February 18, 2025

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker took a major step backward in 2024, slashing .201/.253/.366 with five home runs, 20 RBI, 16 runs, and a stolen base in 51 games. He struggled at the beginning of the 2024 season and was demoted to the minors on April 24. Walker didn't make a return to the major leagues until August 12. He ended the year on at least a bit of a high note by hitting five home runs in September. However, his OBP for the month was a measly .286, and he showed no signs of fixing his 28.1% strikeout rate. The 22-year-old still possesses tantalizing raw power, as his 115.5 mph max exit velocity ranked in the top four percent of the league, but he doesn't make contact enough to utilize it. The good news for Walker is that he is only 22 years old. It's true that he has been a failure at the highest level so far, but very few players are talented enough to be given the chance to fail in the major leagues at only 20 years old. There is still time for him to turn it around, and he is working on a swing change this offseason to try to get back to where he was in early 2023. With an ADP of 276, Walker makes for a great upside pick at the end of drafts that you can cut early in the year if he doesn't show any signs of improvement. ATC is projecting Walker with a bit of a bounce back by slashing .255/.315/.418 with 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 57 runs, and six stolen bases over 520 plate appearances in 2025, making him a value pick at his current ADP.--Jeremy Heist