The young outfielder matches historic home run pace set by legends like McGwire and Pujols
Category: Sports
ST. LOUIS — In a season where the St. Louis Cardinals are looking to regain their competitive edge, outfielder Jordan Walker is making headlines with a remarkable power surge. On April 13, 2026, during a 9-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium, Walker hit his Major League-leading eighth home run of the season, solidifying his place among the franchise's greats.
Walker’s eighth homer came in the sixth inning, when he launched a shot to left-center field off Guardians starter Gavin Williams, marking a historic start to the season. With this achievement, he matched the early season home run totals of Cardinals legends Scott Rolen (2004), Mark McGwire (1998), and Stan Musial (1954). Only Albert Pujols, who hit 11 home runs in the first 16 games of the 2006 season, has had a more torrid pace in the franchise's history.
“Wow. That means a lot, man,” Walker said, visibly excited about joining such esteemed company. “Those are the greats. You learn about those guys early on as soon as you come into the Cardinals organization, so to be put with them is pretty special.”
Walker’s impressive performance is not just a flash in the pan; it is a culmination of hard work and a commitment to improving his game. Throughout the early part of the season, he has demonstrated a notable increase in plate discipline, decreasing his chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone from 34.1% in 2025 to 28.6% this year, which is significantly below the league average of 29.6%. This improvement has propelled his OPS from a lackluster .584 last season to an impressive 1.161 following Monday's game.
“He’s prepared to the level where he can hit with some freedom right now,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, highlighting Walker’s mental approach to the game. “When you’re prepared for the test, man, it’s a lot easier to go up there and trust it.”
Walker’s recent surge includes hitting home runs in three consecutive games and in seven of his last nine contests. During this span, he has been batting a scorching .405, with seven homers, 12 RBIs, eight runs, and even a stolen base. This kind of production is a stark turnaround from last season, where he managed only six home runs in over 100 games.
In a game that didn’t showcase the crisp baseball the Cardinals pride themselves on, Walker’s hustle was a bright spot. He beat out an infield hit in the eighth inning, demonstrating the kind of intensity that Marmol wants to instill in the young clubhouse. “To beat that out and to still have that level of intensity, it speaks a lot as to the mentality of, not only Jordan, but the group,” Marmol noted.
Walker’s performance has not gone unnoticed, as baseball analysts are beginning to draw comparisons to Mark McGwire’s historic 1998 season, where he famously hit 70 home runs. Walker’s current pace puts him on track to potentially approach that legendary mark, a thought that excites both fans and players alike.
“Homering in half of your games would send you on the way to setting the all-time single-season record,” noted Sarah Langs, a baseball analyst. “Walker only hit six home runs last season, so this is a pace he’ll be quite happy with personally.”
As the Cardinals navigate the ups and downs of the early season, Walker's emergence as a power hitter is a much-needed boost for the team. His ability to combine discipline with aggression at the plate is a sign of maturity, and it bodes well for the Cardinals' offensive lineup moving forward.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will need Walker to maintain this momentum as they face a grueling schedule ahead. His development as a player is not just about personal success, but also about the impact he can have on the team’s performance as they strive to return to playoff contention.
“If the first pitch is a good pitch to hit, I need to go for it,” Walker explained, emphasizing his balanced approach. “But also, what mixes in with that is not chasing first pitch, as well. It’s just an even mix, staying within myself.”
As the 2026 season progresses, Walker to see if he can continue this historic pace and perhaps etch his name alongside the greatest hitters in Cardinals history.
“It means a lot,” Walker reiterated, underscoring the significance of his early success. With each passing game, he builds his own legacy and adds another chapter to the storied history of the St. Louis Cardinals.