There hasn’t been much positive St. Louis Cardinals content to write of late, and for good reason. The Cards are a team in transition — they have plenty of young talent, but failed to live up to expectations led by the veteran core of Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.
Yet, for all the Cardinals faults — of which there are many — they have young players worth watching in Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn. Walker’s had a long season, highlighted by a stint in Memphis that could come to define his young career. On Wednesday night, Walker provided perhaps the best sign yet that he has turned a corner. Walker had the hardest-hit ball of his and the Cardinals season against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a screamer which had an exit velocity of over 115 MPH.
Second-year outfielder Jordan Walker just crushed the hardest-hit ball by any #STLCards player this season by roping a 115 .5 mph double down the third base line. The three-run double cleared the bases and put St. Louis ahead 10-5. pic.twitter.com/fGzLkwRpMJ
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) September 19, 2024
“As an organization, that’s exactly what’s needed, for both of these guys to become the players we think they are capable of becoming and that they think they are capable of becoming,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “We’re going to do everything possible to make sure that happens.”
Marmol knows how important the development of both Walker and Winn is to the Cardinals future. While he may not be there to oversee their continued progression, even Marmol can appreciate the Cards long-term plan…