St. Louis Cardinals Option Highlight Spring Training Performer to Triple-A
· Yahoo Sports
The St. Louis Cardinals are set to begin the 2026 regular season against the Tampa Bay Rays at 3:15 p.m. CT on March 26 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
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The Cardinals have already made the final critical roster moves that will pertain to the 26-man roster, which included top-five prospect JJ Wetherholt getting his first call to up to the major leagues.
One of the players who won't be with St. Louis for Opening Day is one of the best players from spring training, outfielder Nelson Velazquez.
According to a report on "X" from Belleville News-Democrat reporter Jeff Jones, Velazquez was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. The Cardinals will opt to go with utility players Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin and outfielder Nathan Church on the major league roster.
JJ Wetherholt is on the opening day roster, Bloom says. Saggese, Fermín, Church as well. Nelson Velázquez will be assigned to Memphis.
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) March 23, 2026
The final spots on the bench has been arguably the biggest question mark when it comes to St. Louis' roster this spring.
The Cardinals will be without usual starting outfielder Lars Nootbaar, who'll be out for an uncertain amount of time after undergoing offseason double-heel surgery.
Church has been penciled in as the starter in place of Nootbaar for most of this spring. However, St. Louis president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has publicly stated the organization was looking for a right-handed bat in the outfield to platoon with Church.
The Cardinals gave usual infielders Fermin and Saggese looks in the outfield. Fermin has experience, albeit limited, playing in the outfield whereas Saggese hadn't played in the outfield since little league before this spring.
Both players were still on the roster, which made it easy for St. Louis to give them a look in the outfield without making any further roster transactions.
Velazquez was signed by the Cardinals to a minor league contract with a spring training invite Jan. 26.
The 27-year-old outfielder very nearly played himself onto the major league roster. He slashed .357/.449/.667 with a 1.116 OPS and hit a double and four home runs with 10 RBIs in 15 Grapefruit League games. He struck out just four times in 49 plate appearances this spring.
Nelson Velázquez off the scoreboard! pic.twitter.com/6BPHC8Ro1g
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 10, 2026
According to FanGraphs roster resource projections, the team will have Chruch in left field, Victor Scott II in center field and Jordan Walker in right field.
The bench will be comprised of Saggese, Fermin, infielder Ramon Urias and catcher/first baseman Yohel Pozo.
Velazquez will likely get a look in the major leagues at some point and if he continues to perform in Triple-A, it will likely be sooner rather than later.
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