The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off two consecutive underwhelming seasons. As they head into 2025, the team aims to reduce payroll and prioritize developing their younger players. The Cardinals boast a wealth of homegrown talent, especially among their starters, including utility player Brendan Donovan, outfielder Jordan Walker, and infielder Nolan Gorman. Ahead of the upcoming season, Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso shared some motivational words for Walker and Gorman, as reported by team beat writer Benjamin Hochman on X (formerly Twitter).
Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso shared his thoughts on Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, stating, “I mean, if we’re being honest, Jordan has to hit more line drives and Nolan has to make more contact. Like, in the simplest form. They’re going to get the chance to go do that,” as posted by Benjamin Hochman on X, formerly Twitter.
Descalso’s critiques are fair, as both Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman need to elevate their game in 2025. Once highly regarded prospects, both have faced challenges transitioning to the majors. Adopting the adjustments suggested by Descalso could be key to unlocking the potential they showed in the minors. While public criticism like this is uncommon, it feels justified in this case. For the Cardinals to return to contention, players like Walker and Gorman must take significant strides forward next season. Whether they can rise to the occasion remains to be seen.
Cardinals look to improve in 2025, beyond
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt departed in free agency, and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak continues to focus on reducing payroll. Efforts are reportedly centered on trading veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, though there’s a possibility he remains with the team on Opening Day. Additionally, the Cardinals are said to be exploring trades for starting pitchers Steven Matz and Sonny Gray. In this cost-cutting environment, significant development from players like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman would be an ideal outcome.
However, there’s a risk that Descalso’s public critique could hinder their progress, as some players may not respond well to open criticism. With spring training approaching, the Cardinals and their fans will soon gauge how much Walker and Gorman have grown. Can they take the leap into stardom in 2025? If so, it could pave the way for daily progress and improvement at Busch Stadium.