Cardinals Place Veteran Infielder on IL, Recall Exciting Outfielder
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled Jordan Walker from Triple-A Memphis and placed Matt Carpenter on the 10-day injured list on Monday. Walker, 22, posted a .747 OPS in 78 games with Memphis and finally found his footing, hitting .343/.400/.687 with five home runs. Per Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals inital plan is to use Walker mostly against left-handed pitching, but could play his way into starts against right-handers too. Walker had just a .497 OPS in 20 games for St. Louis earlier in the season before his demotion to the minors.
Cardinals Recall Jordan Walker
Walker made his MLB debut in 2023, ranking as high as a top-five prospect in baseball. Giving his struggles to adapt playing in the outfield, his natural position, third base is covered by Nolan Arenado. He was optioned near the end of April with a .274/.321/.397 batting line at that time. Walker returned in early June and looked like a different hitter. He hit .277/.346/.455 with 14 home runs with an improved 21.7 percent strikeout rate and 8.8 percent walk rate.
This season began on a rough note for Walker who hit a .155/.239/.259 batting line in 67 plate appearances. The slump would lead to Walker being demoted to work on his swing and come back to majors improved at the plate. Walker eventually found his form again his last 17 games, hitting .324 with five home runs in that stretch. He only struck out 18 times and walking six times.
St. Louis will hope to see more of that potential from Walker. Walker will give the Cardinals another right-handed bat to help attacking opposing left-handers. Their combined .233/.296/.359 slash against left-handers is a clear sign of struggles, but Walker has had his struggles too. He batted .231/.294/.389 against left-handers last season.
The Cardinals have spent a majority of the summer in the hint for a Wild Card spot in the National League. They dropped a game and a half behind the Atlanta Braves, who currently hold the final spot. The New York Mets are a game ahead of the Cardinals, who are also vying for a Wild Card spot.
