‘It felt like my outdated self:’ Walker torches ball in 3-hit day

Jordan Walker has been underneath a microscope since he broke camp with the Cardinals to start out the season. The low level that adopted his historic hitting streak — being despatched all the way down to Triple-A to, amongst different issues, work on his ground-ball fee — got here with struggles which might be arduous for anybody to steadiness, not to mention a 21-year-old.

So what has MLB’s high prospect been doing to assist himself calm down? Here’s a touch: it has nothing to do with baseball.

“I’m a big video game person. My friends who I went to high school with … we play NBA 2K23,” Walker mentioned, including with fun: “They have a lot more time to play it now than I do.”

Indeed, it’s taking the main target off of baseball typically that’s helped Walker really feel, in his personal phrases, “like my old self a little bit.” In maybe his greatest efficiency for Triple-A Memphis thus far, Walker homered for the second time in 4 video games, smoked a ball almost 115 mph and drove within the then-go-ahead run within the membership’s 13-12 loss to Norfolk.

“Being more relaxed, not putting too much pressure on myself, that’s kind of how it felt tonight,” Walker mentioned. “I just have to remember to trust in my abilities.”

Those talents are a number of the most promising in baseball, and for a short while, Walker felt himself being weighed down by these expectations — particularly those about lifting the ball extra. Over his previous 10 video games, although, the Cardinals’ high prospect is batting .318 with 5 extra-base hits and eight RBIs, in no small half because of Walker’s concerted effort to be extra relaxed.

Starting the competition for Norfolk was MLB’s No. 80 prospect in DL Hall (Orioles No. 5), a southpaw who was home-run susceptible. Walker took full benefit, connecting on a 2-2 changeup and sending it 416 toes to middle area for a two-run dinger. The ball was scorched at 105.7 mph off the bat.

“Right now, it’s just about driving the ball and hitting the ball hard,” Walker mentioned. “The most comfortable I am [at the plate] is when I think like that.”

By the time the fourth body rolled round, right-hander Chris Vallimont was on the bump and Walker was able to do extra injury. The righty slugger obtained one other changeup and hammered the pitch to left area for a single, this time torching it 114.7 mph off the bat, the hardest-hit ball of the day in Triple-A.

Walker drew a four-pitch free go off Vallimont within the seventh earlier than discovering himself on the plate in a 10-10 recreation within the backside of the eighth and a brand new pitcher coming in — righty Logan Gillaspie. On the very first pitch he threw, Walker laced the slider again up the center, driving within the then-go-ahead run and securing his second three-hit recreation of the season.

The Georgia native has been leaning on his teammates — particularly infielders Kramer Robertston and Taylor Motter — to assist hold him mentally centered. Walker was inspired to set little targets for himself to work on each recreation, slightly than wanting on the stat sheet each evening. It appears to be working wonders.

“Today’s goal was to catch the ball out in front. Doesn’t matter where it goes, just catch it out in front and hit something hard and in play,” Walker mentioned. “I feel like today, I accomplished that goal. Based on how I feel tomorrow, I’ll set another goal, just to keep my swing centered and where I want it to be.”

“It may not be the way I want it to turn out on the stat sheet, but as long as I meet those goals, swing mechanically-wise, that’s what I want to do.”