Cardinals Top Prospect Will Compete For Starting Outfield Job This Spring

He's the No. 4 ranked prospect in all of baseball.

St. Louis Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker will attend big-league spring training and will be given a chance to compete for the club's Opening Day starting role in left field.

Jordan Walker is only 20 years old so some say "don't rush him to the Majors." I say promote him at the beginning of the season, let him take his lumps and bumps, and he can shine in September & October. Let's go! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/zQoI1NuT0t

— Cardinals Dude (@Turn2Dude) February 4, 2023

Walker is coming off a fantastic 2022 season, which saw him post a .304/.386/.508 triple-slash line, with 19 home runs, 68 RBIs, 22 stolen bases and 100 runs scored over 119 games at Double-A Springfield.

He then followed up that strong showing with another impressive performance at the Arizona Fall League, leading the Cardinals to give him a chance to earn a starting role this spring.

However, with Lars Nootbaar and Tyler O'Neill both healthy entering spring training and having found success in the majors before, Walker could be a long shot to land the job.

Walker does have a much bigger ceiling than either of those two players, so even if he doesn't win the Opening Day role, he'll likely be called up to make his debut as soon as an injury occurs to any position player.

The twenty-year-old was the Cardinals' first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft.
Photo Credit:  Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports