The Cardinals breakout batter will begin the final stretch of his remarkable season and will likely finish behind of Shohei Ohtani in this year’s ballot. But he’ll get his own set of hardware soon enough
By Ryan K Boman | July 17, 2026 | @RyanKBoman on X
Jordan Walker will be the next St. Louis Cardinals player to win the National League MVP Award. Period.
And while that’s not really a groundbreaking thought at this point, it would have made most of Cardinal Nation fall off their chairs with laughter just a few months ago. However, Walker has finally broken out, like a butterfly that was just waiting to show off its wings. He capped off a breakthrough first half of the season by capturing the attention of the nation with his Herculean hitting in the Home Run Derby
So, it does make you take stock in the fact that the emerging slugger has come from those depths to reach the plateaus he’s standing on today. He had been up and down for two straight seasons after debuting in the big leagues in 2023 at just 20 years old. Being inserted into the lineup on Opening Day worked out for a while before MLB pitchers solved him rather quickly. Fans of the team grew frustrated, thinking they had been misled about Walker’s true talent.
Turns out it had nothing to do with his talent and everything to do with the timing. Walker may have been a pot on the stove that was simmering, but he wasn’t ready to boil yet. He needed more time in the minors, and that was a process that spread out over three, mind-numbing seasons.
Considered a washout by many during another Spring of struggling, some simply said to give up on him; he was a tremendous talent who turned out to be a bust, they reasoned. Now, those same people are glad that St. Louis held on to hope when it came to their best prospect in years. Forming a nucleus now with fellow youngsters, shortstop Masyn Winn and second baseman JJ Wetherholt, he is the power-hitting leader of El Pichones. They form a nucleus that should make St.Louis a Series contender soon.
Walker is Close to MVP Status… but not yet
With JordanWalker’s current numbers and his Derby showcase, he has gone from St. Louis superstar to someone who is being mentioned among the best players in baseball now. So much so, that he is now among the top five names that are expected to win the 2026 National League MVP Award.
While Walker’s stats this season have stood out (.294 batting average, 22 home runs, 74 RBI, and a .886), it’s going to be tough for anyone to catch two-way talent Shohei Ohtani. The reigning MVP is having a historic year on the mound and at the plate. And Ohtani is a proven commodity; he’s already a four-time Most Valuable Player, winning two in the American League before getting a pair of awards in his first two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is, quite simply, on his way to one of the best careers ever in MLB history. Perhaps even the greatest ever.
However, not winning the award in 2026 means nothing for a player of Walker’s age and size. At 6’6″ and 250 pounds, he will be blasting baseballs into the bleachers for several more seasons in St. Louis. That is, if the Cards are smart enough to sign him to a long-term deal, much like they did with a fellow first-rounder in Wetherholt.
Jordan Walker has shown us enough that he will eventually rise even higher and be the favorite to win someday. He should win one league MVP Award in his career, and maybe even two. Unfortunately for the St. Louis Cardinals, if they don’t focus on keeping him? He could win those awards while wearing a different uniform.
