Jordan Walker is on pace to join Albert Pujols in rare Cardinals history

Jordan Walker is on pace to join Albert Pujols in rare Cardinals history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The St. Louis Cardinals are having a surprising 2026 MLB season. Not only are they an actual postseason contender, but they've been getting production from players they didn't think would be this good.

Jordan Walker, who had a -2.6 bWAR coming into the 2026 season, has been the biggest surprise. He's already reached 2.9 bWAR in just 43 games in 2026, as his breakout this year has been a massive surprise.

But, Walker isn't simply breaking out; he's also trying to join some rare Cardinals history alongside Albert Pujols. As USA Today's Bob Nightengale highlighted, Walker is on pace to accomplish a home-run feat only five others have done in franchise history.

Jordan Walker is on track to join rare Cardinals HR history

"Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker, who has never hit more than 16 homers in a season, already has 13 and is on pace to hit 45," Nightengale writes. "How rare of a feat is that for the Cardinals? The Cardinals have had only five players hit 40 homers in a season. The last Cardinal to hit 40 homers was Albert Pujols in 2010."

Walker, the 24-year-old slugger who has 13 homers in 43 games and is on track for 45 on the season, could join a short list of Cardinals with 40 homers in a season.

Pujols is an obvious one, as he reached the mark a few times in his career. Mark McGwire is another, as his 70-homer mark in 1998 is the franchise record.

Johnny Mize in 1940 hit 43 homers, which is tied for the sixth-most in franchise history with Pujols' 2003 season.

MORE: 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals

Jim Edmonds reached 42 homers twice, once in 2000 and another time in 2004. And the fifth Cardinals player to reach 40 homers in a single season was Roger Hornsby back in 1922 with 42.

Starting on May 17th, the Cardinals will play in 117 more games. With Walker's pace, he could reach 46 homers if he plays the rest of the season. He will need to stay hot, and if he does, this 40-homer club should have a new member by the end of 2026.

Walker could join some rare company in Cardinals history as just the sixth slugger to record 40 homers in a season, while becoming the first since 2010, Pujols, to reach the mark as well.