MLB rumors: Jurickson Profar visa, Cardinals reward a prospect, a veteran returns and more
By Josh Wilson
Jordan Walker makes Cardinals opening day roster
The youth movement is here, as the No. 6 overall prospect in the MLB has found himself on the Cardinals opening day roster. Jordan Walker is skipping AAA ball entirely and joining the Cardinals outfield.
The Cardinals Tweeted out a video of team manager Oliver Marmol giving the news to Walker. He talked in-depth about his demonstration of his ability to handle adversity in an incredibly heartwarming video:
"“[The] biggest separator in watching you this entire camp was very simple. Whenm you face adversity, you weren’t bothered by it. And that’s the separator in the big leagues is the ability that when there’s a little bit of pressure on you and everyone’s getting on you for not doing your job. The ability to cancel out the noise and just keep going at it. And that’s the best skill you demonstrated, for everybody.”"
Walker is just 20 years old and put up an OPS of .816 during Spring Training, including three home runs and nine RBI in 63 at bats. The Cards selected Walker 21st overall in 2020.
With the exception of Tyler O’Neill, The Cardinals outfield is all 25 or younger with a max of just over two years of MLB service, including Lars Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson. It has undergone a minor facelift since last season when St. Louis traded Harrison Bader to the New York Yankees in return for starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery.