The St. Louis Cardinals entered the season intending to give former top prospect Jordan Walker ample playing time to evaluate him for the future of the franchise. The fortune has not been in Walker’s favor as he is on the injured list for the second time this season and has been passed up for a hot-hitting Alec Burleson during his absence.
Walker joined the Cardinals in Pittsburgh to meet with the medical staff but is not eligible to be activated until Friday and is expected to head out for a rehab stint, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Goold also said that Walker will not return when he is eligible on Friday, which likely means he will get plenty of time to rehab and gain strength back following his recovery from appendicitis.
Walker was once the Cardinals’ golden boy prospect and was expected to take the reins as the next superstar in St. Louis, but he has struggled thus far in his career. With the Cardinals in the thick of a playoff race, Walker will have to earn back his playing time from Burleson, who has been red hot with Walker sidelined.
Walker has taken strides defensively in the outfield this season, which is a good sign, as he was forced off of his natural position upon the arrival of Nolan Arenado in the Gateway to the West, but his bat has regressed this season, as he is hitting .210 with just three home runs in what felt like a make or break season for Walker.
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