League: MLB Sport: Baseball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Cardinals hitters graded as team prepares for 2027 season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 12:00 PM

Last updated Oct 3, 2026

Cardinals hitters graded as team prepares for 2027 season

Summary

The St. Louis Cardinals, looking ahead to the 2027 MLB season, have graded key hitters after a promising yet inconsistent 2026 campaign. Alec Burleson excelled in his first full season as a starter at first base, hitting.279 with 26 home runs and a league-leading 116 RBIs. Leo Bernal impressed as a rookie catcher, while Jordan Walker emerged as a major breakout with his first All-Star selection and a Home Run Derby win. JJ Wetherholt, despite a mid-season injury, showcased strong defensive skills and expectations for the NL Rookie of the Year. The evaluations come amid persistent questions about the Cardinals' scoring ability, emphasizing the need for continued improvement.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Alec Burleson graded an A after a breakout season with 26 homers.
•Leo Bernal showed promise as the team's lead catcher with an A grade.
•Jordan Walker earned an A- after an All-Star season and Home Run Derby win.
•JJ Wetherholt secured a B+ despite injury challenges, excelling defensively.
•The Cardinals faced ongoing scoring concerns throughout the 2026 season.

Latest Updates

12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Grading the Cardinals Hitters in 2026: Part 1

What they're saying

"
Although the St. Louis Cardinals can pencil in most of their lineup heading into 2027, they didn’t start the season that way. Aside from Alec Burleson and Iván Herrera, questions remained about how St. Louis would score runs, even as several young players bred promise. Those concerns didn’t evaporate during the 2026 campaign – especially …
— Yahoo Sports

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