As Jordan Walker continues to get regular playing time for the Cardinals in right field, a position he hadnāt been at until he was a 20-year-old in Class AA in 2022, the building confidence there hasnāt come exclusively from the plays heās made. He credits the sights from those around him as a factor in his growth.
āHonestly, I think I feel more from watching (Lars Nootbaar) and (Victor Scott II) make a good play,ā Walker said Sunday of fellow Cardinals outfielders after the teamās 7-0 win Sunday over the Phillies. āItās (like), āOh my God, they made a highlight reel (play) and now itās my turn. I want to make one.ā I would say that theyāre better than me out there right now, but learning from them, feeding off of them, I think it definitely helps me.ā
Through 14 games this season, Walker, 22, had a plus-one in both defensive runs saved (DRS) and outs above average (OAA), per FanGraphs. In 2023, Walker finished his rookie season with a minus-16 DRS and minus-14 OAA in 923 2/3 innings in the outfield before ending the 2024 season with a minus-4 DRS and minus-4 OAA in 367 1/3 innings as a right fielder in 2024.
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ĆŪŃæ“«Ć½ Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker runs down a fly ball hit by Houston Astrosā Jose Altuve in the third inning at Busch Stadium on Monday, April 14, 2025.
He carried a 1.000 fielding percentage into his clubās series opener vs. the Astros on Monday at Busch Stadium and had one assist in 113 1/3 innings in right field. He ranked in the 77th percentile of qualified major league outfielders in range, per Statcast.
The strides Walker has made while working alongside his teammates and with assistant coach Jon Jay have been evident to those around him.
ā(Walker) is an extreme competitor, as he kind of stated, without stating it,ā Scott said before the game Monday. āThat guy wants to make plays because weāre out there making plays. The whole defense is making plays. He wants to play his part in making great plays. Heās taking deeper dives into his routes, into his first jumps, and first steps and things like that. Heās definitely coming along, as we all are out there.ā
What Walker has displayed to those around him has been added comfort and a more āconfidentā self while on defense.
āItās nice of him to give me and (Scott) some credit, but I think itās a testament to him and his work that heās put in,ā Nootbaar said of Walker. āHeās made some strides out there, and itās been fun to watch. He just looks more comfortable and more confident. Itās really cool to see.ā
On Saturday, Walker showed some of his defensive improvements on a back-handed sliding catch to keep Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott off the bases after Stott pulled a sinking line drive to right field. And when the Cardinalsā first trip of the season took them to Pittsburgh, Walker snagged the final out of a 5-3 win last Tuesday on a fly ball to the right-center field gap that would have scored a run and put the game-tying run on base had he not caught the ball.
Walkerās catch to seal a win was one Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol highlighted as a key play and an example of Walkerās development. When looking back at that catch, Walker said it was one he might not have made in years prior.
āI donāt think I do (catch that),ā Walker said. āHonestly, itās just really just trusting my first step. I mean, I think two years ago (or) last year, I would hesitate a little bit and that ball is in the gap, but right now, it was really about getting that first step jump. Iām just going to adjust afterward. But as long as youāre getting that first step jump and going toward the ball, I think thatās really the key (and) moving on from there.ā
The play was one that added an example of the consistency Walker has shown that has come while taking the field with teammates including Nootbaar and Scott.
āWhen you have good people around you gain confidence from that,ā Marmol said. āI think that applies to just about everything. They just up the level of accountability, engagement, and intentionality behind the work. You add Jon Jay to that mix, as far as his part in all of this. And yes, I think it does help.ā
Prospect Mathews sidelined
Cardinals top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was placed on the seven-day injured list Sunday because of left (throwing) shoulder soreness. His timeline to return is to be determined, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told the Post-Dispatch on Monday.
Mathews, 24, struck out 202 batters in 2024 and was named the Cardinalsā and Baseball Americaās minor league pitcher of the year. He has made three Class AAA starts to begin the 2025 season. Heās allowed seven runs, walked 15 batters, and struck out seven in 10 1/3 innings.
Mathews allowed four runs on five hits and walked six batters in 2 2/3 innings in his start Friday before going on the IL. His fastball averaged 92.6 mph and reached as a high as 94.4 mph in the outing, per Statcast. He flashed a fastball that averaged 94.2 mph and reached 95.8 mph in his previous outing before Fridayās.
