Even after outfielder Dylan Carlson was activated from the injured listing yesterday, the Cardinals have opted to go away Tommy Edman in heart area, the place he appears poised to stay for the foreseeable future, as famous by Katie Woo of The Athletic. Supervisor Carlos Marmol expressed assist of Edman’s glovework in heart area, telling reporters (together with Woo) that the switch-hitter “has achieved a very nice job in heart”, calling his work within the outfield “darn spectacular.”
Edman has paired his high quality glove with roughly league common offense to this point in 2023, because the 28-year-old utility man has slashed .246/.306/.417 in 221 plate appearances this season, good for a wRC+ of 98. Whereas that determine represents a definitive step again from Edman’s .265/.324/.400 slash line in 2022 (108 wRC+), it’s price noting that Edman’s .265 BABIP to this point this season can be the bottom of his profession over a full season, far under his profession .303 determine.
Whereas shifting a Gold Glove center infielder to the outfield is a dangerous transfer in terms of preserving infield protection, the Cardinals are lucky to have high quality choices in Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and Paul DeJong up the center, with veteran superstars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschimdt flanking them on the infield corners. With Edman sticking in heart, Carlson has been utilized in Proper Area since his return, with children Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson patrolling left.
In fact, the membership must revisit Edman’s maintain on heart area as extra injured outfielders, equivalent to Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbaar, return from the IL. That being mentioned, it appears that evidently any such choice gained’t be coming any time quickly, as O’Neill noticed his rehab paused as a consequence of continued again discomfort on the finish of Could. In the meantime, Nootbaar has solely simply begun to hit off a tee after occurring the IL with again spasms final week per MLB.com’s John Denton.
In additional constructive harm information, Denton notes that left-hander Packy Naughton, who has been on the IL with a forearm pressure since early April, is poised to make a Triple-A rehab look tomorrow. Previous to his harm, Naughton impressed with 5 scoreless innings the place he allowed simply two hits and a stroll whereas hanging out 5, good for a 1.88 FIP. Upon his return, Naughton may issue into the St. Louis bullpen alongside the likes of Andre Pallante and Genesis Cabrera because the membership depends on Ryan Helsley, Jordan Hicks, and Giovanny Gallegos within the late innings.
