JUPITER, Fla. — Even from his vantage point pinballing between middle infield positions through the years, Tommy Edman could see how spring training tested outfielders.
“If you can catch fly balls in Florida,†he said Tuesday morning in the Cardinals clubhouse at Roger Dean Stadium, “you can catch them anywhere. High sky and crazy wind.â€
Edman rejoined workouts Tuesday after a brief stomach illness, though offseason wrist surgery could mean it is several more weeks before he is cleared to participate in full activities. He continues to do one-handed swings to build strength and range of motion ahead of advancing from soft toss to batting practice to, ultimately, games. The Cardinals and their switch-hitting infielder believe the calendar has enough time for him to be ready for opening day.
And if he is, they expect him to be in center field.
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The time he has when not rehabbing the wrist will be spent enhancing his feel for a position where he had played only six innings before appearing there in 42 games this past season.
“We want his focus to be on — if we all get out of here healthy — playing center field every day,†manager Oliver Marmol said.
The National League’s Gold Glove winner at second base in 2021, Edman became the everyday shortstop in 2022 and then finished 2023 as the team’s everyday center fielder. He was a finalist for the NL’s utility Gold Glove Award each of those seasons, and because of his range and defensive knack, he’s among the league leaders in wins above replacement over the past three seasons. He’s credited with plus-28 defensive runs saved during the past three seasons, regardless of position, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Edman’s excellence in the outfield was accelerated by several things. He credited playing the outfield during batting practice for years, and he felt an infield mentality improved the jump he would get on fly balls.
“You’ve got to be on your toes in the infield and expect the ball to be hit to you,†Edman said. “So I take that into the outfield as well. I expect every ball to come to center. I like to think of myself as being a ball-hog in center — just go catch as many balls as I can. There were a couple of times last year that I called off the left or right fielder on ones that I should have let them catch. Better to be too aggressive than not aggressive enough.â€
And he credited PitchCom.
The device used by pitchers and catchers to relay pitch calls and short-circuit sign-stealing is available to fielders as well. In addition, three fielders can have a receiver by rule. Edman would wear one at shortstop. He tucked one into his cap in center as well, and just knowing the pitch call and reading swings was helpful in getting jumps.
“He did a really nice job of learning on the fly,†Marmol said. “I think it’s always good mentally to show up knowing where you’re really going to play, and here, there will be even more attention to detail and focus of working with Willie (McGee) on certain things that he may not have felt extremely comfortable with but, because he’s athletic, he out-athletes the play.â€
Most of what Edman seeks in the outfield is repetition — chasing down, tracking and snaring those Florida-flung fly balls. He also intends to work with McGee on his throwing from the outfield. In the infield, it’s about transfer and “getting rid of the ball quickly,†no matter the angle. It can be all arm. From the outfield, he wants to get the rest of his body engaged in the throw, particularly how he plants and utilizes his hips. Edman said his preference is to spend as much time as possible in center this spring but mix in some innings at middle-infield positions, too, once he’s cleared for game activity.
The Cardinals consider Edman their backup shortstop and their future Gold Glove-winning center fielder. While his ability to hit is slowed by the recovery from surgery, the time is there to do what he already has in center — speed up the learning curve.
“You throw a guy like him who is superathletic out there, and he’s going to be able to outrun the baseball and do some things that others might not be able to do,†Marmol said. “You give him some real time out there, and there’s still room for improvement.â€
Gray targeted for opening day in LA
As if the prominence he’s had this spring or contract he signed this winter weren’t clue enough, Sonny Gray’s pitching schedule is geared for the team to name him the opening day starter. If he remains on the current plan, he’ll make his Cardinals debut against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium as the Cardinals open their season.
An official announcement is expected in the near future.
For Gray, it will be his fourth opening day start, and in the three previous ones, he’s 2-0 and has allowed only a solo homer in 22 innings. He last started opening day during the shortened 2020 season for Cincinnati. Gray signed a three-year, $75 million with the Cardinals this past winter that has an option for 2027 that would make him the first $100 million free-agent pitcher ever signed by the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have had only four first-year Cardinals start on opening day since 1910, and they did not have one make an opening day start during their time at Sportsman’s Park, according to team research. The most recent first-year Cardinal to start opening day was Kyle Lohse in 2008, though he was not the announced opening day starter. A rainout washed away Adam Wainwright’s planned opening day start, making the newly signed Lohse the opening day starter.
The previous two were Darryl Kile in 2000, on his way to an All-Star selection that summer, and Andy Benes in 1996, on his way to 18 wins and a third-place finish for the Cy Young.
Thompson, Liberatore to start Saturday
Lefties Zack Thompson and Matthew Liberatore will start Saturday as the Cardinals open Grapefruit League play with a split-squad doubleheader. Marmol announced the assignments Tuesday but added he had yet to pick who would pitch at Roger Dean Stadium against the Marlins that afternoon or bus north to face the Mets in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Thompson and Liberatore are likely jousting for the same opening in the bullpen as the Cardinals weigh whether to carry a long reliever for the rigorous opening to the regular season or insert a sixth starter briefly into the rotation. Both lefties started for the Cardinals this past season, and their schedule this spring designed is to make them available for longer outings as the season begins. Marmol said the team usually likes that depth and “protection†in the opening weeks.
Middleton, etc.
The start of his spring training delayed by a stomach illness, reliever Keynan Middleton had his first live batting practice against teammates pushed back a day to Wednesday. The right-hander felt good coming out of a bullpen session Monday and isn’t expected to have his schedule for game appearances altered. ... Kyle Gibson faced teammates for the first time in live batting practice, as did reliever Andrew Kittredge. ... Steven Matz and Lance Lynn are the only members of the rotation yet to face hitters. Matz may throw another bullpen session Thursday before advancing to live BP rounds.