The St. Louis Cardinals have spent the opening six weeks of the season showing they can stay competitive without Lars Nootbaar. Now, they are edging closer to discovering what this offense can become once he returns — and that could spell trouble for the rest of the National League Central.
While many around baseball expected St. Louis to stumble early without one of its key outfielders, the Cardinals have done the opposite. Entering Tuesday with a 24-17 record, they remained firmly in the division race despite Nootbaar missing the entire season after undergoing offseason surgery on both heels.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the experienced outfielder may be approaching the final phase of his recovery.
Goold reported that Nootbaar had a “great day” Tuesday in Florida and could begin a rehab assignment, with a return to game action possible as soon as this weekend.
That development means much more than a routine injury update.
The Cardinals are not just preparing to welcome back another player — they are anticipating the return of one of the few hitters capable of transforming the flow and energy of their entire lineup.
The Cardinals Have Already Built Momentum
That is what makes this situation so interesting.
St. Louis has managed to stay competitive without one of its best on-base threats. The Cardinals entered the week ranked 10th in Major League Baseball with 192 runs scored while relying heavily on lineup depth, situational hitting, and offensive consistency.
But there is still another level this offense could reach.
Nootbaar brings patience, power, defensive versatility, and energy that few players on the roster consistently provide. Even when he is not hitting home runs, he impacts games by extending at-bats and forcing pitchers into difficult counts.
The Cardinals have spent much of the year piecing together outfield production while trying to maintain offensive balance. A healthy Nootbaar immediately changes the flexibility of the lineup and gives manager Oliver Marmol another reliable option near the top of the order.
The National League Central remains tightly packed, and small roster upgrades can quickly shift momentum during the summer months. St. Louis has already surprised people around baseball by staying afloat through injuries. Getting Nootbaar back could push the Cardinals from competitive to legitimately dangerous.
Lars Nootbaar #21 of the St. Louis Cardinals catches a line drive against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning at Busch Stadium on August 26, 2025 in St Louis, Missouri.
That optimism also comes with real concern.
Nootbaar’s problem has never been talent. It has been staying on the field consistently enough to fully establish himself as one of the franchise’s long-term cornerstone players.
Injuries have repeatedly interrupted his momentum throughout his career.
That is why the Cardinals will almost certainly remain cautious during this rehab process, even with encouraging updates beginning to surface publicly. Teams rarely discuss rehab assignments unless players have already cleared important internal benchmarks, but St. Louis also understands the risk of rushing him back too quickly.
Especially after heel surgery.
