Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder following a collision with right fielder Jordan Walker during yesterday’s Grapefruit League game, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced to reporters Tuesday (X link via Bob Nightengale of USA Today). He’ll open the season on the injured list. In his place, the Cardinals will select the contract of outfield prospect Victor Scott. He’ll open the season in center field.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Carlson’s absence will be measured in weeks, not months. As such, while the Cardinals will need to open a 40-man roster spot for Scott, placing Carlson on the 60-day IL seemingly won’t be a consideration when determining a corresponding move.
It’s an unfortunate blow for both Carlson and the Cardinals. The club came into camp with a planned outfield of Walker in right, Tommy Edman in center and Lars Nootbaar in left. Edman and Nootbaar are each going to start the season on the IL, Edman due to lingering soreness in his wrist after last year’s arthroscopic surgery, Nootbaar due to rib fractures suffered while attempting to make a catch.
That opened the door for Carlson, who was himself been frequently beset by injuries. After a breakout season in 2021, he missed time in 2022 due to a left hamstring strain and left ankle sprain, getting capped at 128 games. Last year, the ankle issues resurfaced and he only got into 76 games, eventually requiring surgery on that ankle.
He seemed to be in good form this spring, having hit .271/.340/.521. Just as he was about to open the season with a starting center field job, a brutally timed collision will send him to the injured list once again. He will hopefully be able to get healthy and rejoin the club in just a few weeks, but it’s also possible that Edman and/or Nootbaar will be back in the mix by that point.
Carlson’s misfortune will be an opportunity for Scott. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Cards in 2022 and came into professional baseball with strong grades for his speed and defense but concerns about his bat.
Last year, he did a lot to quiet those concerns. He played 132 games between High-A and Double-A, hitting just nine home runs and walking at just a 7.4% rate, but he also limited his strikeouts to a 15.7% clip. His combined batting line of .303/.369/.425 translated to a wRC+ of 118. He also stole a tremendous 94 bases in 108 attempts on the year.
That vaulted Scott onto prospect lists coming into 2024. Both Baseball America and FanGraphs gave him the #83 slot on their respective top 100 lists coming into this year. Keith Law of The Athletic had him up at #55, though Scott didn’t crack the lists at either MLB Pipeline or ESPN.
He has been performing well this spring, hitting .316/.409/.368 and swiping four bags. The Cards probably didn’t plan on Scott jumping to the big leagues, since he was drafted less than two years ago and has no Triple-A experience thus far, but the string of injuries suffered by their other outfielders has forced their hand. Whether Scott sticks around or is merely a placeholder until the other guys get healthy will likely depend on his performance.
Despite some decent prospect hype, Scott won’t qualify for the prospect promotion incentive of the current collective bargaining agreement. It only applies to players that are on two of three top 100 lists at BA, ESPN and MLB Pipeline. Since Scott only made the BA lists of those three, he doesn’t make the cut and won’t be able to provide the Cards with an extra draft pick via his placement in awards voting.
Not the way I hoped Scott would get the nod to the bigs but run* with it dude!
“Not the way”..At the end of the day, once you’ve made and established yourself in the Big Leagues, nobody really cares how you got there or how you got your first opportunity.
Carlson is about to be “Pipped”
It’s not the way we hoped, because Carlson (and Edman and Nootbaar) would probably be the better option as the starting CF to help the team win more games at this point.
Probably not
Hahahahahaha good lord but happy for victor at least
On a Cardinals team that in the off-season paid big bucks for Lance Lynn to throw (and eat) meatballs, Victor Scott is an exciting addition. An eventual lineup with Scott CF, Edman corner OF, Goldie 1B, Arenado 3B, Walker DH, Willson C, Lars corner OF, Donavan 2B, and Winn SS. I still like Cubs to win division and Reds in second.
I saw that play and he’s lucky that’s all it was. I thought he broke his leg. Walker is a big dude man. Hope he gets back fast.
Cubs fan who thinks Cubs will win the division….any other bold predictions for us?
Where’s Gorman?
Good catch, Gorman has to be at 2B or DH, so I will replace Donavan with Gorman at 2B.
Even Donovan is still a better player than Scott at this point. Once Nootbaar returns, Scott probably won’t be a starter again until the beginning of 2025 at the earliest.
Noot is not a CF, so until Edman and/or Carlson get back, he’s going to start there. Really if he’s at least holding his own at the plate (80+ WRC+) then he’s likely the best option anyway. Edman is out indefinitely with the wrist already.
Yeah and let’s just bench our arguably most productive hitter, Nolan Gorman, who has only scratched the surface of what he can produce. All with a bad back and was able to turn himself into a league average 2b man with a continual progression with the glove after changing positions and another years experience under his belt.
The love for Brendan Donovan because of his grit I guess is what makes him a stl fan fave is just not on the level of what Gorman is. I’m not near as high on Donovan as some but I’m not down on him either. He is a very capable ball player but his true value comes with his ability to play multiple positions. He is a utility man that can get 450-500 at bats across the year spelling guys on their day off, which is essentially equivalent to an everyday player. But all things considered. Gorman is your 2b. Walker needs more time at DH and with Herrera coming up will see more time at C, and Contreras dh’ing. Donovan best chance is holding a spot at corner of while edman and noot and Carlson recover.
Also burleson needs to be given a fair share of opportunities while our outfield is depleted. His bat is going play and has shown deserving to see his progress as a young player that will and improve on last year.
Vs2 time baby!
Oh lord, she got you shopping for diamond rings too?
If so, tell her you want her to feel “included”
Maybe, Rom or Middleton will go on the 60 day DL.
Just outright Jared Young. He was given every chance to show out this spring. Didn’t even touch .100 avg. He has no positional value, no prospect pedigree, not young enough or talented enough to hold a 40 man roster spot. It a simple decision but that’s something we have struggled to make at times. But I’m pretty sure it’s a clear enough one that we will dfa him.
Excited to see him play, though it’s happening far earlier than I expected. Remember when Carlson was untouchable at one point?
Soto could’ve been a Cardinal.
Soto was never going anywhere but a big market team with very deep pockets.
Deep pockets had nothing to do with it. St. Louis was a finalist for the trade but refused to include Carlson.
Someone threw Carlson under the bus. St Louis was never emptying the farm for a player who just refused a $400 million extension.
I have serious doubts about those reports. I don’t think the Cardinals were ever close to getting Soto, and I’m happy about that. I’d rather have the young guys.
I feel bad for Carlson. He did what was asked of him this spring, was going to get a real opportunity, and now this.
Best of luck Victor Scott.
It is verifiable that they were a finalist. They saw Soto as a viable option considering he would’ve been on the team for, potentially, 3 playoff runs. It’s not like they were gutting the farm for a half-season rental. He would’ve been a core piece for 2 and a half seasons.
Was the price too high? Yeah, I suppose so. But your comment implies that there was no chance of a trade and that’s simply not true. There was a very real chance. The A’s or the Royals had “no chance”.
How do you verify something like that?
Reports came out and the club talked about specifics regarding the potential trade. Mozeliak even discussed the backlash Carlson received.
You can either assume the entire thing was fabricated (possible) or assume this particular story was credible (more likely).
One writer deemed them “finalists”. Which really doesn’t mean much, at any point until a trade happens some team can come out of nowhere with the right offer.
As for Cards, reports seem to indicate there was some discussion. I’d guess it was overblown. Cards weren’t going to unload farm for a player they had zero cha ce of resigning. Cards have never given contracts on scale of what Soto is going to be looking for.
Soto would’ve cost a lot more talent than just Carlson, and even his arb salaries didn’t fit into the Cardinals’ budget.
He’s still untouchable. The difference is that all of the other teams don’t want to touch him now.
Need to free up 40-man spot? How about DFA’ing Matt Carpenter or Brandon Crawford?
Carpenter has had a great Spring. Crawford, on the other hand…
Masyn Winn also had a tough spring. We need Crawford for now.
I was hoping Saggese could backup short but he doesn’t seem up to it.
I wonder about Caesar Prieto. The guy is a hitting machine. I don’t know much about his glove.
Loved watching Prieto hit in person when with the Bowie Baysox in 2022. He stood out offensively. Each at bat was war against pitcher; each pitch thrown a battle.
LayneStayley: Seems like you’re down in a hole, and don’t know if you can be saved. I see your heart, you decorate it like a grave. But, I don’t understand who they thought you were supposed to be…
@yc
another great band from the 90s that i’ll never see because i was just a bit to young for concerts.
Me too, Brodie. Same story brother. I hope you’re doing well.
Hooboy this kid can run. Let’s see if he can get on base enough.
Luke I said earlier though, sucks for Carlson, speedy recovery.
You can’t steal 1st.
.290 career hitter in the minor leagues and .316 this spring. The assertion that he can’t hit is unwarranted. He still has everything to prove, but the idea that he’s Esteury Ruiz or something is baseless.
Others have hit well in the minors (M.Winn) got to see it at the MLB level to be a believer.
W>C
FG DC projects Scott for an 81 wRC+ this year. And about 1.5 WAR/600 PA – a fringe starter
The knock on VS isn’t that he can’t hit. He can. He just doesn’t hit for any type of power.
When every single becomes a double, how much power do you need?
That’s why Billy Hamilton was journeyman not a superstar.
Not every fast guy with low pop becomes Billy Hamilton. It is possible to be better than that.
Dude should play banana ball
The cardinals suck!
Such insight!
Thanks glad you agree
Walker, St. Louis Cardinal, is leaving more bodies lying around than Walker, Texas Ranger.
I do not see Walker on the Rangers’ roster.
Boo
Back to sleep susannah.
Good night. 🙂
Oh Susannah, don’t you cry for me
LOL
Upon the return of Carlson, Edman, and Nootbar, Jordan Walker should become the permanent DH. I know Marmol doesn’t believe in a selected DH and will rotate it giving guys 1/2 days off but having Walker in the OF is just wrong. Give him reps at 1b to take over for Goldschmidt at the trade deadline.
Even if the Cardinals do wind up sucking again and trading Goldschmidt at the deadline, Walker isn’t going to get any significant reps at 1B while Goldy is still on the team and healthy. Furthermore, there’s no evidence that he’ll be able to play 1B any better than he plays the OF, and at least he has the arm for RF.
Although, I do think Walker should spend a decent amount of time at DH as long as he also still gets some reps to work on his defense in RF.
It’s more likely Gorman would move to first with Saggese covering second.
This has to be depressing for Carlson who was having a great spring.
I keep saying shorten ST to avoid unnecessary injuries
Nobody wants to listen
How can they not listen to you?
Yeah, with a name as big as a state you’d think they’d hear somethin’
So then the injury can just happen training leading upto an abbreviated Spring Training or happenonce the season starts? These are professional athletes, injuries are part of their profession.
Spring Training needs to be as long as it is to get the players in shape, especially the pitchers. You’d actually see even more pitcher injuries and pitchers sucking during the first couple weeks of the season if you tried to shorten ST.
you’re right. lets not shorten ST. lets keep it for 5 weeks. also lets keep arizona fall league, winter league, dominican league, exhibition games in random international cities, spring breakout, wbc, etc.
enjoy watching half the league on the DL before the regular season even begins. but atleast mlb will get a few extra fans in honduras or kazakhstan, and players will get into shape bec they dont have a million trainers or do a million workouts to “get into shape” otherwise
There are a lot of things that can’t be duplicated without actual competitive exhibition games.
Walker is a clown
I hate this for Carlson! He looked like he was finally healthy and was hitting better! But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited to watch Scott! The guy is just fun and exciting to watch!!!
I hope Scott gives Mozeliak the same speech Vince Coleman gave Dal Maxville in 1985 and he never returns to AAA and steals 100+ bases this season.
He’d have to actually play in AAA in the first place to be able to return to it.
This team will toast by the all star break. The starting pitching staff will break down, Goldy and Arenado are trending down fast and Walker will stagnate and struggle this year.
It’s a shame that two independent (to some extent all three) scouting organizations are gatekeepers to higher career earnings for young studs. There has to be a better way – based on accepted performance metrics in MiLB play or team specific prospect rankings which have been contributed to by the team’s own MiLB evaluators.
If Victor Scott won ROY he would still receive the bonus and accolades that come with it so I don’t see how it impacts his career earnings. Only thing that is impacted is whether the Cardinals receive a draft pick.
On the other hand, they could send him down for 2 weeks at some point to gain an extra year of control, and they won’t have to worry about him getting the extra year of service time anyway by finishing in the Top 2 for Rookie of the Year.
Is that part right?
No he finished top 2 in ROY he would still get the full year of service time. The part about being in the top prospect lists only impacts potential draft picks.
Edman about to get Wally Pipped
Maybe the Cards should move an IF to the OF in an effort to create another “logjam.”
Walker looked like Eloy Jiminez on that play. Is Walker similar to Jiminez in the field, a danger to himself and others?
I understand it takes players a lot to play the game, I thought players were in a year round fitness program. Carlson reminds me of the boxer with a glass jaw, every bump, every scratch puts him on the I.L.
Doubt there is an off-season program to help you avoid injury when a 6’6 250lb man with a 28.5 sprint speed is diving at your legs.
A lot of good players got a jumpstart thanks to a teammate’s injury. Bobby Bonilla’s spring training injury gave way to a young Albert Pujols. Hopefully, Scott can make the most of this opportunity and become undeniable.
I instantly thought of Bobby Bonilla when Carlson went down and Victor Scott II was named to start in his place!!!
Pujols took his place and We never saw Bonilla again.
Victor Scott II may have just sent Carlson and others out of CF for good.
Bonilla did come back to play for the Cardinals that year, and he was only signed to be a veteran bench player in the first place. Pujols didn’t directly take his job.
Although, Carlson was technically originally intended to only be a bench player himself to start the year.