Jordan Walker Played Through Lingering Hip Pain Down Stretch

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker played through lingering hip pain and physical discomfort late in the season, which contributed to a September slump where he slashed just .172/.232/.287. The Cardinals do not expect the injury to impact his offseason, having prescribed him rest for recovery. Despite the late fade, Walker finished a strong 2026 breakout campaign batting .269 with 29 home runs, 102 RBI, and 22 stolen bases across 156.2 innings of overall strong production.