The Cardinals’ outfield picture is starting to come into focus, and Victor Scott II is the name hanging over it.
St. Louis has already gotten a look at a group that could define the near future in the grass: Joshua Baez and Jordan Walker on the corners, with Nathan Church in center field.
That alignment looks promising on its own, and it only figures to get stronger as Baez gains more big league experience. Church was a rookie for the entire 2026 season, so there’s still room for that trio to grow together.
Scott, though, is the wild card. He began the year in center before Lars Nootbaar returned from the Injured List, which pushed Scott to Triple-A and moved Church into center.
After Nootbaar was traded, Baez took over shortly after. From there, Scott’s path only got narrower.
The problem for Scott is simple: Church played better in 2026. Church hit .247/.290/.364 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 25 walks, 17 doubles and two triples in 142 games, and he finished in the 79th percentile in outs above average.
Scott, by comparison, slashed .193/.270/.253 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 80 games. Scott remains the stronger defender, but the bat never came around.
That leaves Baez and Walker looking like locks in the corners, while Church stands as the clear favorite in center. And the Cardinals aren’t exactly short on more names pushing from behind.
St. Louis brought in Josiah Ragsdale from the Milwaukee Brewers, and he put together a big 2026 in the minors, hitting 24 home runs, driving in 65 runs, stealing 37 bases and batting .295 in 116 games.
He reached Double-A and could surface in the majors at some point in 2027. At 22, he has star written all over him.
Tai Peete, who is 21, is another prospect who could eventually enter the mix, and Alexander Frias and Trevor Condon are expected to add even more pressure down the line.
That’s why Scott’s situation feels so urgent. He failed to move forward offensively in 2026, Church seized the opening in center, and help is on the way from the farm.
If Scott doesn’t show clear growth in Spring Training, his time in St. Louis could be running out fast.
In Other News...
Cardinals May Finally Have The Rotation Fans Have Been Waiting For
For most of the last several seasons, the Cardinals have spent far too much time trying to piece together a rotation that was good enough rather than one that could truly change games. From 2020 through 2026, that group sat in the middle-to-lower tier of the league, with a 4.34 ERA that reflected the broader issue in St. Louis: a lack of pitchers who could consistently miss bats or give the staff a real ceiling. It was serviceable more often than not, but it rarely felt like the kind of rotation that could carry the team through a long summer.
The outlook for 2027 looks different, and for Cardinals fans that alone is worth watching closely. Kyle Leahy, Quinn Mathews, Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy are part of a younger, more dynamic mix, with more prospect help on the way behind them. There will probably be some uneven stretches as those arms settle in, but the appeal is obvious - the strikeout potential and overall competitiveness could be better than what St. Louis has lived with for years, and that alone marks a meaningful shift. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Are Eyeing World Series Help But One Reality Could End It
With the World Series about to begin, the Cardinals have another layer of scouting to do while the rest of the league watches the fall classic unfold. Three players on the field this week, Nick Martinez, Antonio Senzatela and Jorge Mateo, could all be on St. Louis' radar for 2027, giving the front office a chance to evaluate potential depth additions against the highest level of competition.
The appeal is obvious: Martinez offers pitching versatility, Senzatela brings a different look on the mound and Mateo adds speed and defensive flexibility. Still, St. Louis has made clear it prefers to build from within, which means any pursuit of outside help will have to fit both the roster and the budget. The bigger question is whether those free agents become real targets once the offseason moves from speculation to action. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Can Lock In Busch Stadium Access Earlier Than Usual
The Cardinals are giving fans a head start on planning for Busch Stadium in 2027, with ticket packs for the regular season now on sale. The early offering includes a fixed 10-game Opening Day Pack, along with Flex Packs that let buyers choose 5, 10 or 15 games, and the team is pitching the move as a way to lock in seats at discounted prices.
For fans who like to map out their baseball calendar well in advance, it is a straightforward way to secure some of the better dates on the schedule before the rush starts. Single-game tickets and the rest of the ballparks ticket options will not open up until Nov. 5, 2026, which leaves a long runway for anyone trying to get ahead of the usual scramble. [Read more 🡒]