Why was Walker considered a can't miss prospect?

[WeWentBlues0819]

I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues but remember the fanfare when Walker made the team a few years ago and was billed as the next generational talent. What caused that expectation? Hes a 0 tool player. He can't hit for average, does not hit for power, does not run particularly well, and is terrible on defense.

What in the world happened in the minors that caused such lofty expectations?

[imadangman]

I think it was the frame and apparent makeup, good attitude with parents that went to Harvard and Yale or something like that.

[Absolut]

Look at his minor league and afl numbers

[blackinkbiz]

I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues but remember the fanfare when Walker made the team a few years ago and was billed as the next generational talent. What caused that expectation? Hes a 0 tool player. He can't hit for average, does not hit for power, does not run particularly well, and is terrible on defense.

What in the world happened in the minors that caused such lofty expectations?

To be fair, before 2023, 80% of his play was at 3rd base. And regardless of how awful he currently looks at other tools, he has a cannon for an arm. And he does have plus speed. The power was based on his exit velocity and swing speed, which are both top 10%.

The Cardinals deserve as much blame as Jordan does for his stalled development. He should have NEVER seen a regular season MLB game until he'd proven he could dominate at AAA, like every other top prospect, except perhaps top-5 picks.

All that being said, he's currently horrible and appears to be descending further into the abyss. I don't have a lot of confidence he'll turn it around as long as he's in this organization.

[WeWentBlues0819]

I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues but remember the fanfare when Walker made the team a few years ago and was billed as the next generational talent. What caused that expectation? Hes a 0 tool player. He can't hit for average, does not hit for power, does not run particularly well, and is terrible on defense.

What in the world happened in the minors that caused such lofty expectations?

To be fair, before 2023, 80% of his play was at 3rd base. And regardless of how awful he currently looks at other tools, he has a cannon for an arm. And he does have plus speed. The power was based on his exit velocity and swing speed, which are both top 10%.

The Cardinals deserve as much blame as Jordan does for his stalled development. He should have NEVER seen a regular season MLB game until he'd proven he could dominate at AAA, like every other top prospect, except perhaps top-5 picks.

All that being said, he's currently horrible and appears to be descending further into the abyss. I don't have a lot of confidence he'll turn it around as long as he's in this organization.

Thank you. Good answer. I wonder if the Cardinals cut ties... and if they do, does he become yet another star to emerge once leaving St. Louis?

[Carp4Cy]

I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues but remember the fanfare when Walker made the team a few years ago and was billed as the next generational talent. What caused that expectation? Hes a 0 tool player. He can't hit for average, does not hit for power, does not run particularly well, and is terrible on defense.

What in the world happened in the minors that caused such lofty expectations?

To be fair, before 2023, 80% of his play was at 3rd base. And regardless of how awful he currently looks at other tools, he has a cannon for an arm. And he does have plus speed. The power was based on his exit velocity and swing speed, which are both top 10%.

The Cardinals deserve as much blame as Jordan does for his stalled development. He should have NEVER seen a regular season MLB game until he'd proven he could dominate at AAA, like every other top prospect, except perhaps top-5 picks.

He Was close to a top 5 pick. Considered the best bat in the draft by some.

And at this point, he's had 118 games at Memphis. Hasn't helped. I don't think skipping AAA was the issue. He's getting progressively worse from his rookie season for other reasons.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

I think people mix up highly ranked and can’t miss. First, I don’t think anyone is can’t miss. I think JJ Wetherholt is about as can’t miss as it gets right now, as a basically complete hitter coming out of college, but even he isn’t guaranteed success in MLB.

But there are highly ranked prospects who are very young, and in some cases very raw, and there are those who are a bit older and more finished products. Jordan Walker was a raw, young guy who was putting up some big numbers in the minors, especially relative to his age. It’s been said over and over, but they didn’t do him any favors calling him up when they did. He was still raw and I think you are seeing some of the results of that mistake. Sometimes those raw prospect flame out. Jordan might flame out. It’s looking that way.

[Carp4Cy]

I think people mix up highly ranked and can’t miss. First, I don’t think anyone is can’t miss. I think JJ Wetherholt is about as can’t miss as it gets right now, as a basically complete hitter coming out of college, but even he isn’t guaranteed success in MLB.

But there are highly ranked prospects who are very young, and in some cases very raw, and there are those who are a bit older and more finished products. Jordan Walker was a raw, young guy who was putting up some big numbers in the minors, especially relative to his age. It’s been said over and over, but they didn’t do him any favors calling him up when they did. He was still raw and I think you are seeing some of the results of that mistake. Sometimes those raw prospect flame out. Jordan might flame out. It’s looking that way.

Griffey was considered Can't Miss by anyone and everyone when he was drafted. We weren't wrong.

Also Ohtani. They do exist.

In football - Troy Aikman. Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders. (all the same draft btw)
NBA - Lebron and Shaq. Also Ewing.

[Ozziesfan41]

I think people mix up highly ranked and can’t miss. First, I don’t think anyone is can’t miss. I think JJ Wetherholt is about as can’t miss as it gets right now, as a basically complete hitter coming out of college, but even he isn’t guaranteed success in MLB.

But there are highly ranked prospects who are very young, and in some cases very raw, and there are those who are a bit older and more finished products. Jordan Walker was a raw, young guy who was putting up some big numbers in the minors, especially relative to his age. It’s been said over and over, but they didn’t do him any favors calling him up when they did. He was still raw and I think you are seeing some of the results of that mistake. Sometimes those raw prospect flame out. Jordan might flame out. It’s looking that way.

+1 I don’t remember reading where where it was said he was can’t miss he was ranked so highly because of his high ceiling. One of the first scouting reports I read on him said if he reached his potential he could be like Dave Winfield others said he could be a 40 home run hitter. But while he has all the physical tools to be Dave Winfield physical tools don’t always mean you can make in baseball because it’s the hardest sport to play that’s why guys like burly and Donovan with no power or speed can be good at baseball and there aren’t 5 tool players at every position in the majors

[Clubmaker2]

he has a speed tool if he can use it. Only Scott and Hampson outrun him to 1b.

[billybaseball]

He was a covid era prospect. Missed his senior year in High School and broke into the Minor Leagues during a time that pitching and scouting was very inept. By the time he got to the ML his flaws had yet to be pinpointed and exploited. Once the book was written on him he was not been able to adjust. From the sounds of it, it's more a refusal to adjust too. I think part of it has been Walker not buying into the plan the team puts in for him. His swing and set up have been all over the place this year. I can't imagine that's the team but him not being consistent with implementing the changes the team is trying to get him to make.

[Ozziesfan41]

He was a covid era prospect. Missed his senior year in High School and broke into the Minor Leagues during a time that pitching and scouting was very inept. By the time he got to the ML his flaws had yet to be pinpointed and exploited. Once the book was written on him he was not been able to adjust. From the sounds of it, it's more a refusal to adjust too. I think part of it has been Walker not buying into the plan the team puts in for him. His swing and set up have been all over the place this year. I can't imagine that's the team but him not being consistent with implementing the changes the team is trying to get him to make.

Also the product of a failed development system that mo himself admitted he ruined.

[KeeptheRamsinSTL]

I do not pay much attention to the minor leagues but remember the fanfare when Walker made the team a few years ago and was billed as the next generational talent. What caused that expectation? Hes a 0 tool player. He can't hit for average, does not hit for power, does not run particularly well, and is terrible on defense.

What in the world happened in the minors that caused such lofty expectations?

He is built like Dave Winfield. I wish that he could play like him.

[An Old Friend]

He was a covid era prospect. Missed his senior year in High School and broke into the Minor Leagues during a time that pitching and scouting was very inept. By the time he got to the ML his flaws had yet to be pinpointed and exploited. Once the book was written on him he was not been able to adjust. From the sounds of it, it's more a refusal to adjust too. I think part of it has been Walker not buying into the plan the team puts in for him. His swing and set up have been all over the place this year. I can't imagine that's the team but him not being consistent with implementing the changes the team is trying to get him to make.

Brant Brown and Oli were on Bernie’s show today and Bernie asked Brown straight up about Walker… he sure seemed to say he’s not putting the work in and doesn’t lean into scouting reports. Oli said nothing to defend him.

[rockondlouie]

I think it was the frame and apparent makeup, good attitude with parents that went to Harvard and Yale or something like that.

Bingo

And as he climbed the ladder, from A - ball to AA to AAA..........he got worse.

His career AAA line is a "meh" .257 .331 .414 .745.

[imadangman]

I think it was the frame and apparent makeup, good attitude with parents that went to Harvard and Yale or something like that.

Bingo

And as he climbed the ladder, from A - ball to AA to AAA..........he got worse.

His career AAA line is a "meh" .257 .331 .414 .745.

And probably, the Cardinals didn't have the infrastructure in place to develop him at each level. That's almost 100% accurate.