The St. Louis Cardinals have officially cleared space for Victor Scott II on their Opening Day roster, resolving the positional logjam that had raised questions throughout spring training.
Scott’s standout performance this spring—where he hit .359 with a 1.149 OPS, three home runs, seven walks, and five stolen bases—forced the team’s hand. After weeks of speculation, the Cardinals finalized their roster decisions, ensuring that the 24-year-old outfielder will start the season in center field.
To accommodate Scott, the Cardinals made key lineup adjustments. Lars Nootbaar will shift to left field, Brendan Donovan will take over at second base, and Nolan Gorman will primarily serve as the designated hitter. These moves come at the expense of Alec Burleson and Luken Baker, who will see fewer opportunities at the plate.
With the roster now set, the Cardinals are signaling a commitment to their young core. The decision to keep Scott on the big-league club rather than send him to Triple-A Memphis shows that his spring performance was taken seriously, rather than predetermined in favor of Michael Siani or Nootbaar in center field.
The Cardinals’ approach reflects a broader strategy to give their emerging talent a full opportunity to develop at the major league level. With Opening Day just around the corner, all eyes will be on Scott and his impact in the lineup.
