ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals outfield depth is getting tested to begin the season.
The Cardinals 2024 outfield will not begin at full strength when the teams head to Los Angeles next week. While Jordan Walker will slot in at right field, leftfield and centerfield will be short as starting CF Tommy Edman will be out for the beginning of the season as he works to recover from offseason wrist surgery and starting left fielder Lars Nootbaar still in the air as he works back from a ribcage injury he suffered in the field.
Depth outfielders, particularly centerfielder Dylan Carlson and left fielder Alec Burleson's performances will be under a microscope by Cardinal Nation to begin the season with Edman out for Opening Day and Nootbaar's status still remaining uncertain.
Cardinals President of Baseball Operation John Mozeliak joined KMOX's Tom Ackerman to discuss the outfield, particularly Burleson and Carlson and was impressed by both this Spring.
"(Carlson) got off to a slow start during camp but overall, he's swinging the bat well and he's doing what we need him to do right now," said Mozeliak. "I also really like Burleson right now. I think he's having a nice camp, had some good swings on the ball. I feel like how he used his offseason, from dropping a few pounds and trying to have something of an extra first step has been something to his advantage as well."
One name that has been gaining momentum in the outfield battle has been Victor Scott II, who has flashed his advertised speed in Spring Training both on the basepaths, racking 14 total bases so far, and making solid plays defensively.
However, Mozeliak, who has been impressed by Scott II defense and speed, seemed to have pour cold water on Scott II chances of making the Opening Day roster, pointing out that Scott II still has only one full season of Minor League Baseball and indicated the team does not want to rush Scott II to the majors similar to what they did to Jordan Walker last year.
"I do think anybody needs to remind themselves that really he's had a 1.5 year in pro ball and he is someone who is continuing to develop," said Mozeliak. "But he's an exciting player and there's no doubt there's room for growth."
"I think looking back at Jordan Walker last year, we probably put him in a spot where we made it more difficult for him to have success because we felt the need to have him on our roster and it became very difficult to manage."