“This All-Star selection, J-Walk, isn’t about three months of production, brother,” Marmol said during the clubhouse meeting. “This is about three years of perseverance. And you’ve done a hell of a job. This whole, entire room has seen this dude get criticized, sent down, and a ton of people doubting whether you would ever become the player you’re becoming right now.”
Entering Saturday night’s game at Wrigley, Walker led the National League with 63 RBIs. He’s paired that with career bests already in home runs with 19 and stolen bases with 11.
He’s on pace to soar in this season past the 27 home runs and 112 RBIs he had total in his first three seasons in the majors. Walker is batting .290 with a .519 slugging percentage and an .867 OPS. The Georgia native spent this past week putting on a show near his hometown. With as many as 200 friends and family in attendance for some of the Cardinals games against the Braves, and his parents there for every pitch, Walker hit a three-run homer, stole a base, had an outfield assist, and pulled off a deft slide to avoid a tag and touch home.
The series was a distilled version of his season and the confident athleticism that has defined his breakthrough.
“Overall just becoming a way, way more well-rounded player,” Winn said.
While teammates such as Alec Burleson, Riley O’Brien, or rookie JJ Wetherholt could yet to be added to the roster to replace players who bow out, if Walker goes as the lone Cardinal player, it will be the fourth consecutive year the club has had only one player representative.
Marmol will be on the NL’s coaching staff as the other Cardinal present.
For the second consecutive year, the Cardinals did not have a player chosen by the fans to start the game or by the players to be on the roster.