Jordan Walker

Walker was at the front of the line of the 2023 Shiny New Toy group with a monster spring training that had rapidly pushed him up March draft lists as fantasy managers were hoping for the next Julio Rodriguez. By season's end, the likes of Luke Raley, Ryan O'Hearn, and Brandon Marsh outearned Walker in overall fantasy value. Walker finished the season as an above average run producer (116 wRC+) but did not excel in any one category for the disappointing Cardinals team. Walker did get off to a strong start, but still went back to the minors at the end of April and also hit .209/.258/.352 in July which cut into his overall production. Normally this kind of season would push a player's draft value down to a more reasonable level, but Walker's upside is simply going to be too tempting for fantasy managers to resist. If he can pull the ball a little more, 30 homers should happen and it could also elevate him from the bottom half of the lineup.

The Cardinals' outfield may be a bit crowded, but the drafting public expects Walker to be a significant factor in 2023. A former third baseman who could also fit nicely at first base, Walker now patrols right field due to the Cardinals having two future Hall of Famers at the infield corners. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-handed slugger posted a .306/.388/.510 slash line with 19 home runs, 22 steals (on 27 attempts) and a 21.6 K% as the youngest qualified hitter at Double-A. He capped his season by slashing .286/.367/.558 with five home runs, three steals and a 23:10 K:BB in 21 Arizona Fall League games. Walker is a top-five prospect for dynasty leagues, and his 70-grade raw power is his most bankable long-term tool. He moves well for his size, but he is not a Julio Rodriguez-caliber athlete or prospect, contrary to some public comparisons. It's possible he will win a job out of spring training, but it's not a certainty.

Walker was the best realistic version of himself in his pro debut, showing off his huge raw power while hitting for a surprisingly high batting average with a promising amount of contact and patience. He hit .317/.388/.548 with 14 home runs, a 9.1 BB% and a 23.8 K% as a 19-year-old splitting time between Low-A and High-A. A massive specimen for a teenage third baseman (6-foot-5, 220 pounds), Walker's 14 steals on 16 tries won't translate as he matures and moves up the ladder, but he looks the part of a future big-league cleanup hitter. His plate discipline metrics fell off after the promotion to High-A, but given his age (turns 20 in late May) and how aggressively the Cardinals pushed him, that was not unexpected, and he was still 24 percent better than league average. At his size, it will be tough for him to make enough contact to be a positive contributor in batting average, but he could hit around .260 at peak. The big selling point is that Walker seems like a good enough hitter that he could realistically get to all of his 70-grade raw power in games. He may end up having to move to first base or right field in a couple years.