Last season was unusual for the Cardinals. After finishing the 2022 season atop the NL Central with a record of 93-69 they regressed. They finished last season in the basement of the Central with a record of 71-91. That is an increase of 22 losses. Regression that drastic and that quickly is hard to come by. It was also the first time the Redbirds had missed the postseason since the 2018 season. It was a season many in St.Louis would like to forget.
After a season like that, you couldn’t blame fans for not being excited for the season. Why should they, the team fall so short of expectations the year before, who knows what this team was going to be like? Are they going to go back to their 2022 self, and show that 2023 was a fluke? Or are they going to struggle like they did last season?
However, regardless of how the team performs this season, something has happened to the Cardinals that hasn’t happened in 100 years. It is for that reason that Cardinals fans should be excited not only about this season but the future.
The Cardinals Young Lineup
So what is this thing that hasn’t happened in 100 years for the Cardinals? Well, it is the first time since 1924 that the Cardinals had four players in their opening day lineup 23 years old or younger. The players are Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, and Masyn Winn. Regardless of how this season turns out, having a lineup that young has to make you excited if you’re a Cardinals fan.
The ability to watch young guys in your lineup is very exciting to watch. For starters, there is an energy that veteran teams don’t have. For most of these guys, this is their first full season in the majors. Meaning they are hungry to prove themselves. They want to show the league that they belong, so they’re going to play with an extra level of intensity. Causing high-energy plays and games. Something any fan can get excited about.
There is also the ability to hope for the future with a bunch of young guys. These young players are essentially auditioning for the big league club. They are showing that they can be an impact player for this team. So you get a good idea of what the future core is going to look like. A glimmer of hope during the dark times.
Do These Players Have a Future?
Now that we established why it’s important that the Cardinals have these guys in the lineup, let’s look at their MLB future.
Nolan Gorman
The most experienced guy is Gorman. Gorman was the Cardinals second-best prospect before being called up on May 19, 2022. In his short career, he has shown his power ability, hitting 27 home runs last season. As long as he’s able to keep his power numbers up he should be a fixture in this Cardinals lineup for years to come.
Jordan Walker
After Gorman is Walker. Walker turned heads in the minors with his impressive 6′ 5″ stature. This build allows him to have high exit velocities. When he was in the Arizona Fall League he had the four highest exit velo according to Statcast. His ability to hit the ball hard has left many to think that Walker is destined to become one of the better power hitters in the league. We haven’t seen the numbers back up that thought yet but it’s still very early to draw any conclusions.
Victor Scott II
Scott II might not be the best player with the bat, but has unbelievable speed. Scouts and talent evaluators have given him an 80 overall speed on a 20-80 scale. Many people think scoring a 60 on that scale is elite, so an 80 is almost unheard of. His speed has also made him an above-average defender. If Scott can bring his offensive numbers up he’d be the perfect lead-off hitter.
Masyn Winn
Finally, we have Winn who was drafted originally as a two-way player. He has since made the switch to strictly shortstop, but thanks to his background in pitching his arm is incredible. Just like Scott’s speed, Winn was given an 80 for his arm talent. This will greatly improve his defensive play and if his offensive continues to improve we’re looking at a potential elite player.
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