Masyn Winn’s glove already plays at a Gold Glove level. The question for the Cardinals is whether they’re using his bat in the right spot.
That was the message from former MLB star pitcher Lance Lynn, who pushed St. Louis to rethink where Winn hits in 2026 after a season in which the shortstop batted .232 with a .625 OPS.
Lynn didn’t pin Winn’s offensive struggles solely on Winn himself. Instead, he argued the Cardinals put him in a bad position by burying him lower in the order.
“If you do not put Masyn Winn in the top of the lineup to do what Masyn Winn is capable of, you keep putting him in a hole,” Lynn said, via Cardinal Territory. “You gotta free him up… Last year, when you put him in the three hole, you just put him in a spot to just not be successful.
I don't know how else to say it. When you put him in the nine hole, it's kind of disrespectful to his talent.”
It’s a strong suggestion, and one the Cardinals could certainly consider if they want to see whether Winn settles in with more offensive rhythm near the top of the lineup. A move like that could help him find more consistency at the plate.
Oliver Marmol is expected to stay on as manager, and he knows Winn’s game well enough to make the call he thinks fits best. Still, Lynn’s comments give the conversation a little more urgency.
The Cardinals do have some real offensive promise with players like Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt in the mix. If Winn takes a step forward at the plate, that could deepen the lineup even further. And with his defense already shining, a better year offensively would put him on track to become one of the sport’s most complete shortstops.
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