Cardinals’ Jordan Walker Hurt His Knee Stepping on a Sprinkler in the Outfield

Jordan Walker walks back to the dugout during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals. | Rich Storry-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Jordan Walker in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. After a decent rookie season in 2023 he was named the starting right fielder for opening day in 2024, but spent much of the season in triple-A.

His 2025 season nearly got off to a disastrous when he was forced to leave the Cardinals game against the Washington Nationals early this week. During the third inning of a game at Cacti Park on Tuesday, he successfully tracked down a fly ball in right field, but after he threw the ball in it was clear there was something wrong.

It turns out Walker had stepped on a sprinkler and jammed his knee. He left the game after the inning ended. Here's video:

Here is footage of the second-inning play where #STLCards RF Jordan Walker is believed to have experienced pain in his left knee while tracking a fly ball. Walker was removed from the game because of that pain and will undergo further evaluation, per the club. pic.twitter.com/2IqhwRvVig

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 4, 2025

On Wednesday he had inflammation in his knee and got an MRI that revealed no structural damage. The Cardinals are going to rest him for a week and reassess.

Walker is 2-for-14 with eight strikeouts during spring training.

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