Just when it looked like Jordan Walker might finally be turning a corner, the baseball gods hit the brakes — again.
23-year-old Cardinals outfielder, Jordan Walker, was a late scratch before Tuesday’s game against the Cubs, and it turns out the issue was far more serious than your typical day-to-day tweak. Walker was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with appendicitis. The good news? It was caught early — before it ruptured — and treated with antibiotics. Which means no surgery and a faster return timeline, thus he shouldn’t be sidelined too long.
Still, the Cardinals placed him on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday, retroactive to Monday. Manager Oli Marmol said Walker’s already feeling better and, barring setbacks, could be back as soon as the IL stint is up.
How Long will Walker be Sidelined?
“Pretty quick recovery,” Marmol told reporters, “but he’s still going to be down for four or five days. It made sense to rest it and then build up again. This isn’t going to be an extended absence.”
Walker’s 2025 season has already been a frustrating rollercoaster. Coming in with high expectations — and a promised shot at consistent playing time — the 6-foot-6 slugger has struggled to find his footing at the plate. Through 55 games, he’s slashing just .210/.267/.295 with three home runs, 23 RBIs, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio that’s raised eyebrows (63 K’s to just 12 walks). Even with extra work alongside new hitting coach Brant Brown, the results have been slow to come.
He seemed to be gaining momentum back in late May, putting together a 7-for-19 stretch with six RBIs across five games. But just as quickly as the hot streak started, it stopped — inflammation in his left wrist sidelined him for two weeks. Since returning, he’s gone just 3-for-18 with six strikeouts.
Plan B Ain’t so Bad
In the meantime, Alec Burleson has surged ahead in the outfield rotation. He homered Monday against the Cubs in an 8-2 victory. He came up huge defensively Tuesday night, making two run-saving catches to help secure another Cardinals win.
Marmol emphasized how fortunate the team felt that Walker’s condition was caught so early. “He came in for BP and said he felt something in his side. It lingered, got worse. The trainers and docs ran some quick checks, sent him for imaging — and there it was. Early signs of appendicitis.”
Walker spent the night in the hospital as a precaution, getting antibiotics and avoiding what could’ve been a much bigger setback. “I talked to him this morning,” Marmol added. “He’s in a better spot.”
If all goes well, Jordan Walker should be back by early July — hopefully with some better luck and a chance to finally string together some momentum. Hopefully it will be a long time before he is sidelined again.
