Former 'Secret Weapon' honing top prospect Walker

JUPITER, Fla. -- Before Jordan Walker, MLB’s No. 4-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, could fully embark on trying to win a starting job and a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, he first had to endure and pass several tough-love sessions with Minor League instructor José Oquendo.

That high hurdle is something of a rite of passage for top Cardinals prospects through the years, and Walker is no exception.

Oquendo, who has been affiliated with the Cardinals since 1985 as a player and later a coach and instructor, spent the days leading up to Spring Training and several opening sessions this week drilling with the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Walker. The 59-year-old Oquendo has the distinction of owning the second-highest career fielding percentage for second basemen in NL/AL history (99.19%), but in Cardinals circles he is known more for his blunt honesty and his refusal to accept any excuses when it comes to defensive gaffes. No one is safe from Oquendo’s barbs, not even an elite prospect like the 20-year-old Walker, who is attempting to make the transition from third base to the outfield in hopes of making the big league roster this season.

Even after just a few sessions working with Oquendo, affectionately known as “Cheo” to the young players under his tutelage, Walker said he feels more comfortable and prepared to show himself as a capable outfielder at the MLB level.

“A lot of work with ‘Cheo’ -- route-running, seeing low line drives, working on my first-step quickness and stuff like that -- has been really good for me,” Walker said. “In the offseason I just took fly balls, but being here now with ‘Cheo’ and getting that tough-love treatment and teaching from him has really helped me. I’m ready to put what I’ve learned into a game.”

With Walker’s profile on the rise last season as he dominated at Double-A Springfield and in the invitation-only Arizona Fall League, the Cardinals moved him from third base to the outfield to prevent 10-time Gold Glover Nolan Arenado from blocking his surge toward the big leagues. Initially, Walker joked that one of the biggest differences between playing right field and third was how quiet it was without shortstop and close friend Masyn Winn -- the Cardinals' No. 2 prospect -- constantly chirping at him.

These days, it’s the coarse voice of Oquendo that Walker hears yelling at him when the veteran coach picks up on something afoul. Manager Oli Marmol, once a promising middle infielder in the Cardinals system who received a few tongue-lashings from Oquendo, likes that Walker is learning under someone as real and raw as Oquendo, who played all nine positions during his MLB career and was dubbed “The Secret Weapon” because of his versatility and high baseball IQ.

“[Oquendo] is as honest as they get,” Marmol said with a sly smile. “He does not care about your feelings, which I appreciate; he cares about you being better at your job. That’s a trait I absolutely love because at the end of the day, whether you like something or not, you’re going to be better and his honesty plays. I love having him around because he’s going to point out everything that isn’t right, and that’s good for our staff, our players and our camp.”

Walker, who hit .306 with an .898 OPS, 19 home runs, 68 RBIs and 22 stolen bases last season at Double-A Springfield, will be trying to crack an outfield of Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson and Lars Nootbaar. Walker will likely get even more MLB-level outfield opportunities this spring than normal with O’Neill and Nootbaar planning to play for Canada and Japan, respectively, in the World Baseball Classic. Considered a potential five-tool star and can’t-miss type of prospect, Walker has seen time at all three outfield slots, but he is expected to spend Spring Training trying to master right field while being tutored by Oquendo.

“We’ve gotten pretty good reports on his progress in the outfield,” Marmol said. “At the end of the day, Jordan is a really good athlete and it’s a matter of reps. He’s been able to put in intentional reps and his progress is looking good.”

Walker, who has raved about the chance to learn from Cardinals superstars Paul Goldschmidt, Willson Contreras and Arenado, said his mind is laser focused on doing everything in his power to win a spot on the MLB roster this spring. That focus and consuming obsession extends beyond the back fields at Roger Dean Stadium and the skill sessions with Oquendo, he said.

“Before I go to bed at night, I think about what’s before me,” he said. “I think about it all the time, to be totally honest. I’m definitely dreaming about what’s possible now.”