Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn catches a ball for an out during a game against the Tigers on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Eli Randolph, Post-Dispatch
At the tail end of a nine-game, meandering road trip that brought the Cardinals out of the wilderness and into contention, a group of players took the field hours before game time in Kansas City to go through their usual fielding drills to keep the Cardinals’ best edge — their defense — sharp.
It’s an image manager Oliver Marmol has mentioned at least twice in the days since to illustrate the commitment his club has made to good glove.
It’s an image his staff is discussing how often they should see in the coming weeks to keep the play crisp and not wilt during a long season.
“That’s been a conversation for two weeks now, and we know what we’ve done to get here,” Marmol said. “Understand your bodies and what the next two months are going to look like in order to stay fresh and still making sure we get our work in. There are different ways of doing that, but committing to the work is still going to be part of it. That is exactly the way we’re thinking about it.”
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A bedrock of the Cardinals’ recent winning ways has been a dynamic defense that leagues the lead in significant metrics (27 outs above average) and cosmetic ones (.991 fielding percentage). They also pull off a rare feat in familiar statistics too: They lead the majors in defensive assists (485), and they have the fewest errors in the majors (17).
The Cardinals are tied for second in converting ground balls into outs (77.6), and they’re leading the majors in runs prevented, at 21. Their plus-20 defensive runs saved ranks third in the National League, according to Sports Info Solution’s metrics.
They are the only team in MLB’s top six without a position that has a negative DRS.
Through the first 50 games of the season, the Cardinals’ defensive metrics echo those of the 2021 club that became the first to win five Gold Glove Awards since St. Louis-based Rawlings began presenting the fielding honors in 1957. The Cardinals also won the team Gold Glove that season. That year’s 51 outs above average, according to Statcast data, is the second-most for any club since 2016, the earliest year for which data is available on Baseball Savant. The 2017 Minnesota Twins have the highest total at 67 OAA.
This year’s club, with 25 OAA, has the reach to challenge that total.
“And I (absolutely) hope we do,” Marmol said.
The Cardinals’ 5-1 loss to Detroit on Wednesday was not without its defensive moments that unplugged two Tigers rallies. Twice, the Cardinals were able to turn a ball hit to the outfield into an out on the infield thanks in part to Spencer Torkelson’s baserunning.
In the second inning, Nolan Arenado cut off a throw on a sacrifice fly to redirect the ball to second for the easy tag on Torkelson at second base for a double play. In the sixth inning, the Cardinals threw out Torkelson at home when he tried to take advantage of a teammate caught between first and second on a rundown. The Cardinals deftly pivoted to complete the 7-2-3-4-2 out.
Arenado is the only Gold Glove winner remaining on the team from the 2021 quintet, and he’s called this group the “best defense in baseball” several times in the past week.
The Cardinals track internal defensive metrics that include their own calculation for defensive runs saved. And they’ve seen improvement around the diamond. As examples, Marmol offered the improved numbers on jumps for outfielder Lars Nootbaar and shortstop Masyn Winn.
Nootbaar has also increased his top speed for tracking fly balls, “which means he’s not drifting,” Marmol said. “He’s putting his head down and getting to a spot.” Nootbaar is a plus-3 DRS in both left field and right field this season, per Sports Info Solutions.
Those deeper metrics “will tell you if you’re taking steps in the right direction,” Marmol said.
Right fielder Jordan Walker was unable to control the ball for a leaping catch against the wall Wednesday, but he’s a plus-1 DRS in right this season. A year ago, he was a minus-3.
The conversation now, as Marmol said, has become how to manage fundamental work with the grind of the season and summer heat. Marmol and his coaches are plotting schedules that will have the same amount of defensive reps on fewer days or fewer reps spread over multiple days. They want to get a grip on the best schedule so the defense can maintain its current standard.
“I think any time you get into the summer months here, it’s real, (and) you have to be mindful of either tightening up the routine from a time standpoint or picking your spots,” Marmol said. “You have a routine you stick to, that you anchor to — just be mindful of your body to make sure you’re not pushing it beyond what you need to.”
Depth materializing
The Cardinals moved pitching prospect Tink Hence to Class A Palm Beach on Wednesday so that he could officially begin his rehab assignment, as the Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday was imminent. The right-hander was the scheduled starter Wednesday night for the PB-Cards at Roger Dean Stadium Jupiter, Florida.
Quinn Mathews also moved to Class A Palm Beach’s roster to resume his rehab assignment after early shoulder discomfort.
Hence has missed the entirety of the season thus far due to a ribcage injury, but his return to game action is the latest in a series of moves by the Cardinals that is getting them closer to greater pitching depth at the higher affiliates.
Drew Rom, out since 2023 due to shoulder surgery and pain, pitched four innings Sunday for Class AAA Memphis in his return to the active roster. The lefty struck out four and allowed one hit without a run in his return after almost two years away from the Triple-A Redbirds.
Mathews began his rehab stretch with a scoreless outing on the back fields of Jupiter for the Florida Complex League club. He is set for another rehab outing this week and is nearing a return to the Redbirds and the rotation with Rom.
Extra bases
Victor Scott II said his hand was fine after Wednesday’s game. The center fielder was struck on his palm by a pitch when he turned to attempt a bunt.
He was initially called out when the ball ricocheted off his hand, off his arm and into fair territory and the Tigers applied a tag as Scott tended to his hand. The Cardinals challenged and the call was overturned by replay.
Arenado and San Diego’s Manny Machado continue to jockey near the top of the career home run ranks for third basemen. Arenado’s homer Tuesday was his 346th, moving him ahead of Machado for 10th all time among everyday third basemen.
Arenado’s homer was his 111th as a Cardinal, and that ties Hall of Famer Scott Rolen for the second-most by a Cardinals third baseman behind Ken Boyer. Boyer, whose No. 14 is retired by the team, hit 255.
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