Last season, the St. Louis Cardinals’ No. 4 prospect, Victor Scott II, caused some concern with an underwhelming showing. After impressing in Double-A, he struggled in 2024, batting just .210 with six home runs at Triple-A, and his major league stint was even rougher, hitting only .129 with two home runs.
Scott had earned his high standing in the Cardinals’ farm system largely due to his elite speed and defensive ability, capable of covering the outfield with Gold Glove-caliber range. MLB Pipeline graded him at 70 for fielding and a perfect 80 for speed on the 20-80 scouting scale. Following his 2024 struggles, he looked more like a potential bench option known for speed and defense—but this season, he’s turned things around in a big way.
While Scott is now finding his rhythm at the big-league level, the same can’t be said for fellow former top prospect Jordan Walker.
Jordan Walker’s tenure in St. Louis is looking like a bust
Scott is hitting .289 with a .359 on-base percentage and a .412 slugging percentage, good for a .771 OPS, and has already launched two home runs—quieting doubts about his offensive potential at the major league level. Still, his standout trait remains his speed. He’s swiped 11 bases in 12 tries, but it’s not just his stolen base count that benefits the Cardinals. For example, here’s video of Scott scoring all the way from first base:
As recently as 2023, Walker ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall prospect. In his first two pro seasons, he showed advanced contact skills with emerging power. That year, he debuted in the majors and hit .276 with 16 home runs over 420 at-bats, offering a glimpse of his star upside.
But things took a sharp turn in his second season, when he batted just .201. Now in his third MLB campaign, Walker is struggling even more, slashing .196/.262/.268 with only two home runs in 112 at-bats.
At this stage, Walker appears to be a fading hope. With the Cardinals hovering around .500 in a tight NL Central race, there’s little room for underperformance—or for waiting on what Walker might eventually become. If he doesn’t turn things around quickly, his days in St. Louis could be numbered.
