The St. Louis Cardinals are set to bolster their roster by activating outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, according to manager Oliver Marmol, as reported by Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat. The move will require St. Louis to make a corresponding adjustment to its active roster, though the club already has an open spot on the 40-man roster following the return of Rule 5 selection Matt Pushard to the Miami Marlins.
Nootbaar is expected to make his season debut after missing more than two months while recovering from offseason heel surgery. He underwent a procedure in October to shave down bone spurs in both heels, an issue that had lingered and impacted his comfort and performance. Since beginning his rehab assignment, Nootbaar has appeared in 11 minor league games, gradually working his way back into game shape. During that stretch, he hit .233 and recorded two home runs while progressing through multiple levels, including Triple-A Memphis.
The 28-year-old’s injury troubles appeared to carry over from last season, when his production noticeably declined. Over 583 plate appearances, he posted a career-low .234/.325/.361 slash line, along with 13 home runs—numbers that fell short of his earlier offensive output. From 2022 through 2024, he had been a more productive hitter, combining solid on-base ability with occasional power, but his overall consistency dipped during that most recent campaign.
Before injuries complicated his trajectory, Nootbaar was viewed as a potential trade candidate during the offseason. He is under team control through arbitration for two more seasons, making him a valuable but movable asset in a retooling phase for St. Louis. The Cardinals had already shown a willingness to reshape parts of their roster, dealing several short-term players, and Nootbaar’s name circulated in trade discussions. However, given his injury status at the time, the team ultimately held onto him rather than sell low.
That decision now looks more favorable as the Cardinals have gotten off to a stronger-than-expected start. Sitting at 32 wins in their first 60 games, St. Louis remains in the mix for a National League Wild Card position. While their offense has been largely average and their pitching staff continues to struggle to generate swings and misses, strong defensive play has helped keep them competitive.
The outfield situation, particularly in left field, has been one of the weaker areas on the roster. Left-handed hitter Nathan Church has primarily split time in a platoon arrangement with José Fermín and Thomas Saggese, though Church is currently sidelined with a minor shoulder strain. Even before his injury, his offensive numbers—.247/.282/.390 over 156 plate appearances—were modest at best. The replacements have also struggled to provide consistent production.
Recent roster shuffling has included brief opportunities for Bryan Torres and Nelson Velázquez, but stability has been hard to find. Velázquez and Fermín are both out of minor league options, meaning they would have to clear waivers if removed from the roster. Meanwhile, players like Torres, Saggese, and Church retain flexibility, giving the Cardinals multiple paths to adjust once Nootbaar returns.
With Nootbaar back in the lineup, St. Louis is hoping for a boost in both production and depth as they continue to navigate a tightly packed postseason race.
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