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As Jordan Walker continues to get regular playing time for the Cardinals in right field, a position he hadn’t been at until he was a 20-year-old in Class AA in 2022, the building confidence there hasn’t come exclusively from the plays he’s made. He credits the sights from those around him as a factor in his growth.

“Honestly, I think I feel more from watching (Lars Nootbaar) and (Victor Scott II) make a good play,” Walker said Sunday of fellow Cardinals outfielders after the team’s 7-0 win Sunday over the Phillies. “It’s (like), ‘Oh my God, they made a highlight reel (play) and now it’s my turn. I want to make one.’ I would say that they’re better than me out there right now, but learning from them, feeding off of them, I think it definitely helps me.”

Through 14 games this season, Walker, 22, had a plus-one in both defensive runs saved (DRS) and outs above average (OAA), per FanGraphs. In 2023, Walker finished his rookie season with a minus-16 DRS and minus-14 OAA in 923 2/3 innings in the outfield before ending the 2024 season with a minus-4 DRS and minus-4 OAA in 367 1/3 innings as a right fielder in 2024.

He carried a 1.000 fielding percentage into his club’s series opener vs. the Astros on Monday at Busch Stadium and had one assist in 113 1/3 innings in right field. He ranked in the 77th percentile of qualified major league outfielders in range, per Statcast.

The strides Walker has made while working alongside his teammates and with assistant coach Jon Jay have been evident to those around him.

“(Walker) is an extreme competitor, as he kind of stated, without stating it,” Scott said before the game Monday. “That guy wants to make plays because we’re out there making plays. The whole defense is making plays. He wants to play his part in making great plays. He’s taking deeper dives into his routes, into his first jumps, and first steps and things like that. He’s definitely coming along, as we all are out there.”

What Walker has displayed to those around him has been added comfort and a more “confident” self while on defense.

“It’s nice of him to give me and (Scott) some credit, but I think it’s a testament to him and his work that he’s put in,” Nootbaar said of Walker. “He’s made some strides out there, and it’s been fun to watch. He just looks more comfortable and more confident. It’s really cool to see.”

On Saturday, Walker showed some of his defensive improvements on a back-handed sliding catch to keep Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott off the bases after Stott pulled a sinking line drive to right field. And when the Cardinals’ first trip of the season took them to Pittsburgh, Walker snagged the final out of a 5-3 win last Tuesday on a fly ball to the right-center field gap that would have scored a run and put the game-tying run on base had he not caught the ball.

Walker’s catch to seal a win was one Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol highlighted as a key play and an example of Walker’s development. When looking back at that catch, Walker said it was one he might not have made in years prior.

“I don’t think I do (catch that),” Walker said. “Honestly, it’s just really just trusting my first step. I mean, I think two years ago (or) last year, I would hesitate a little bit and that ball is in the gap, but right now, it was really about getting that first step jump. I’m just going to adjust afterward. But as long as you’re getting that first step jump and going toward the ball, I think that’s really the key (and) moving on from there.”

The play was one that added an example of the consistency Walker has shown that has come while taking the field with teammates including Nootbaar and Scott.

“When you have good people around you gain confidence from that,” Marmol said. “I think that applies to just about everything. They just up the level of accountability, engagement, and intentionality behind the work. You add Jon Jay to that mix, as far as his part in all of this. And yes, I think it does help.”

Prospect Mathews sidelined

Cardinals top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was placed on the seven-day injured list Sunday because of left (throwing) shoulder soreness. His timeline to return is to be determined, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told the Post-Dispatch on Monday.

Mathews, 24, struck out 202 batters in 2024 and was named the Cardinals’ and Baseball America’s minor league pitcher of the year. He has made three Class AAA starts to begin the 2025 season. He’s allowed seven runs, walked 15 batters, and struck out seven in 10 1/3 innings.

Mathews allowed four runs on five hits and walked six batters in 2 2/3 innings in his start Friday before going on the IL. His fastball averaged 92.6 mph and reached as a high as 94.4 mph in the outing, per Statcast. He flashed a fastball that averaged 94.2 mph and reached 95.8 mph in his previous outing before Friday’s.