-up.
Right-handed pitcher Sem Robberse, Class Low-A Palm Beach (minor league rehab assignment): Robberse completed three innings on 51 pitches (32 strikes) and allowed one run on four hits in his latest rehab start with Palm Beach. The three innings from Robberse, who is rehabbing an elbow strain that has kept him out since the middle of June, were the most in his three rehab starts since beginning his assignment on Aug. 14. Robberse averaged 90.8 mph with his fastball. His four-pitch mix led to a 36% whiff rate in Palm Beach’s 2-0 loss to Daytona.
Minor league moves
Early Tuesday, the Cardinals placed catching prospect Jimmy Crooks on the 7-day IL and promoted catching prospect Leonardo Bernal from Class High-A Peoria to Class AA Springfield.
Along with those moves, pitching prospect Tekoah Roby was sent on a rehab assignment with Class Low-A Palm Beach.
There was not an injury designation provided for Crooks, 23, at the time of the announcement.
Crooks, a former fourth-round pick from the 2022 MLB draft and the Cardinals’ top catching prospect, has spent his entire season in Class AA. Through 86 games as Springfield’s primary catcher, Crooks has posted career highs in average (.321), on-base percentage (.411), and slugging percentage (.503). He ranked within the top 20 in average and on-base percentage among minor leaguers with a minimum of 350 plate appearances this season at the start of Tuesday.
Crooks’ injury placement opened a spot on Springfield's for Bernal, who is viewed as the second-ranked catching prospect in the Cardinals’ system. The promotion is Bernal's first promotion to Class AA.
While with Peoria, Bernal has batted .270 with a .762 on-base plus slugging percentage in 96 games as a primary catcher for the Chiefs. Bernal, 20, did not appear for Springfield in Tuesday’s road game against Wichita.
Roby, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, has not pitched in an official game since May 14 with Springfield. The 22-year-old right-hander totaled 33 1/3 innings and posted a 6.75 ERA with 33 strikeouts in seven Class AA starts before landing on the IL.