Already an MLB All-Star and a Home Run Derby champion for the first time in his MLB career, Jordan Walker's 2026 got even better on Monday when he learned that he is the Cardinals' nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for his work with St. Louis-area children.
The greatest year of Jordan Walker’s baseball life got even better on Monday when he was named the St. Louis Cardinals’ nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, an annual honor that recognizes the MLB player who best represents the game through community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.
Each Major League Baseball team nominates a player for the league-wide award, which honors the legacy of Hall of Famer and humanitarian Roberto Clemente. Walker will be recognized during an on-field presentation at Busch Stadium on Tuesday as part of Roberto Clemente Day before the Cardinals host the Giants.
Walker – an MLB All-Star for the first time in 2026 and the Home Run Derby champion – and his mother, Katrina, are co-founders of “Walker’s Winners Foundation,” an initiative that encourages young people to set ambitious educational goals while building confidence through achievement. For the past three years, the foundation has partnered with area schools and summer programs to challenge elementary-aged students to establish and accomplish “stretch goals” in reading and mathematics, emphasizing persistence, personal growth and belief in one’s own potential.
“I was blindsided by (the award), but it’s truly an honor and I don’t know if I can live up to it,” Walker said from the Cardinals dugout on Monday before his team took on San Francisco. “But this is truly special.
“I just kind of look at myself and the things that I wanted to do (in giving back to the community) and I thought was cool, but I don’t know if the kids nowadays do. I wanted to give kids the opportunity if they wanted to do something and expand the opportunities that they do have. I kind of see myself (in the children that he works with), and that’s why I do it.”
Previous Cardinals player to win the Roberto Clemente Award include Adam Wainwright (2020), Yadier Molina (2018), Carlos Beltran (2013), Albert Pujols (2008), Ozzie Smith (1995) and Lou Brock (1975), the most of any MLB club.
The award is the latest accomplishment in a year where Walker, 24, has had his finest season on the field for the Cardinals. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound slugger has slashed .281/.336/.488/.824 with career highs in home runs (28) and RBI (100). After three seasons of struggles that often saw him shuttled between Memphis and the big leagues, Walker has also recorded career-best numbers for games played (146), hits (159), doubles (33) and stolen basses (19).
“It’s definitely been fun, playing baseball and having more fun with it and being more relaxed,” Walker admitted. “That’s been good for who I am, my headspace, and being around my teammates. Everybody here has been goal-oriented with one focus, but I’ve been more relaxed and I think that’s what baseball should be about. We go about our business, but we know we have people here to support us and help us so that we don’t have to put too much pressure on ourselves.”
During the 2026 season, Walker had more than 200 students and their families from the “Walker’s Winners” foundation’s school-year program to Busch Stadium to celebrate their accomplishments. He also visited LifeWise StL to introduce the program to children and staff. Also, he will host more than 200 participants from the foundation’s summer session at Busch Stadium later this week at Busch Stadium. In addition, “Walker’s Winners” has begun working with the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities in East St. Louis to help preserve an arts institution that has historically helped young people thrive.
Walker, who grew up in the Atlanta area, got to meet several MLB players during his formative years and he said those experiences shaped his desires to play in the big leagues. Walker said he takes the responsibility of being a role model seriously.
“You get to watch (MLB players) on the field all the time, but then when you get to meet them up close and personal, I thought it was pretty cool back then,” Walker said. “That had a huge drive on me wanting to become a Major League Baseball player and that was big for me.”
