Semoball

Cardinal Report: St. Louis players eager to get to work

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Arenado, center, jogs out to the field with teammates Paul DeJong, left, and Tommy Edman during spring training practice Monday in Jupiter, Fla.
Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press

This is the first installment of a regular glance at the St. Louis Cardinal training camp in Jupiter, Fla. by Semoball.com sports clerk Michael Jeter.

The St. Louis Cardinal pitchers and catchers reported to spring training on February 12 with the full squad required to arrive five days later. But unlike many teams, most position players for the Cardinals were already in Jupiter.

The players spent the early days of camp taking ground balls, practicing swings, and throwing to get their arms in the needed shape to take on the 162-game season.

For the Cardinals’ newly acquired star, third baseman Nolan Arenado, he has been in camp since day one, antsy to get acquainted with his teammates and to get the ball rolling on getting in mid-season shape.

“For sure, it’s been great,” Arenado told the Associated Press recently. “If anything, I don’t know what some of their faces look like (because of masks), but other than that it’s smooth sailing.”

For the first couple of days since hitters reported, there have been several rounds of live batting practice. This usually involves three or four hitters to a group.

The players hit off of live pitching from the mound on several of the fields around the training complex, which includes about six different fields that the organization can use at its disposal.

Earlier this week, for Arenado and his group, which consisted of himself, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, catcher Yadier Molina, and utility man Matt Carpenter, each hitter saw two different pitchers, a right-handed thrower and a left-handed thrower, as manager Mike Shildt likes to incorporate in his training.

Arenado and the other trio first faced Jake Woodford, a young prospect who saw glimpses of big-league time last season.

Woodford is competing for a starting spot in the rotation.

The group also faced lefty-reliever Tyler Webb, who is a shoo-in to have a role in the bullpen come opening day.

Other players taking live batting practice were outfielders Lane Thomas and Justin Williams, who faced Alex Reyes and lefty Evan Kruczynski.

Fellow outfielder Tyler O’Neill took pitches from both Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley.

O’Neill jokingly asked Cardinal coaches why he had to endure his first batting practice with such “flame throwers,” as he described both Cabrera and Helsley.

Veteran shortstop Paul DeJong, second baseman Tommy Edman, and utility player Edmundo Sosa took swings against Kodi Whitley and Austin Warner.

One thing that is very different looking, according to several reports, is how the usual large crowds there to watch the team are non-existent this spring due to COVID. Even the Cardinals President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, and General Manager Mike Girsch have to keep their distance because of Covid-19 protocols.

Reporters, as well as cameramen, and other St. Louis Cardinal personnel, have to mind these protocols set by the state of Florida.

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