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St Louis Cardinals Spring Training 2024 Program
The newest dynamic duo in St. Louis might be an odd sight at first glance. The 6-foot-6, 245 pound Jordan Walker and the 5-foot-11, 180 pound Masyn Winn might not physically see eye-to-eye, but they’re certainly on the same page. The tandem’s tight-knit relationship continues to grow stronger as the 21-year-olds are poised to play major roles for the Cardinals in 2024.
Both made their Major League debuts last season, with Walker making the Opening Day roster following an exciting Spring Training in Jupiter and Winn getting the call in August. The stretch of baseball before Winn arrived in St. Louis has been the longest the tandem’s been separated since joining the Cardinals organization.
The duo instantly clicked on and off the field following the 2020 draft. The Cardinals selected Walker and Winn, both straight out of high school, with their first two picks. After navigating the pandemic, both found themselves settled into the 2021 Opening Day lineup with the Palm Beach Cardinals. Sharing the left side of the infield, it truly felt like they were glued at the hip.
For Walker, his strength and power were on display immediately. The then 18-year-old sent the first professional pitch he ever saw over the left field wall at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for a monster solo homer against the Daytona Tortugas. Just 27 games into his Palm Beach stint, the Georgia native was already moving up within the Cardinals organization. As a Beach Bird, Walker slashed an eye-popping .374/.475/.687 with six home runs and 21 RBIs.
For Winn, fans in Palm Beach County were instantly amazed at his arm strength and defensive abilities. Once thought to be a twoway player, the middle infielder showcases his arm strength on every single throw across the diamond, including the record breaking 100.4 MPH throw in the 2022 Futures Game. The Texas native played 61 games for Palm Beach before reuniting with Walker in High-A affiliate Peoria Chiefs.
As they moved up through the ranks, each level presented new challenges and more jaw-dropping moments from the pair. With shared stops at High-A Peoria, Double-A Springfield, Triple-A Memphis, and eventually Busch Stadium, their relationship never wavered. Whether it was sharing apartments, advice, or laughs they continued to lean on each other.
Now, as the 2024 season comes closer every day, their story comes full circle. After showing both offensive and defensive flashes late last season, both Winn and Walker are expecting to be key contributors to a revamped Cardinals team for the upcoming campaign. Of course, their newest chapter begins where it once started, on the backfields here at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
