St. Louis Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker avoided disaster this weekend, and shouldn’t be on the mend for long after suffering an injury.
An awkward slide into second base cost Jordan Walker some time in the outfield on Saturday, as he was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons. Walker has made plenty of noise this spring, with some in the Cards clubhouse curious if he could make the big-league roster.
The more likely scenario is that Walker, who is just 20 years old, starts the season in the minor leagues with a call up in the near future.
For that to occur, of course, he must stay healthy. Per RotoWire and John Denton of MLB.com, Walker avoided serious injury:
“The 20-year-old suffered the injury on a head-first slide into second base on Saturday, but he won’t require an MRI and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Walker won’t play Sunday but is expected to be back in the lineup for St. Louis on Tuesday after the club’s scheduled day off Monday, per Denton.”
Cardinals: Jordan Walker impresses at spring training
Jordan Walker has gotten the attention of his own staff, as well as rival pitchers. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole took time out of his press briefing to compliment Walker on a line drive single.
“It was a good swing and it was a good pitch [because] it was a borderline ball, I think,” Cole said, per MLB.com. “I threw him three [fastballs] in the first at-bat, and the third one really got in on him. He came out really ready to protect that part of the zone [in the second at-bat], and he put a good swing on it. One of the better swings of the day, for sure.”
By no means should this suggest Walker won’t have his struggles, but it’s a great sign that he can adjust mid-at bat against one of the game’s best.