When Jordan Walker suited up for Class AAA Memphis on Friday night, the Cardinals rookie entered the ballgame having gone without a homer in his last 65 at-bats. The homerless drought was one that spanned 16 games with his most recent being hit on April 28 on the road vs. Tampa Bay’s Class AAA affiliate, Durham.
Then came the 20-year-old’s at-bat first at-bat on Friday night. After working the count full, Walker sent a 3-2 fastball from Braves’ pitching prospect AJ Smith-Shawver 364 feet to right-center field for a solo shot in the second inning of Memphis’s 5-4 home loss to Atlanta’s Class AAA affiliate, Gwinnett.