Cardinals remember top hitter Jordan Walker from Triple A: Sources

Major league sources have confirmed that Cardinals senior player Jordan Walker will be called up from Triple A and join the team on Friday in Pittsburgh, ahead of the team’s series against the Pirates. the athlete. The corresponding table transfer still needs to be announced. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Walker, who originally passed Triple A and made the club’s Opening Day roster out of spring training, was optioned to the minor leagues on April 27.
  • 718 OPS and two home runs in his first 20 major league games, but the Cardinals identified some mechanical concerns in his swing, particularly regarding his uncharacteristically low shooting angle and high ground ball rate.
  • St. Louis was also dealing with a record jam on the field, as head coach Ole Marmul was struggling to find equal playing time for Tyler O’Neal, Dylan Karlsson, Lars Nutbar and Alec Burleson while keeping Walker in the daily lineup. The decision to cast Walker — who ranks fifth on Keith Law’s top 100 prospects — wasn’t an easy one, but one that the organization felt was proactive.

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“For his own development, we felt like he didn’t get a chance to really work on the things we needed him to do,” said President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak after Walker’s selection. “Then, when we started looking at playing time going forward, we knew we were going to have days when he wouldn’t play. And when we look at his age and that he’s still developing, we felt like it made sense to go down to Memphis and work on a few things.”

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But the Cardinals are now facing a slew of injuries, and the stalemate on their home court is no more. O’Neill (lower back strain) and Carlson (left ankle sprain) are on the injured list. The team is also awaiting an update on Nootbaar, who left Monday’s game with back spasms and hasn’t played since. St. Louis was forced to use Gold Glove players Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman as cornerbacks, and even needed to use Edman as an emergency position player on Tuesday.

Walker initially struggled at the plate as he worked through adjustments with his swing, but has broken out over the past couple of weeks. Since May 19, Walker is . 333 with three doubles and three home runs. His rush could not have come at a better time for St. Louis.

the athleteInstant Analysis:

Why now is the time to call Walker

Muzliak and Marmul were adamant when Walker was named to return the 21-year-old to the majors this season, and both hoped it would be sooner rather than later. The injury-marred and under-formed pitch, combined with Walker’s recent tear, provided the perfect opportunity to get him going again. The Cardinals are in a much better position in terms of numbers than they were when they first selected Walker, but at 25-32, they still have a lot of work to do. While Walker is still adjusting to the right field, the club believes his racket will shake up a lineup that has been struggling with production lately. – Woo

What will the outdoor arena look like?

Much of this will depend on the availability of Nootbaar. The Cardinals hoped he could avoid the IL period by taking advantage of the team’s scheduled two consecutive days off. If he is allowed to play, he will return as an everyday midfielder. If not, Edman and Oscar Mercado could be out of action – although this isn’t an ideal defensive alliance.

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Walker is most comfortable in right field, so he will likely stay there. Donovan has played serviceable left field, and while Alec Burleson’s call rate has increased recently, the team is still more comfortable using him as a bench hitter. That makes Juan Yepez, whose playing time has been limited, at best, lately, the most likely to be selected, though that could change, particularly with Nootbaar’s status in question. – Woo

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(Photo: Jeff Curry/USA Today)

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