Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Young Outfielder Under Fire As Struggles Continue

Jordan Walker has struggled...
Aug 29, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (18) and second baseman Thomas Saggese (25) run off the field in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Aug 29, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (18) and second baseman Thomas Saggese (25) run off the field in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals are rebuilding right now, so the record on the season isn't too concerning. The concerning part is that young players like Jordan Walker are still struggling.

Walker has struggled since debuting in the big leagues, and it doesn't seem like he's getting any closer to figuring out big league pitching.

Dayn Perry of CBS Sports recently questioned Walker's future in St. Louis as the Cardinals transition power from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom at the end of the season.

Jordan Walker's future is murky in St. Louis

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walke
Aug 28, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images | Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

"Even though Walker is closing in on 1,000 career plate appearances at the highest level, he's still just 23. To put that in context, the Marlins this season have the youngest crop of position players in the majors with an average age of 25.8. The default position should be that it's too soon to give up on Walker, especially when he'll have barely more than two years of MLB service time after this season and an option year remaining. There's urgency in the words above, though, and the uncertainty of the winter in St. Louis.

"Longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is stepping down, and he'll be replaced by Chaim Bloom, who's been rebuilding the Cardinals' player-development system while preparing to take over as lead decision-maker after the current season. The question, which cannot be answered right now, is what he thinks of Walker's long-term potential and whether he's a viable part of the cohort of players who constitute the club's future. The whole point of the 2025 season for the Cardinals, in the words of Mozeliak and others, was to provide "runway" for young players like Walker."

Walker has all the raw tools to be a star, but at a certain point, raw tools are going to be enough.

Walker is still young, but at what point is enough going to be enough?

With Bloom coming in to take over as the president of baseball operations in St. Louis, the Cardinals could go through a lot of changes. One of those changes may involve Walker being traded to a different team that could harness his raw ability and help him reach his full potential.

The young outfielder is running out of time and opportunities with the Cardinals.

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org