Inside The Cardinals

How Cardinals Electric Top Prospect Jordan Walker Fared In Historic MLB Debut

Cardinals fans got a glimpse into the future Thursday

Patrick McAvoy

How Cardinals Electric Top Prospect Jordan Walker Fared In Historic MLB Debut
How Cardinals Electric Top Prospect Jordan Walker Fared In Historic MLB Debut /
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St. Louis Cardinals fans have plenty to be excited about. 

The Cardinals were one of the best teams in all of baseball in 2022. St. Louis finished atop the National League Central standings with a 93-69 record and returned much of the same roster, plus some intriguing additions. The Cardinals added three-time All-Star catcher Willson Contreras this offseason and also promoted top prospect Jordan Walker to the big league club. 

Walker is just 20-years-old and is St. Louis' top overall prospect, and the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball. The electric outfielder made his Major League Baseball debut Thursday in the club's Opening Day loss against the Toronto Blue Jays and was impressive. 

The 20-year-old became the youngest player in team history to make his big league debut in over 40 years and came away with his first MLB hit in the contest. Walker stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the second inning to a standing ovation and delivered a base hit right back up the middle for his first big league hit. 

Walker finished the day 1-for-5 from the plate and also collected his first career RBI in the Cardinals' 10-9 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays. The 20-year-old certainly has high expectations. He was drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Drafted out of Decatur High School and has shot up the Cardinals' farm system ever since. 

The young outfielder never even played a game at the Triple-A level and instead skipped it entirely. Walker did a little bit of everything in his short time in the minor leagues. He showed flashes of brilliance and has the potential to be a five-tool player for St. Louis. 

St. Louis impressed in 2022 and could be even better this year and Walker could be a major reason why if he's able to make the jump to the big leagues. 

More MLB: Ex-Yankees Slugger May Make Sense For Cardinals After Latest Injury News

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu