Will Walker ever hit?

[scoutyjones2]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

[nighthawk]

In his last 123 PAs, he's hitting .284/.325/.397/.722. If that is the true measure of his ability, then he basically been hitting like Garry Maddox did for his career --.285/.320/.413/.733. Maddox, of course, was a perennial gold glove centerfielder and a fairly proficient base stealer. If the last 123 PAs represents Walker's skills, then even that is pretty ho-hum, demonstrating less power than Maddox who was by no stretch a power hitter.

Sarge was a good player I recall. Isn’t this a reasonable good expectation.

Gary Mathews was "Sarge." Maddox was the "Secretary of Defense" of whom it was said “Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other one-third is covered by Garry Maddox."

[sikeston bulldog2]

In his last 123 PAs, he's hitting .284/.325/.397/.722. If that is the true measure of his ability, then he basically been hitting like Garry Maddox did for his career --.285/.320/.413/.733. Maddox, of course, was a perennial gold glove centerfielder and a fairly proficient base stealer. If the last 123 PAs represents Walker's skills, then even that is pretty ho-hum, demonstrating less power than Maddox who was by no stretch a power hitter.

Sarge was a good player I recall. Isn’t this a reasonable good expectation.

Gary Mathews was "Sarge." Maddox was the "Secretary of Defense" of whom it was said “Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other one-third is covered by Garry Maddox."

Well if we get a Sarge type in right, we will have bettered ourselves.

[scoutyjones2]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

[Cranny]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

Interesting opinion.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

Are you saying he is a triple A player.

[scoutyjones2]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

Are you saying he is a triple A player.

AA or AAA. I'm saying he needs to prove it next year by starting in the minors and earn his way to the team.

[The Nard]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

Whether with the cardinals or elsewhere, i can see him having a few acceptable seasons when he reaches his prime. You’re right about Hayward’s defense, of course.

[scoutyjones2]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

LoL...he will never see 270/20 HRs/70 RBI. He won't last like Heyward, who plays elite defense. JW excels at nothing. 0 tools so far

Last option year next year. Needs to earn it in the minors

Whether with the cardinals or elsewhere, i can see him having a few acceptable seasons when he reaches his prime. You’re right about Hayward’s defense, of course.

Heyward

[ramfandan]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

Stated above 'Never draft a high schooler '

Yikes ! So in 2009 if you had been draft guy for Angels , you would have never considered selecting with your 25 pick .. Mike Trout a high schooler
Trout has ONLY done th following : Trout has played 13 seasons for the Angels, winning three American League MVP Awards, two All-Star Game MVP Awards, and was selected to eleven MLB All-Star Games.
What about Bryce Harper ? You would have never considered him either . He was the first pick in the 2010 draft . A high school kid too !

Enough said on 'never draft a high schooler '

[imadangman]

I see him as a high contact, but low power, hitter. He’ll disappoint on that latter point, similar to how Jason Hayward disappointed many who expected more.

He’ll become, like Hayward, a journeyman outfielder. Highest potential may be a couple of years achieving a .270 average, 20 HRs, 70 rbis. That wouldn’t be too bad.

And without the defensive value, a .270 20 70 season from a corner OF is replaceable. If he went to another team and did that, we wouldn't lose any sleep. Now if it becomes .270 35 100, that would be another story. What are the odds that potential is still there?

However with the original approach he had when drafted and coming up, I think you're right that while he had the build to hit for power, he was really destined to become more of a line drive hitter and not in a negative way. Like a Matt Holliday type run producer, or Derrek Lee. Might not hit 40+ home runs but will put balls in play consistently for XBH. If he was able to relax and just make contact I think that's what he would settle into.

The question (can apply to any player in general) is at what point is the "potential" no longer there.

[imadangman]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

I'm no hitting coach. When I watch the draft videos it's very smooth and he's able to generate power while remaining fairly upright in the swing. Now, on a lot of his swings where he makes contact it seems at the time of contact his body has dipped.

Like I said I'm no hitting coach so I don't know what's correct. Matt holliday was a guy who got lower in his swing. Nolan Arenado does it.

Maybe for Walker it's just the difference between a BP swing and an in-game swing where you're adjusting to live MLB pitching with movement.

[scoutyjones2]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

Stated above 'Never draft a high schooler '

Yikes ! So in 2009 if you had been draft guy for Angels , you would have never considered selecting with your 25 pick .. Mike Trout a high schooler
Trout has ONLY done th following : Trout has played 13 seasons for the Angels, winning three American League MVP Awards, two All-Star Game MVP Awards, and was selected to eleven MLB All-Star Games.
What about Bryce Harper ? You would have never considered him either . He was the first pick in the 2010 draft . A high school kid too !

Enough said on 'never draft a high schooler '

Rare exceptions..
But I stand by it

[ramfandan]

BTW Walker has exceeded the .270 BA threshold in his major league career. He did that in 2023 , his rookie year playing in 117 games for the Cardinals.

[ramfandan]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

Stated above 'Never draft a high schooler '

Yikes ! So in 2009 if you had been draft guy for Angels , you would have never considered selecting with your 25 pick .. Mike Trout a high schooler
Trout has ONLY done th following : Trout has played 13 seasons for the Angels, winning three American League MVP Awards, two All-Star Game MVP Awards, and was selected to eleven MLB All-Star Games.
What about Bryce Harper ? You would have never considered him either . He was the first pick in the 2010 draft . A high school kid too !

Enough said on 'never draft a high schooler '

Rare exceptions..
But I stand by it

There are others too. I just listed two . Derek Jeter was the 6th pick in the 1992 draft by the NY Yankees., the first high schooler taken off the board. There are others too.
You can say 'I stand by it ' but to make a blanket statement that you would exclude all baseball players regardless of their talent level just because they are high schoolers ? So you would really sit there after looking at a Derek Jeter and say .. I know this kid sure has to the tools to be quite the player but I won't select him because he is 18 yrs. old and a high school grad.

[scoutyjones2]

Search out and view video of him from his Draft days.

He had a nice, easy, relaxed stroke. Would and could go to the opposite field. Nice swing path.

Short to the ball and solid contact.

He looks nothing like that kid today. Nothing at all.

Yeah, high school. Big fish, little pond for the line acker. Now he's with professionals, and elite world talent.

Never draft a high schooler.

He's Just Worthless. He needs his last option year to be spent in the minors, proving his way back to MLB.

And it's not just his hitting. His fielding sucks too

Stated above 'Never draft a high schooler '

Yikes ! So in 2009 if you had been draft guy for Angels , you would have never considered selecting with your 25 pick .. Mike Trout a high schooler
Trout has ONLY done th following : Trout has played 13 seasons for the Angels, winning three American League MVP Awards, two All-Star Game MVP Awards, and was selected to eleven MLB All-Star Games.
What about Bryce Harper ? You would have never considered him either . He was the first pick in the 2010 draft . A high school kid too !

Enough said on 'never draft a high schooler '

Rare exceptions..
But I stand by it

There are others too. I just listed two . Derek Jeter was the 6th pick in the 1992 draft by the NY Yankees., the first high schooler taken off the board. There are others too.
You can say 'I stand by it ' but to make a blanket statement that you would exclude all baseball players regardless of their talent level just because they are high schoolers ? So you would really sit there after looking at a Derek Jeter and say .. I know this kid sure has to the tools to be quite the player but I won't select him because he is 18 yrs. old and a high school grad.

JW played 13 games in High School his last year on the 945th best ranked team.total of 40ABs

Bryce Harper was on the 34th best team in the league when in High School. First team national high school player.