STLtoday.com

https://redbirdrants.com/mlb-writer-bel ... g-training

Worked with biomechanists at his alma mater West Vriginia U. and learned how his swing movements were insufficient ... has adjusted his hip roation and shin angle to make his swing shorter and more compact.

Also been working like nuts in offseason on 'bunting' .. he was just 7 for 26 in 2025 while attempting to bunt for a hit and fouling off or missing 32 bunt tries.

He did look pretty lame on bunts in 2025. We all remember that.
Hoping his winter work will start paying off in 2026. If his OBP can increase , his top speed could be a big asset . He has the defense for CF but now must show he can produce offensively .

Hit down on the ball, learn to be a better bunter, get the walk rate up and utilize that blazing speed!

I hope he works w/Ozzie a lot this spring, he could learn a lot about how to do the above.

And please, please Oli DON"T anchor the kid at 1st base when he does get on!

His orders this spring should be:

"If you get on 1st base and 2nd isn't occupied, then you always have the GREEN LIGHT"

Any base stealer who was successful on 34 of 38 attempts (89%) has to be allowed to "GO-GO-GO".

It's really encouraging to hear he has been focusing on bunting. Not only does that mean it's likely to be better this year (which would already make his OBP a very playable .320ish even if everything else stays the same), but it also means he is self-aware, mature and motivated to improve, which bodes very well for continued growth as a player.

I don’t think we will see a different VS2.
I think we will see the exact same VS2.
I mean, where would they get another one?
I do think the one we have will hit better.
If he could get in base and steal bases, that be a great lead off man.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 12:33 pm Hit down on the ball, learn to be a better bunter, get the walk rate up and utilize that blazing speed!

I hope he works w/Ozzie a lot this spring, he could learn a lot about how to do the above.

And please, please Oli DON"T anchor the kid at 1st base when he does get on!

His orders this spring should be:

"If you get on 1st base and 2nd isn't occupied, then you always have the GREEN LIGHT"

Any base stealer who was successful on 34 of 38 attempts (89%) has to be allowed to "GO-GO-GO".

The beating the ball into the ground worked on the old artificial turf at Busch that was like a trampoline. Don’t know how well that would work without high bounces.

learned how his swing movements were insufficient

The Cardinals couldn't tell him? Four years after they signed him? Maybe they did and he didn't listen.

At any rate it'll take more than a trip to Morgantown to turn him back into the on-base machine he was in AA.

“The best shape of his life” genre of spring training articles is alive and well . . .

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:08 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 12:33 pm Hit down on the ball, learn to be a better bunter, get the walk rate up and utilize that blazing speed!

I hope he works w/Ozzie a lot this spring, he could learn a lot about how to do the above.

And please, please Oli DON"T anchor the kid at 1st base when he does get on!

His orders this spring should be:

"If you get on 1st base and 2nd isn't occupied, then you always have the GREEN LIGHT"

Any base stealer who was successful on 34 of 38 attempts (89%) has to be allowed to "GO-GO-GO".

The beating the ball into the ground worked on the old artificial turf at Busch that was like a trampoline. Don’t know how well that would work without high bounces.

Still works when you have the speed VSII does.

Balls to the hole at SS or behind the bag at 2nd base, up the middle to is right forcing a 2nd baseman to his backhand and balls dribbled to the 1st baseman who has to fed the pitcher are all balls he could beat out.

Or would you like to see him continually flying out to shallow CF/RF?

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:36 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:08 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 12:33 pm Hit down on the ball, learn to be a better bunter, get the walk rate up and utilize that blazing speed!

I hope he works w/Ozzie a lot this spring, he could learn a lot about how to do the above.

And please, please Oli DON"T anchor the kid at 1st base when he does get on!

His orders this spring should be:

"If you get on 1st base and 2nd isn't occupied, then you always have the GREEN LIGHT"

Any base stealer who was successful on 34 of 38 attempts (89%) has to be allowed to "GO-GO-GO".

The beating the ball into the ground worked on the old artificial turf at Busch that was like a trampoline. Don’t know how well that would work without high bounces.

Still works when you have the speed VSII does.

Balls to the hole at SS or behind the bag at 2nd base, up the middle to is right forcing a 2nd baseman to his backhand and balls dribbled to the 1st baseman who has to fed the pitcher are all balls he could beat out.

Or would you like to see him continually flying out to shallow CF/RF?

I would love to see him fly out to shallow center everytime. Why did you have to ask such a silly question.
What other players in the majors are beating the ball into the ground these days?

NYCardsFan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:13 pm “The best shape of his life” genre of spring training articles is alive and well . . .

Every suspect is a budding star at the start of ST.

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:40 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:36 pm

Cardinals1964 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:08 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 12:33 pm Hit down on the ball, learn to be a better bunter, get the walk rate up and utilize that blazing speed!

I hope he works w/Ozzie a lot this spring, he could learn a lot about how to do the above.

And please, please Oli DON"T anchor the kid at 1st base when he does get on!

His orders this spring should be:

"If you get on 1st base and 2nd isn't occupied, then you always have the GREEN LIGHT"

Any base stealer who was successful on 34 of 38 attempts (89%) has to be allowed to "GO-GO-GO".

The beating the ball into the ground worked on the old artificial turf at Busch that was like a trampoline. Don’t know how well that would work without high bounces.

Still works when you have the speed VSII does.

Balls to the hole at SS or behind the bag at 2nd base, up the middle to is right forcing a 2nd baseman to his backhand and balls dribbled to the 1st baseman who has to fed the pitcher are all balls he could beat out.

Or would you like to see him continually flying out to shallow CF/RF?

I would love to see him fly out to shallow center everytime. Why did you have to ask such a silly question.
What other players in the majors are beating the ball into the ground these days?

icon wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:40 pm

NYCardsFan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 13:13 pm “The best shape of his life” genre of spring training articles is alive and well . . .

Every suspect is a budding star at the start of ST.

Agreed. I want more articles about guys who spent the off-season trying to not get better!