Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, and Victor Scott II made history last season. For the first time in 20 years three Black players were in the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day lineup.
But the 2024 season did not carry the same hype for these three MLBbros throughout the year.
Walker was the most prominent prospect out of the trio. MLB Pipeline ranked him the fourth best prospect in the sport in 2023, and he was similarly heralded on several other outlets. Walker struggled out of the gate in 2024, as the 6’6 250 pounder slashed .155/.239/.259 without a homer, prompting an option to Triple-A Memphis.
Scott struggled immensely as he was initially overmatched by major league pitching, hitting .085 with a .274 OPS. He was sent down on April 21 before making adjustments in Memphis—including a more profound leg kick—and getting recalled for an extended run in August where he began to hold his own.
Winn stayed in the big leagues throughout the season, solidifying himself in his first full MLB season. He posted 4.9 bWAR, a 103 wRC+, and 14 Defensive Runs Saved as the starting shortstop, but did struggle offensively in the second half as pitchers began to adjust to his aggressiveness and lack of plate discipline as a hitter .
Scott and Walker reclaimed their roles on the Cardinals’ roster in 2025, and the two—along with Winn—are showing improvements in all phases of the game this season.
Victor Scott’s Impact in the Field and on the Bases
Scott earned the Cardinals’ center field job out of spring training, hitting .349 with a 1.172 OPS and four homers. His maturation as a hitter showed, and Scott got off to a solid start in the regular season before recent struggles. He has an 89 wRC+ but is a dangerous threat once he reaches first base.
Scott is 17 for 18 in stolen base attempts as his 30.1 ft/sec average sprint speed, per Baseball Savant, ranks among the best in baseball. With his athletic tools, Scott has even gone to the next level defensively. Working with assistant coach Jon Jay, Scott has improved his routes, reads, and jumps in center field. He has amassed eight outs above average (3rd in baseball), becoming an elite weapon in the nine-hole for St. Louis.
Jordan Walker’s Leap in Right Field and Recent Hot Stretch at the Dish
Jordan Walker came up through the minor leagues as a third baseman, but to make room on the big-league roster, the Cardinals converted Walker to an outfielder. It was not an easy transition as he had limited work at his new position before being thrown into the Major Leagues as a right fielder.
It was an ugly experience, as Walker garnered -11 outs above average combined between 2023 and 2024. But as he’s grown more comfortable in right–along with guidance from Jay–Walker has been a competent defender in 2025, posting no outs above average, but clearly a massive defensive improvement then he previously showed.
He is still looking for consistency with the bat in his 3rd season as a major leaguer. Currently, he is on the injured list with left wrist inflammation, which interrupted a hot streak for Walker as he looked to begin to turn things around. In his last 15 games, Walker hit .273 with a .721 OPS, while driving in 11 runs in that span. On the season, he is hitting .304 with an .818 OPS and 21 RBI with runners in scoring position in 50 plate appearances.
Along with his 84th percentile sprint speed, Walker still has the potential to be a complete player in the bigs.
Masyn Winn’s Sustainable Approach at the Plate and Renowned Defense
After tapering off after the All-Star break last year, Masyn Winn has shifted his approach which has led to more slug, some more swing and miss, and more patience, heightening his offensive sustainability. It did not come without its growing pains early , but Winn slashed .322/.397/.525 in April, boasting a .922 OPS in the month. He was moved to the two-hole on April 29 and has cemented himself at the top of the order.
The 23-year-old shortstop is hitting .273 with a .772 OPS on the season, good for a 120 wRC+. Winn has improved his walk rate to 9.4% as well, as he’s been more selective at the plate while doing more damage when he gets pitches he can drive.
His calling card has always been his defense at short. Winn has six outs above average in 2025 (4th in MLB). Winn pitched in his younger days and still holds a cannon on his right shoulder, as he averages throws nearing 90 mph. And just like his fellow MLBbro teammates, Winn is fleet of foot, sitting in the 83rd percentile in sprint speed in the league.
These three MLBbros seem to be finding their way in the majors and are key contributors to the Cardinals’ 34-28 start to the season. With all of the tools Winn, Walker, and Scott possess, they can be core pieces in St. Louis together for years to come.
