The Cardinals got a bit of a scare when Jordan Walker appeared to injure his shoulder while sliding into second base during yesterday’s spring contest. However, after some examination, it seems like Walker is fine. “I’m good. I’m fine. I’m going to go hit after this (meeting). …I knew it wasn’t anything serious,” Walker said to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Walker did not have an MRI and will take batting practice today, per John Denton of MLB.com.
The fact that Walker is fine will surely be welcome news to the Cards and their fans. Though he doesn’t turn 21 until May, he’s one of the top prospects in the league and is pushing for a spot on the Opening Day roster. He spent all of last year in Double-A, hitting 19 home runs and stealing 22 bases in 119 games at that level. His .306/.388/.510 batting line was 28% better than league average, by measure of wRC+.
A natural third baseman, Walker has been moved to the outfield due to the Nolan Arenado-shaped obstacle at the hot corner. Now Walker will be looking to crack an outfield mix consisting of Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson, Lars Nootbaar, Juan Yepez and Alec Burleson.
Some other health notes from around the league…
- Orioles left-hander Nick Vespi tells Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner that he’s scheduled to pitch tomorrow. The southpaw underwent surgery to repair a hernia in January and has been held out of spring action until now. Vespi made his MLB debut last year and posted a 4.10 ERA over 25 appearances, striking out 25% of batters faced, walking 7.1% of them and getting grounders at a 42.7% clip. It’s possible that Vespi could take his game to another level, as he also made 26 Triple-A appearances last year without allowing an earned run and even better rate stats. If Vespi is back to health, he should slot into the club’s left-handed relief mix next to Cionel Pérez and Keegan Akin.
- The Reds announced their lineup for today’s Spring Training game and it features Joey Votto batting second and playing first base. This will be his first Cactus League game of the year, as he’s been working his way back from August shoulder surgery. Votto spoke about his rehab in January, expressing confidence in his ability to get back to 100% health at some point, although he wasn’t sure if that would be at the start of spring. Though he’s missed the first handful of spring contests, he’ll now be back on the field with over two weeks to go until Opening Day. This will be Votto’s 17th year for the Reds and the final guaranteed season of the $225MM extension he signed back in 2012. The 39-year-old will make $25MM this year and then the club has a $20MM option for 2024 with a $7MM buyout. Votto struggled last year before the surgery, hitting .205/.319/.370 for a wRC+ of 92. But the year prior, he launched 36 home runs and had a much stronger line of .266/.375/.563, 139 wRC+.
Always wanted to see Votto in a Blue Jays uniform. He has been great for baseball. Twilight year magic if Belt leaves? Here’s hoping.
Not trying to sound like a smart *** but how has he been great for baseball?
Just seems like he’s an extremely likable guy.
Agreed, although it took me time to get there as a Cubs fan. His on field antics used to irritate me (ie. Throwing the ball on Wrigleys roof instead of giving it to a fan, etc.). Now, after hearing interviews, I think it’s funny.
Steve Garvey was a likable guy, too. (With the ladies anyway.) 😉
He is a cult hero in Canada right up there with Larry Walker. A whole country of kids grew up idolizing them and other Canadian MLB’ers like Matt Stairs, Russel Martin and many others! Great for Canadian Baseball for sure!
Joey has said often he doesn’t want to play anywhere else. I personally think it’s his last year but who knows.
We’ll see at the end of the year if both hold up.
You have to say that as a professional under contract who has spent their entire career with one organization. He may have a short list of potential twilight destinations but he’ll never say that until the opportunity arises.
Well…if he was going to do that, I think he would have already when they started tearing the team apart and he saw the reboot coming. I know I would have been tempted if I was at that point in my career and never in a World Series.
Cionel Perez was an absolute monster last year out of the pen, and I feel like very few people noticed.
I noticed ,vader……..signed, Reds fan
Could be that he’s pitching in a ballpark where mistakes don’t cost him as much.
Or he just finally figured it out.
the orioles have tended towards their pitchers getting things figured out. their pitching staff absolutely seems to know what theyre doing. i do buy into most of their breakout pitching performances as legit
Vespi. 6 plus years plodding along in the O’s minor league system. Nothing flashy to show for it but he kept at it. Got his shot last year and showed up. Dude! Go gettum Nick.
still walks a Lotta dudes tho
I’m Positive Castellini is gonna pick up that 25 million dollar option. The biggest spender in Pro Sports. Makes Cohen look like a bag boy.
Somewhere in Cincinnati and for reasons unbeknownst to him Castellini clutches his wallet a little tighter right now…
It’s $20M for 2024, and they are on the hook for $7M regardless. So it’s a $13M decision, but I agree it won’t be picked up. If there is some Votto magic again in 23 that could change things, but it’s unlikely, age is undefeated.
It will be good to see Votto back in the lineup after those injuries.
Can’t wait to see if he returns to 2021 form after surgery. Looking forward to it
The same guys who are panning the Cubs for Signing Bellinger a year and a half after surgery are saying Votto is going to be good as gold after shoulder surgery 6 months ago and at age 39. You should hear yourselves.
Who said Votto will be good as gold? I didn’t see anything like that. I saw a few hopes.
Votto is a $3.6MM/WAR player, looks like a very high cost/benefit ratio.
There’s more to baseball than one stat.
I’m bothered by the fact that there was no imaging done on Walker’s shoulder. He has every reason in the world to say it’s fine. But the Cardinals should be smart and cautious. No reason to a let guy like that do permanent damage in order play a few more games in March.
I agree. It’s much better safe than sorry. They have the equipment and personnel on site.
Votto usually is a late starter and doesn’t do well in April. Rushing to be ready by OD is to his own detriment. Hopefully CES’ huge spring does not accel Votto’s return prematurely.
Is CES trying to “Wally Pip” Votto?