JUPITER, Fla. (KMOX) - This is the second spring training that Chris Carpenter has played a small coaching role for the St. Louis Cardinals and it seems like his time with the team will only continue to grow. Manager Mike Shilt says he has finally centered on a new title for Carp: Special Assistant to Everyone."
The winner of 144 Major League games, a Cy Young award and three-time All-Star in 15 seasons was standing behind the catchers for most of the second day of bullpens at the Roger Dean complex, Thursday.
PHOTOS: Cardinals entire projected 2019 lineup on display for workouts
Shildt says the 43-year-old will be around spring training for a couple weeks. Then when the regular season begins, Shildt expects him to be around the team for about "five to six days a month."
It sounds like the Cardinals will continue to just ease him into the coaching side of baseball. He's a guy we've seen in the past not afraid to go up to pitchers, catchers, infielders or outfielders – last year he was giving Dexter Fowler an "ear full," per a report from MLB.com.
Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty told KMOX's Chris Hrabe about the first time he spoke to Carpenter was before his second career MLB appearance, in 2017.
"Defintley wasn't quick to go up to Carp," Flaherty says, talking about that September day in San Diego. "I just asked him about the way he scouted hitters."