Still a fan favorite with fans shouting “Noooooot” whenever he comes to bat, Lars Nootbaar has been quick with a smile or wave to the fans at Hammons Field, where he’s spent the last few days on an injury rehab assignment.
Expected to rejoin the St. Louis Cardinals soon on their West Coast road trip, it’s been a frustrating period for the five-year major league veteran outfielder. Nootbaar’s rib-cage strain, which landed him on the injured list in mid-July, coincided with the team’s dive out of serious playoff contention.
“It always stinks when you ride the pine, but when the team’s not doing well and not winning ballgames also, that makes it hurt even more so,” Nootbaar said after going 1-for-4 in a July 30 game for Springfield against the Arkansas Travelers.
“I’m just ready to get some at-bats out here, play some defense and get back up there.”
St. Louis’ roster will look different when Nootbaar returns
Lars Nootbaar spent 33 games with the Springfield Cardinals in 2019 before advancing to Triple-A Memphis. He made his big-league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021. (Photo: Springfield Cardinals)
Nootbaar and fellow big-leaguer Nolan Gorman, also on an injury rehab assignment with Springfield, will find a different-looking St. Louis team when they return to the big club. The Cardinals were “sellers” at the trade deadline on July 31, trading three key bullpen pitchers — closer Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz and Phil Maton.
The return brought six prospects, several of whom could wind up at Double-A Springfield later this season or, more likely, in 2026. Nootbaar said the trade of Helsley, the longest-tenured player on the 2025 St. Louis roster, particularly stung on a personal level.
But Nootbaar, 27, said he understands that it’s part of the business of baseball. All three of the traded relief pitchers were on expiring contracts and it made financial sense to the organization while helping restock the minor-league system.
Before heading to Springfield on July 30, Nootbaar said he had breakfast with Helsley, knowing that the game at Busch Stadium the night before was probably the final one they would be teammates.
“He’s a great teammate and a great player,” Nootbaar said. “I’m excited to see what he does with (the New York Mets). He’s a veteran guy and a great guy.
“It’s just part of it,” Nootbaar said of the business angle, noting that his name was in the news in the final hours before the trade deadline to possibly be moved.
“No one is (immune) obviously, unless you have a no-trade clause. Other than that, no one is safe,” Nootbaar said. “Anybody can get plucked and move at any point. A little bit of a weird feeling, but at the same time, we’re all professionals. You just have to go about your business and play hard every day, and whatever happens, happens.”
He says the Cardinals aren’t giving up on wild-card chase
During his brief time in Springfield in 2019, Lars Nootbaar played the game with the same enthusiasm that’s made him popular with fans at the major-league level. (Photo: Springfield Cardinals)
With a 55-55 record entering August, the St. Louis Cardinals are 5 ½ games behind San Diego for the final National League wild-card spot. Nootbaar, who was hitting .227 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs in 2025 prior to his injury, said there will be no giving up despite the front-office decisions to shred the bullpen.
“I think that’s everybody’s mindset,” Nootbaar said. “Obviously, losing ‘Hels’ is going to hurt us closing games out, but guys like Riley O’Brien have thrown extremely well for us.”
A couple of recent Springfield Cardinals closers — Andre Granillo and Matt Svanson — will get more-prominent roles. Meanwhile, Nootbaar is eager to help the cause. He’s 3-for-9 in his first two rehab games for Springfield, where he spent 33 games in 2019 as he climbed the system ladder.
“Springfield was great to me,” Nootbaar said of his brief time in Double-A. He’s been impressed with the young Cardinals he’s been around this week, particularly switch-hitting catcher Leonardo Bernal, who’s risen to the organization’s No. 3-ranked prospect.
“He’s a physical catcher that can really throw and hits from both sides of the plate,” Nootbaar said of Bernal, who hit his 12th home run of the season on July 30. “He’s one that probably stands out to me.”
New prospects to watch
The three players St. Louis received in the trade for Helsley were assigned to High-A Peoria, so it’s possible they could receive promotions to Springfield before the end of this season.
The highest-rated is 20-year-old infielder Jesus Baez, slotted as the No. 6 prospect in the Cardinals’ minor leagues. Baez had a .242 batting average and 10 home runs with 42 RBIs for High-A Brooklyn, playing mostly at shortstop. He’s projected as a possible third baseman longer term.
Pitcher Nate Dohm, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander, was a third-round draft choice of the Mets in 2023 out of Mississippi State. Dohm has 77 strikeouts and 23 walks with opponents hitting .234 against him this season at two Class A levels.
The Maton trade with the Texas Rangers brought two more pitchers — lefty Mason Molina, 22, and right-hander Skylar Hales, 23. Molina, a former Arkansas Razorback, has spent this season in Class A, going 3-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) at two levels, with 92 strikeouts in 74 innings. Hales has been at Triple-A and is 1-5 with a 7.64 ERA overall. He has 40 strikeouts in 33 innings as a reliever.
The Matz trade with Boston brought power-hitting corner infielder Blaze Jordan, who’s at Triple A and has 12 home runs this season. Jordan is ranked as St. Louis’ No. 19 prospect and is assigned to Memphis.
Springfield Cardinals homestand
July 29 — Springfield 3, Arkansas 2
July 30 — Springfield 6, Arkansas 4
July 31 — Arkansas 4, Springfield 2
Aug. 1 — Arkansas at Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Aug. 2 — Arkansas at Springfield, 6:35 p.m.
Aug. 3 — Arkansas at Springfield, 1:05 p.m.
Ticket info — (417) 863-2143
Lyndal Scranton is a Springfield native who has covered sports in the Ozarks for more than 35 years, witnessing nearly every big sports moment in the region during the last 50 years. The Missouri Sports Hall of Famer, Springfield Area Sports Hall of Famer and live-fire cooking enthusiast also serves as PR Director for Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri and is co-host of the Tailgate Guys BBQ Podcast. Contact him at Lscranton755@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @LyndalScranton. More by Lyndal Scranton