Cardinals’ trio offer hope as MLB’s Black ranks sink
PHOENIX – St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker, shortstop Masyn Winn and center fielder Victor Scott II represent a generation of young Black ballplayers who are trying to turn back the clock, with a triumphant return of African American athletes to MLB.
The Cardinals are MLB’s lone team to have three everyday Black position players under 25 this season. The last time a team had three Black position players 23 or younger in their opening-day lineup was the 2007 Tampa Bay Rays.
“We take a lot of pride, especially being in St. Louis with a large Black population there,” Winn, 22, tells USA TODAY Sports. “We want to go out there and show that baseball is also fun for the Black community.”
Team legends Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee sat down with the trio before the season, helping them understand the responsibility of bringing the next generation of Black players to baseball.
Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 – the 77th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in 1947. The African American population on opening-day rosters and injured lists this season is 5.7%, according to a USA TODAY Sports study, the lowest since 1955.
Baseball cites the rocketing expense of travel baseball and showcase events. They talk about how there are just 11.7 scholarships for NCAA Division I teams. And, of course, there’s the fact that with so few Black major leaguers, kids are simply turning to sports where players can look like them.
MLB, which has had three Black players called up to the big leagues since opening day, is encouraged there are 23 other Black players on 40-man rosters who are in the minors.