MLB Network reporter Jon Morosi appeared on MLB Central to discuss Thursday afternoon’s MLB Network Showcase game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bob Costas, Dan Plesac, and Morosi will be on the call.
After discussing the Dodgers, Morosi and Lauren Shehadi turned their attention to the Cardinals, starting with rookies Victor Scott II and Masyn Winn. Scott II is starting his first Opening Day in center field because of injuries to Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson.
Morosi on Victor Scott II:
“The Cardinals have had a number of injuries in their outfield and I love watching Victor Scott [II] way back in the Arizona Fall League. He can run. He is the son of two former track and field stars from Morris Brown College, Victor and Mary Scott. He can run, not surprisingly based on what his parents both did in college. I remember what I asked him in the Fall League about who would win a race in the family and had a lot of strong opinions back and forth, but he is just a fun player to watch. How about that? You have your Opening Day—your first debut is at Dodger Stadium.
Victor Scott II hit .317 with 10 runs, 4 stolen bases, and a 7/5 K/BB ratio during the just completed Spring Training.
Morosi on Masyn Winn:
“Shohei Ohtani is not the only two-way player in this game because Masyn Winn grew up as a pitcher and a hitter. He actually had a chance to do both in pro ball briefly and he has an electrifying arm…He can throw the ball—this is not a joke—100 miles an hour so I can’t wait to see—we’ll have their—we’ll have Masyn Winn’s first Opening Day at short and then on the other side, Mookie Bettts at short for the Dodgers.”
The Cardinals drafted Winn with their 2nd round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut on August 18, 2023. According to MLB.com, he is the #43 overall prospect and the Cardinals #1 prospect. His arm has an 80 grade on the Scouting Scale. Winn hit .88 with 18 HR, 17 SB, and .834 OPS in 105 games with the Memphis Redbirds (AAA). His All-Star Futures Game appearance in 2022 was at Dodger Stadium.
After discussing the youth, the conversation turned to a Cardinals veteran looking to rebound after last season, Nolan Arenado.
Morosi on Nolan Arenado:
“I think it’s a new focus for Nolan Arenado and certainly DeRo knows him from having managed him in the Classic. There is a real intent about for both Nolan and the Cardinals overall to prove that last year, finishing at the bottom of the division was a fluke. You think about Nolan coming back to this venue—again, he’s another guy who grew up in Southern California as a Dodger fan not far at all from here. This will be the first time he actually plays in a Dodger Stadium home opener as well. Let’s remember this, he begins his career with 10 straight Gold Gloves. Last year was the first time he played in the Major Leagues and did not win a Gold Glove. For someone who is such a great competitor the way that Nolan is, he’s not gonna want to have that repeated and he’s also gonna want to bring some of these offensive numbers up just a little bit. Again, you look at the numbers—26 homers, 93 RBI—there’s a lot of players for whom that’s a career year. For Nolan, he knows there’s more in there and I think his focus that he’s bringing in—you’ve got a future Hall of Famer, in my opinion, in Nolan Arenado at third base, same with Paul Goldschmidt at first base. This youth in the lineup as well
Arenado’s home runs and RBI were not that far off between 2022 and 2023. His batting average, OPS, and SLG dropped substantially between the two seasons. Cardinals fans are hoping that the Gold Glove third baseman can improve on his numbers this season.
One interesting tidbit from Morosi’s conversation with Lauren Shehadi on MLB Central comes from researcher Kevin Dillon. The lineup on Opening Day sees four players 23 and younger marks the first time in team history that the Cardinals have four players 23 and younger in their Opening Day lineup.
