The St. Louis Cardinals certainly have a bright future. 

St. Louis took home the National League Central crown in 2022 after finishing the regular season with a 93-69 record. The Cardinals should contend in 2023 with much of the same roster from last season returning but could be even better. 

One player that is poised to play a major role for the club is top prospect, Jordan Walker. The 20-year-old made history with his Opening Day start and has been red-hot to open the season. 

Walker entered the Cardinals' Wednesday matinee clash against the Atlanta Braves with at least one hit in each game so far and continued to shine as he mashed his first career big league home run. 

The electric young outfielder stepped up to the plate with the Cardinals staring at a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning and responded by blasting a no-doubter into the left field stands. 

Walker was drafted in the first round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft and has had a meteoric rise through the club's farm system. The young slugger began his professional career with the Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals and quickly was promoted to the High-A Peoria Chiefs in 2021. He spent the entire 2022 season with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals and has impressed at every step of the way.

The 20-year-old has potential to be a true five-tool player at the big leagues and already is showing glimpses of it. If you are a betting person, now may be the time to place a wager on Walker to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award before the odds completely change. Walker has shined so far to open the 2023 season and hasn't looked like a rookie in the slightest. St. Louis fans are going to love the young outfielder for years to come. 

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