Cameron Beckner

@KevinWheeler94 Agreed. I'm just saying from the team standpoint, bc they've got this pipeline of promising hitters coming, it's no longer as critical for JW to pan out as it once was, but yes ideally it would be great for rebuild if he panned out but not a critical necessity.

@CmanBeckner That's a big part of why this is a big year for Walker. With Baez, etc. pushing forward this is the time to figure something out with Walker, good or bad.

I'm in the group that's not sure this is the best plan but...it is a rebuild. I keep reminding myself of that. If it costs them games this year it's okay. If he gets better, great. If he doesn't, well, then the team knows how to proceed moving forward.

@raylewis4520 @AdamAkbani Personally I didn't see an issue with that. They were probably trying to light a fire under him to wake up and start acting like a professional ball player.They weren't wrong to call him out IMO. Sometimes players need that slap in the face.

@CmanBeckner @AdamAkbani Agree so not sure who people are clamoring to play over Walker. How about we get behind him and try to take some pressure off. Oli and brown do him no favors with their public critiques

The Cardinals have to consider starting Jordan Walker at AAA, given how many other outfielders are MLB-ready and are deserving of regular PAs He has one MILB option left

@KevinWheeler94 If he just can't execute the necessary adjustments even if he's totally bought in/receptive(which he seems to be), not sure how AAA will help that much but I could be wrong.

My worry is that this remains a "thing" if he looks like he did last year (or this spring, for that matter). If he's flailing in the Majors does that help more than trying to find it in Memphis? Walker is a massive talent but it's on him to make the proper adjustments.

@choklitpain @kyler416 He was prob rushed and his development could've been handled better no question BUT until recently he hasn't shown a strong desire to change, listen to coaches, or put in the work to get better. Everyone shares some level of blame for this.

How much blame does Gary Larocque and his players development team get for ruining Jordan Walker? @kyler416 #stlcards

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals Yes ideally it would be great if he panned out, but unlike the last 2-3 years, they have other options coming up that can supplant his ideal production. You no longer have to put all your chips on JW. It's unfortunate if he doesn't pan out but doesn't set us back a ton IMO(2)

@CmanBeckner @LO_Cardinals I’m hoping the potential loss of a contract will get through to him. They’ve invested so much of their future in him and it sets them back a very significant chunk of time if he’s not who they think he should be.

Rough day for Jordan Walker in his return to game action: 0/4, 2 K’s

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals Like I said, his problem is less of "getting through" to him but more of him just not being able to adjust in game. He's been receptive, he just can't get the ball into the air. He's knows he's playing for his job as well as us(1)

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals That’s fair. I’m inclined to trust the people who work with him every day. He knows as well as we do how this is prob his last chance so it's in his best interest to grow up and take this seriously. But ultimately, that growth doesn’t mean much if he still can’t execute.

@CmanBeckner @LO_Cardinals Maybe it’s just me, but a few months in the offseason is not at all enough of a track record to be convinced he’s all of a sudden acting contrary to the previous 3+ years. Like I said, I’ll believe it when I see it.

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals Pay attention to the quotes by Oli on this one concerning work put in: lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2026/…

@CmanBeckner @LO_Cardinals Bernie did a really good breakdown on this if you somehow missed this whole thing. By these direct accounts, Jordan Walker has been the opposite of receptive to coaching. youtu.be/ZBJ0AmGMqq8?si…

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals That was last year and it was/is a valid concern. He has since gotten his act together per below sources. All indicate that Oli and coaches have been impressed with the work put in and communication/collaboration with coaches. mlb.com/news/jordan-wa… (1)

@stlcrdnlsfn08 @LO_Cardinals By all accounts, he’s receptive to coaching and putting in the work behind the scenes with them. The issue is that he is not able to execute the needed adjustments in game.

I’m pretty much at the point where I think they should just send him to Memphis to start the year and say either figure out how to hit the ball in the air or we are going to look for a trade. Give him half the year to see if he will actually take instruction from coaches and dedicate himself to fixing it and if he doesn’t, trade him for whatever you can get. Whether he turns into a hitter or not, it just seems like it won’t be in St. Louis if he ever does at this point.

@raylewis4520 @AdamAkbani There aren't any. You COULD make the case for Church, but Walker needs the ABs more than he does at the moment since he's got only one option left.

@AdamAkbani Name the ofs besides the new guy who are tearing it up and provide some stats because indont think there are any

@AdamAkbani Not sure having him face lesser pitching would do him good. The gap between AAA-MLB pitching is huge. He's been in the league 4 years now. It's time to start showing figuring it out at MLB level. Plus he's not really blocking anyone at the moment that needs the ABs more than him.

@DavidBetlach @AdamAkbani Not might be, it is. When you can't see the spin, or know what to expect, that is absolutely mental. His swing does need work but his weakness has ALWAYS been a mental one.

@AdamAkbani He looks lost. Might be more mental than physical!

@dadof3cardsfans @BKSportsTalk His swing did need some refinement though. Even during 2023, his GB rate was higher than ideal for the type of hitter they projected him to become. They could've handled his development better and he prob was rushed to bigs but it's not as simple as "they screwed him up."

@BKSportsTalk Nope. This dude had 116 hits in 117 games with 16 homers before the Cardinals screwed up his swing. I still believe he will be a star.

Nope.

@The_Ryan_Shull At this point, he needs to figure it out at the MLB level. Success against lesser pitching doesn’t mean much if it doesn’t translate here as the gap between AAA-MLB pitching is huge. Plus, at the moment, he isn't blocking anyone.

Jordan Walker’s rough spring continues… AVG — .176 OPS — .398 K% — 38.2 Is it time to seriously consider starting him in Memphis?

@Jandystl Even if it is, it's not the end of world. Yes it's not ideal but unlike the last 2-ish years, his ascent is no longer as crucial. They have guys coming up that will hopefully form next core. From there they can hopefully purchase/trade for a bat they are missing to put over top.

As the biggest supporter, believer, and head of the fan club: This may be the end of the Jordan Walker experiment #STLCards

@STL_Stats_Facts IMO, batting leadoff might actually come with less pressure than hitting 4th. cleanup spot is expected to drive in runs and hit for power, which carries more pressure than getting on base/setting table. Maybe long term he slots in there, but leadoff seems a better option rn.

How my lineup construction would go: SS Winn 1B Burleson C Herrera 2B Wetherholt DH Gorman/Velazquez 3B Saggese/Urias RF Walker LF Fermin/Church CF Scott I think Wetherholt maybe leads off eventually but I think thats a lot of pressure for him on opening day. But I also cant justify putting him lower than their current 5-9.

@SandyMac718 His swing needs work absolutely, but the bigger issue for him has always been pitch recognition. He's just looked like he has no idea what's coming, and can't pick up any kind of spin. How many times last year did he take fat pitches and then swing at sliders a foot outside.

The #STLCards are gonna give Walker the start on Opening Day - and he’ll probably get a lot of runway through the first half of the season? Is that the right call? Probably. They still think he can figure it out. They should make sure he can’t… I suppose. Is this the year?

@b_miklasz @YouTube Honestly not the worst thing in the world if he can't be a catcher long term. Yes it would the best case scenario but they've got other options coming up within the next 1-2 years (Bernal, Rodriguez, etc) so I don't consider it a huge deal if he won't catch long term.

Bernie Show: Yes, Ivan Herrera has extra value as a catcher because of the elite offense he brings to the position. But how much value does he really have as a catcher if injuries frequently keep him out of action? #STLCards youtu.be/1UNmV63hLfg?si… via @YouTube