Cardinals manager Oli Marmol provided reporters with updates regarding a handful of the club’s injured players this afternoon, the most optimistic of which was regarding outfielder Lars Nootbaar. As noted by MLB.com’s John Denton, the 26-year-old played a full game in left field for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Memphis this evening, which figures to be followed by a game at DH on Sunday. Assuming those final rehab games go well, Denton adds that Nootbaar is slated to head to St. Louis on Monday and could be activated from the injured list in time for that evening’s series opener against the Phillies.
The Cardinals opened the season with a makeshift outfield mix of Jordan Walker, prospect Victor Scott II, Alec Burleson, and Brendan Donovan due to injuries suffered not only by Nootbaar, but also center fielders Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson. Nootbaar’s start to the season has been delayed by a pair of fractures in his ribcage, while Edman has been dealing with pain in his surgically-repaired right wrist and Carlson suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder just before the season began.
Nootbaar’s return should provide a boost to the club’s production in the outfield, as he’s hit a solid .247/.356/.430 with a 120 wRC+ and an excellent 14.5% walk rate in 225 games for the Cardinals over the past two seasons. That steady production should help to offset the slow starts suffered by Walker (27 wRC+), Scott (4 wRC+), and Burleson (30 wRC+) so far this season, though it’s of course still too early in the season to make any long-term judgments about the aforementioned trio.
It appears that Nootbaar is significantly close to a return than either Edman or Carlson, neither of whom have resumed baseball activities at this point. That could change rather quickly, however, as Denton notes that Carlson was scheduled to have his shoulder examined by team doctors today, while Edman is scheduled to meet with a specialist on Monday. Both players could be cleared to resume baseball activities if those aforementioned check-ups go well.
Edman was hampered by wrist issues last year and missed nearly a month of action over the summer, leading to him going under the knife in October. He hasn’t bounced back from that surgery as well as expected, however, and missed all of Spring Training while dealing with continued soreness in his wrist. He was slated to be the club’s starting center fielder this season, though he’s capable of playing anywhere in the infield and outfield as needed and could receive time at his native position of shortstop alongside Masyn Winn and Brandon Crawford when healthy.
Carlson, meanwhile, appeared poised to replace Edman in center field to open the season before he too hit the injured list to open the season. While he posted strong numbers en route to a third place finish in NL Rookie of the Year voting back in 2021, the switch-hitter has struggled since with a .230/.316/.364 slash line in 204 games. It’s possible he’ll get regular reps in the outfield if he returns to action before Edman does, though once the club’s outfield is once again at full strength he figures to be relegated to work off the bench as the club’s fourth outfielder.
Looking beyond the outfield, Marmol also provided an update on right-hander Keynan Middleton to reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat) this afternoon. As relayed by Jones, Middleton received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow and is expected to resume baseball activities after a 72-hour rest period. The news represents a slight setback for Middleton, who was originally scheduled to begin his throwing program earlier this week.
Middleton has yet to make his Cardinals debut after signing a one-year deal with the club back in February, but pitched to a 3.38 ERA and 4.20 FIP in 51 games last year that included a dominant stretch run in New York where he posted an excellent 1.88 ERA with a 3.26 FIP while striking out 30.4% of batters faced. Upon his return, Middleton figures to slot into the club’s late-inning mix alongside the likes of Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero.
Getting Nootbaar back would be a nice boost.
Yeah, probably means Scott heads to Memphis to get some more experience. He’s really not hitting at all.
No way he should be sent down. He brings way too much to this team if you’ve been watching these games. If edman gets healthy soon, this team is going to have some issues getting guys playing time.
If he’s am automatic out, he’s going to get sent down. Also he has options.
I hate to see that defense busted up!!
Scott II is an intriguing part of the Cards solid Defense.
The obvious seem to be Gorman as the odd man out with his 40% strikeouts rate and the fact that Donavan, with better range, is a better second baseman than Gorman.
With this lineup—— the Cardinals retain their solid defense——
Depending how Nootbar hits out of the gate…. Nootbar replacing Gorman in the batting order should be a huge Plus!!
The Defense will remain strong and the offense should be stronger with a contact hitter such as Nootbar replacing the 40% strikeout rate of Nolan Gorman.
First off, Scott has hit better than his numbers indícate. Yes he has struggled some but he doesn’t look overmatched. Donovan is a better 2nd baseman than Gorman, who should probably be slotted for DH against righties. But you are correct about playing time. Carlson should play, especially against lefties. Burleson too has hit better than his numbers indícate, and yes Siani probably will head to Memphis, but man, can he play defense. Winn has been nothing short of great. When Edman returns, he has to play 2nd. Lots of possibilities, but not sure about Crawford’s role when everybody get healthy.
Sinai more likely. He will never hit major league pitching
Siani will absolutely be the first sent down. Not sure who survives when Edman and Carlson come back.
I say this this with absolute respect and some envy. The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied franchises in MLB history. How the f#€k have they become so uninteresting?
Mozeliak And Marmol.
Yes I agree with Cards fan 57. Gotta include Dewitt. Dewitt and Mo did some really good things for years but time has passed them by. Dewitt needs to sell or get some younger fresh minds to inject energy and enthusiasm into Card franchise. Get rid of Oli. Bring Skip in when Marlins probably fire him soon . Need a change of face
While I agree a new face would help (and he/she is coming after Moz steps down) the Dewitt family isn’t going anywhere. The Cardinals are worth roughly 2.55 billion dollars and draw 3+ million a year. Would you sell that cash cow?
Can we just talk about the matter at hand, rather than always blowing every news item into a critique of the organization as a whole?
Do Nootbaars have nougat?
With Noot coming back—- placing him 2nd in the batting order behind Donavan would seem to be a natural fit. More base runners in front of Goldy and Arenado.
Thus sliding Down the rest of the line up one notch. Gorman—- because of his 40% strikeouts rate—— is the obvious odd man out — with Donavan taking his place at 2nd.
Do any other Cards fans cringe at the sight of Olis name in these articles? Never had someone’s name bring out anger in me ha h
Siani should go down when Lars is activated. Scott’s elite defense shoudl keep him in the Big Show for a few weeks longer.
“Meanwhile” has to START the sentence, Deeds. It can’t come in the middle, separated by commas.