(PHOTO CREDIT: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Now that Turner Ward is no longer the Cardinals hitting coach, the question arises as to who is next in line.

One of the potential candidates? Former Cardinal slugger Ryan Ludwick

Ludwick is currently classified as a special advisor alongside former Cardinal closer Jason Isringhausen for the minor league teams. But now, with Ward gone, there’s a chance that could change.

In his playing career, Ludwick had a slash line of .260/.330/.451 with 154 home runs in 12 seasons. His best year came in 2008, when he won a Silver Slugger award and appeared in his lone All-Star Game. He hit a .299/.375/.591 slash line and an OPS+ of 151. He slugged 37 home runs and drove in 113 runners that year as well.

According to Baseball Reference, since 2023, the Cardinals’ offense has ranked 17th in wRC+ (101), 16th in OPS (.723), and 16th in wOBA (.315). With runners in scoring position since 2023, the Cardinals have the 4th-worst OPS (.703), the 6th-worst wRC+ (92), and the 4th-worst batting average (.238).

Now, it goes without saying not ALL of that is Ward’s doing (or undoing). It all can’t fall on one man. But a change needed to be made sooner than it finally did.

Ludwick has been a coach in the minors for St. Louis since 2022. The 46 year-old has spent his entire coaching career in the Cardinals organization. For a franchise well known for internal hires, this one would make sense.

He was instrumental in helping improve the swing velocities and motions of many current Cardinals, most notably Victor Scott II, who had a late-season resurgence in 2024.