Good day, everyone, and welcome back to another Up-And-Coming Dynasty Player post.
The player I am featuring this week has actually been around for a while, as he made his debut in 2023. Say hello, again, to Jordan Walker.
The slugging Cardinal burst onto the scene with a very nice rookie season in 2023, only to fall out of favor with most fantasy owners due to back-to-back horrific seasons in 2024 and 2025.
But Walker is off to a great start, and I don’t think this is just a lucky streak. I think it is a case of Walker finally figuring things out.
So let’s take a look at Jordan Walker.
The Stats (through 4-8-26)
| YEAR | LEVEL | G | R | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-25 | A-AAA | 329 | 221 | 48 | 178 | 45 | .286 | .364 | .481 |
| 2023 | St. Louis | 117 | 51 | 16 | 51 | 7 | .276 | .342 | .445 |
| 2024 | St. Louis | 51 | 16 | 5 | 20 | 1 | .201 | .253 | .366 |
| 2025 | St. Louis | 111 | 40 | 6 | 41 | 10 | .215 | .278 | .306 |
| 2026 | St. Louis | 12 | 10 | 5 | 12 | 1 | .295 | .367 | .682 |
| 162-GM AVG. | 162 | 65 | 18 | 69 | 11 | .242 | .305 | .392 |
Jordan Walker was drafted by the Cardinals with the 21st overall pick in the 2020 draft despite the fact he was committed to play at Duke. The Cardinals were able to sign him thanks to a $2.9 million bonus. Once signed, he flew through the St. Louis system.
In 2021, he appeared in 82 games and hit 14 homers with 48 RBI and 14 steals while slashing .317/.388/.548. His success carried over in 2022 at Double-A as he slashed .306/.388/.510 with 19 bombs, 68 RBIs, and 22 steals. By the time the 2023 season was starting, he was ranked the fourth-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America and MLB and second by Baseball Prospectus.
His stint in Triple-A in 2023 didn’t last long. In 29 games, he was slashing .239/.348/.398 before being promoted to St. Louis at the age of 21. All he did for the Cardinals was slash .276/.342/.445 with 16 homers, 51 RBI, and seven steals. Since that debut, Walker has not progressed as hoped, struggling at the plate in both 2024 and 2025. But his hot start to 2026 has the team and fans believing Walker has finally found the stroke that brought him to the majors so quickly.
The Tools
- Hitting
Every player goes through cold streaks and hot streaks. But right now, what Jordan Walker is doing at the plate seems like a legitimate change to his approach and not just a hot streak. The biggest difference is the fact he is being much more selective at the plate. From 2023-2024, his chase percentage each year was 33.2%, 32.4%, and 34.1%. This season, he is currently sitting at 26.4%.
He is also being selectively aggressive, which is an oxymoron. So let me explain.
Walker is being aggressive in that he has a 45.5% first pitch swing percentage. That blows away last year’s rate of 36.5% and his 34.8% rate in 2024. Walker is looking for a specific pitch or location on the first pitch, and when he gets it, he is attacking the pitch. Yet he is also being more patient – the selective part of being selectively aggressive. The selectiveness can be seen in that lower chase rate right now and a walk rate that is sitting at 9%, way above his career average of 7.4%.
- Power
Walker’s power has never been questioned. Last year, he ranked in the 91st percentile in EV, 87th percentile in Hard Hit%, and 99th percentile in bat speed. This year, his numbers are through the roof. These are his current Statcast numbers:
| Category | Percentile |
|---|---|
| xwOBA | 98th |
| xBA | 92nd |
| xSLG | 99th |
| EV | 100th |
| Barrel% | 97th |
| Hard Hit% | 99th |
Jordan Walker is taking advantage of those numbers by simply hitting the ball into the air more. His career ground ball percentage is 47%. This year it is 35.7%. His fly ball percentage is currently at 39%, way above his career average of 23.9%. More fly balls are leading to more home runs – duh. After posting home run rates of 3.4%, 2.8% and 1.5% the last three years, Walker currently sports a 9% home run rate.
- Speed
When people talk about Walker, they talk about his power first. But you can’t overlook his speed. In the minors, he stole 45 bags in 55 attempts. With the Cardinals, he is 19-for-26 in his career. Is he going to be a player who steals 20 bases a year? Probably not, especially as he ages. But he should be good for around 15 steals a year, which is fine with me when added to 25 to 30 homers.
The Verdict
When it comes to Jordan Walker, the first thing you have to remember is he is only 23 years old – he doesn’t turn 24 until next month. He is basically the same age as JJ Wetherholt and Masyn Wynn. Walker wasn’t really rushed to the majors, as he had a lot of success his rookie season. But he has had to do a lot of learning on the major league level. Now a more mature player, he is able to better implement the changes that he needed to make in order to find success.
At the plate, he just looks like a different player as he has a much better approach at the plate. That maturity is leading to early success and will likely feed his confidence. Will he slump at some point? Without a doubt. But I believe his next slump will not derail his season as past slumps have done.
Not everyone is jumping back onto the Walker bandwagon as he is rostered in only 53% of Yahoo leagues and 38% of ESPN leagues. In really deep leagues, like those over in Fantrax, getting Walker won’t be as easy as he is rostered in 89% of leagues. But the price for him may be lower right now than in two weeks, especially if he continues this hot start.
Thanks for reading, and come back again next week.
Would you trade Jack Leiter for him straight up?
That is not easy to answer as it’s apples to oranges in my world. If you have excess pitching and trying to improve your offense, then yes.
If just swapping young pitching for young hitting, I’d lean no. I really think Leiter is coming into his own, as I was going to feature him soon. Maybe it will be next week now!
So answering your question in a vacuum – I’d keep Leiter by a smidge.
I traded Leiter and Steve Kwan for Chase Burns and Walker
I actually like that. Burns and Leiter are pretty even. The upside of Walker is worth trading away Kwan.
.
ESPN Points, ROS only
Mets fan is offering me:
Imai and Edwin Diaz (I could use a good closer)
for my
Nolan McLean
I’m not sold on Imai so I will reject. I’m thinking of countering and asking for Diaz and either Senga or McClanahan
Thoughts? If a good counter-offer, which one, Senga or McClanahan ?
Since you care about the rest of the season only, keep McLean unless you’re in serious need of a closer.
If he keeps upping the ante (you should get more for McLean) and your focus is this season, Senga will likely be a tad better as McClanahan will take a while to round into form. Longterm, I like McClanahan more.
Thanks for reading and the question.
Held him for years in Dynasty, hope this is the real deal! Good write up!
He will have a slump, but he’s always hit the ball hard. He’s finally made the adjustments needed to take advantage of that. Sometimes it just takes a player a while to have everything click.
I was asleep at the wheel for these Post hype sleepers like Walker, Cam Smith
I have Walker in one of my leagues and went back and forth on whether to cut him ahead of the season or not. Figured I’ve held onto him this long, so why not give him another chance. Dude is still young.
I let go of Smith because of his cost, then won him back in my auction for a lot cheaper. That move made me felt good!
Corporate firewalls be blocking the Razz
That’s what the phone is for! You need to tell your corporation that nothing should block Razzball!
.584 OPS last year. Not buying it.
He was 23 most of last year. Players can improve, especially when they basically blow through the minors. I understand the skepticism, but it’s not like he came out of nowhere to have a good rookie season and then revert back to past history. He enjoyed lots of success in the minors and as a rookie. Then he got derailed. I think he is back on the right track now.