Lars

Nootbaar

That’s unexpected. It’d been clear for a couple of weeks that Nootbaar would open up on the IL following his heel surgeries, but it was supposed to be the 10-day. Nootbaar has been hitting and throwing since the beginning of the spring and recently resumed running, but we take it that didn’t go as well as hoped. Nathan Church, Thomas Saggese and José Fermín will divvy up his at-bats for at least the first two months.

Nootbaar has yet to appear in a spring training contest for the Cardinals as he works his way back from offseason surgery on both heels. The 28-year-old corner outfielder’s absence creates a pathway for Nelson Velàzquez to open the year in the big leagues as a temporary stopgap.

The 28-year-old outfielder is working his way back from surgery on both heels and is currently going through a running progression on an altered gravity treadmill. The issue is that the Cardinals have not had one delivered to their spring complex yet, so Nootbaar will continue to rehab at home until it arrives. His availability for Opening Day remains in question.

Nootbaar, who is in his second year of arbitration, gets a $2.4 million raise after hitting .234/.325/.361 in 135 games last season. Coming off surgery on both ankles, he’s currently considered questionable for Opening Day. He’ll probably be a full-time outfielder this summer, but he could sit against left-handers while being eased back in initially.

Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels earlier this month to address bone enlargement near his Achilles tendons. Bloom added that the club will not rush his rehabilitation process but noted that if he does miss time at the outset of next season it would only be a brief absence. Fantasy managers should anticipate a clearer return timetable at the outset of spring training once he’s able to resume baseball activities.

Haglund’s deformities is a condition at the back of the heel that causes “bony enlargements. near where the Achilles attaches” No timetable has been provided, but there’s a good chance Nootbaar will be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

No word yet on the reason for the move. It’ll be José Fermín taking over at second base with Lars Nootbaar moving up to the leadoff spot in his absence.

Nootbaar has been a fixture in the Cardinals’ lineup over the past few weeks, so he has certainly earned a night off. Alec Burleson will move out to left field to cover for him while Nolan Gorman will draw a start at first base and bat sixth for the Cardinals against Brewers’ right-hander Chad Patrick.

Nootbaar had 11 hits in five games from Aug. 17-21, but he came into this one 0-for-18 in his previous five games. He hit the ball hard all four times up today, with his lone out being a 102.7-mph grounder. He should keep leading off until Brendan Donovan returns, at which point he’ll probably slide back into the middle of the lineup.

Nootbaar smacked a go-ahead RBI double off of Joe Boyle during a five-run uprising in the second inning and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Alec Burleson. He also singled in the fourth inning and was caught attempting to steal third base. On the season, the 27-year-old outfielder is hitting an underwhelming .244/.335/.395 with 13 long balls and 44 RBI in 448 plate appearances.