photo: Lars Nootbaar (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Sunday’s Day 2 of the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up charity event at Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village offered an increased blast of cold as a welcome to the throngs of Cardinals fans attending.
Among the popular presentations on the main stage included a panel discussion with general manager Mike Girsch and assistant general managers Moises Rodriguez, Gary LaRocque and Randy Flores.
Autograph sessions with these current Cardinals were scheduled on Sunday, usually the event’s busiest day: Matthew Liberatore, Ivan Herrera, Brendan Donovan, Victor Scott, Jordan Walker, Andre Pallante, Zack Thompson, Nick Robertson, Max Rajcic, Masyn Winn, Gordon Graceffo, Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar and Jose Fermin. John King was at the event but had to leave early so did not speak to the media.
Cardinals alumni signing Sunday included Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, Bernard Gilkey, and many more.
Typically, either before or after they sign for fans, the players meet with team physicians and are brought to the media area for a question and answer session.
Below are my notes from selected interviews held during the St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up on Sunday, January 14, 2024. Following my summary is the audio for those who want to listen to the full content.
Victor Scott (16:07)
Cardinals said to build bat speed, but that is not to swing as hard as he can. Make swing more controllable, faster. Working kinetic chain.
Peoria manager Patrick Anderson did defensive drills that helped him with jumps as ball is hit.
Took trip to Cancun after Fall League. AFL was like all-star game every day. Learned pitchers from different organizations have tendencies. His success there told him he is ready for next step.
Was college sprinter who played baseball. Now baseball player who can run. Any pitcher at 1.5 to 1.3 to plate and he has green light. 1.2 to 1.0, look for pitcher tendencies. Talked with Vince Coleman at Futures Game about that.
Changed swing a lot during 2023. More repeatable now. Knows where hands are supposed to be, etc., without thinking about it.
Mom rode him hard about education. Got degree in kinesiology in December.
Not trying to hit home runs like in college. Had trouble at top of zone. Flatter path leads to more line drives. Bunting remains super critical. Took 100 every two weeks.
Ivan Herrera (11:58)
Focus is to stay consistent, show up ready and play hard. Had best offseason. Am happy for chance Cards have given me. Excited for chance to be with team. If confidence is high, he can be good player.
Yadi was best catcher ever. Helped my defense get better. Glad he will be back.
Contreras is funny guy. Competitor.
Getting to know pitchers is important. Told story about first time he caught Wainwright after so many years with Molina. He wants to build confidence in pitchers.
In 2022 first test in MLB did not succeed. Told him what he needed to do to improve in Memphis. Tough early in year, kept working. This is a mental game. Gain maturity, set routines. Good especially after a bad day.
First year, he was overwhelmed by pitchers. In 2023, changed stance at advice of Juan Yepez. Hit balls harder (EV 110-113), walks up, strikeouts down. Stayed with it.
Spent offseason in Panama and worked with coach and trainer. Started playing winter ball a week ago.
Max Rajcic (9:05)
Versus last winter, knows what to expect. Ready for 132-140 games in 2024. Went from 85 innings to 130.
Goal is first pitch strikes and getting ahead in count. High-A hitters had better approach and discipline vs. Low-A.
Made Double-A debut in playoffs in rain, but Springfield fans turned out. Arrived at midnight and threw later that evening.
Made all three goals in 2023: Throw 130 innings, reach Double-A and be named Cardinals Pitcher of the Year. Keeping 2024 goals to himself.
Will be sponge in 2024 spring camp.
Uses fastball to set up offspeed. When curveball is on, it is unhittable. Slider was sweeper in 2023. Trying to get it to be gyro slider at 85-87 mph. Always chasing more (fastball) velo. Working on bouncing curve in dirt for chases.
Made mound in backyard in Fullerton, CA. Hard finding a catcher.
Gordon Graceffo (7:47)
Offseason has been awesome. Bullpens have been great.
No discussions about move to relief. Talked with coaches at end of year. Just told to be more consistent. Will do whatever team needs.
Post injury, his mechanics took a dip.
Offseason in north New Jersey focused on nutrition and endurance. Need to go 6-7 innings or end up in pen. Wants to stay starting. Number 1 ability is availability.
Tried to do too much in spring 2023. In 2024, knows he is there for a reason. Will pitch as well as he can. Listens to guys on team more than coaches.
Regarding 2023 injury, it was hard not being able to help team. Sitting with guys who have been in MLB like Hudson, Liberatore and Naile.
Nolan Gorman (16:01)
Same approach offensively. Fight tough pitches and hit good ones.
Focus on core stability, flexibility, mobility and nutrition to help his back. Not new, just a different level. Started regular schedule while still with StL on IL late in season. Even ran before season ended.
Not kind of guy to put 500 pounds on bar. (Lifting heavy weights did not hurt back.)
Focus is to move fast, accelerate fast. Dial in on mental side of baseball and life. Approach vs. certain pitchers to get turned around faster if downturn. Go into each day as new day. Stopped looking at in game video. June-July was terrible.
Has doctor and nutritionist. Learn what to do and not to do. Cleaner eating. Goal is to play 162 games.
Showed he can hit for power and average. All is there. Need to make lows not last too long.
Defensively working on speed, range, running quickness. Get to balls left and right the same. Work back and get to more balls.
Back injury was inflammation and lock up. Not one thing that caused it.
No spots given to people. Hopes to earn whatever spot helps team win.
He and Donovan talk and motivate each other. Donovan about as consistent as they come. Looks up to him for that and as a player who went to college.
Brendan Donovan (13:29)
Pain-free throwing was goal. Ended program this week. Hitting next week. Injuries not enjoyable but teaches about body. Being pain-free is different. Sucks to be sidelined but motivates him more.
Just wants to be in lineup. He and Edman can give guys days (off).
On trade speculation, wants to play here and be here for a long time. Can control rehab and preparation. Glad still wearing these colors.
Goal is for nobody to know he had surgery. Started to throw at 12 weeks. First was a lollipop that was in catching zone. Didn’t want it to snowball into 2024 season. No setbacks. Rehabbing whole body.
As rookie had 11% swing rate on first pitches. Took too many and got behind. Good to get better swings early in count.
Likes switching gears between hitting and defense. Not taking swings during game. Partly being stubborn. While DH, thinking about what he’d be doing on defense.
Thinking in the box is never good. Like hitting with one hand tied behind back.
Really motivated and hungry team. Will see different product out there (in 2024). Going to re-establish high core values.
Zack Thompson (8:09)
Bouncing around between relieving and starting led to inconsistency. Working on new weapons “tread” changeup or “kick change”. Also smaller curve ball looking for Ks, like Montgomery’s offering. Staying in touch with him.
Last year, prepared as reliever day one. Plan differently for 15-30 pitches daily. This year, being a starter changes training and conditioning. Prep for 200 innings over season.
Hit new level after blowing game in Chicago in July. Learned about getting through an order a second and third time. Felt like he wasted part of 2023 in Memphis figuring what to do.
With ABS system at Memphis, had to adjust. No fastballs above belt are called strikes. His fastball covers his curve so this forced him to use slider, which is good.
Not thinking about that some starters may be made relievers. Goals to get through lineup three times and make 30 starts.
Jordan Walker (16:07)
Weighed 259.4 pounds just before coming here. Did not plan on it. Result of strength program. Feels stronger, more explosive. No live at-bats yet.
Daily routine this winter with Oquendo in Jupiter: 9:45 a.m. stretch, 30-60 minutes drill on first step, tracking balls, throwing, etc., 45-60 minutes in cage sometimes with Donovan. Then strength and conditioning, lifting, running, home at 2:30.
Grew fast and have to keep up with it. Working on lateral quickness. Will lose water weight during season.
Doesn’t share personal goals – sets with Dad. Vague goal is to drive ball earlier in year. Agreed with question that 30 home runs is realistic.
Learned how to forget what was learned earlier. Must always be coachable.
Not worried about Masyn Winn’s struggles. Seen him hit for four years. He needs to relax, same as me. The two of are always competing with each other. Winn will be a good hitter for average with more power than expected.
What could he tell Victor Scott, a tremendous athlete – including basketball and bowling? Called him “kind of like the Mookie Betts of the Cardinals”.
Stayed in Jupiter in winter because he trusts staff.
Oquendo teaching him not to go back on heels after starting after balls. Trust first instinct with eyes.
MLB hitters make fewer mistakes, so he needs to be more consistent. Wants to be hitter who can drive ball to all parts of the field and to the wall. Wants to hit for average and power.
Thinks of Donovan as one of his coaches. If he sees something wrong, he calls it out. Said my hips weren’t right and I can’t hit like that. Coaches had said same. Donovan is a lead driver in group chats.
Matthew Liberatore (4:14)
Wants to win in whatever role to help the team. Late season pen success gave him confidence and simplification. Kept it simple facing 2-5 guys per outing. Trust stuff, rely on strengths. Don’t have to worry about second and third time through lineup.
No longer trying to put on weight. Endurance huge. Aerobic and muscular focus.
Tampa Bay start “confirmed I can do this and do well” vs. Miami game when he came out in the first.
Gorman’s swing looks as good as I’ve ever seen it and I’ve seen him for a long time.
Nick Robertson (6:07)
Call (that he was taken in Rule 5) caught him off guard. Not a lot of StL fans in Virginia. Can throw 1-2 innings, whatever team needs. Has started a pen game several times so can extend outings.
Comfortable getting batters out with all pitches but worked on getting slider more consistent. He had the pitch before, stopped using it and brought it back in 2023. Wants to have third effective pitch.
Jose Fermin (5:02)
The infielder took just two days off before going to play winter ball. Didn’t play a lot last year due to injury. Hit well in Dominican Republic and worked in outfield after suggestion from Cardinals. Worked some there last offseason, too. Cards worked with him on hitting mechanics, bat positioning, preset. Ready for outfield in spring training (if they ask him).
Lars Nootbaar (14:24)
In group chats, everyone is motivated to have bounceback year.
(LA) Not where he wanted Yamamoto to land. First time he saw a free agent go through that. Got higher number than most thought.
Goal is to stay more healthy and be available daily. Working with body coach daily. More flexible, pliable, durable.
Early time with StL still trying to find himself. Roller coaster early in career. As matured, gained confidence, trust in own ability.
Coolest thing about Japan trip was sightseeing in Kyoto and seeing grandparents, cousins after many years.
Wants to relieve big guys (Nolan, Goldy, Willson) so they don’t have to do it all (carry offense).
Working (launch?) angles with Arenado in offseason. Compared before to Kobe and Jordan. “A motivated Nolan is a scary Nolan.” Works so hard because he cares so much. A psycho who lives and breathes baseball. Relationship is honor I don’t take for granted.
Had not heard before that he is starter in left field. Doesn’t change his preparation. Won’t be satisfied until he can sit at table with big guys.
First full spring training coming. Without WBC games early, don’t have to press as much.
Will be up to team if they have new celebrations for 2024. Gives Andrew Knizner credit for pepper grinder.
Note
Due to other commitments, I missed the media interviews with Masyn Winn and Andre Pallante.
Earlier related article
Cardinals Winter Warm-Up – In Their Words: Saturday, 1/13/24
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