The St. Louis Cardinals finally received the kind of update fans have been waiting months to hear about Lars Nootbaar following a major breakthrough in his injury rehab outing. Nootbaar started his rehab assignment Friday night with the Palm Beach Cardinals, and the early returns quickly turned heads.
According to Jeff Jones, Nootbaar blasted a home run in his very first at-bat while hitting second and playing left field. The moment instantly fueled excitement surrounding his recovery and gave fans renewed confidence that he could already be returning to top form.
The moment carried extra weight for St. Louis. The Cardinals entered the season already dealing with questions about offensive consistency. Those concerns only grew after Lars Nootbaar underwent surgery last October to correct Haglund’s deformities in both heels. The team later placed him on the 60-day injured list to begin the year, delaying his return until at least May 24. Now, the energy suddenly feels different.
The Cardinals sit at 26-18 and third in the NL Central. The record remains solid for St. Louis. Still, fans know the lineup becomes far more dangerous when Nootbaar is healthy and aggressive at the plate. Under the stadium lights in Palm Beach, his first swing offered a glimpse of what could soon return to Busch Stadium.
Nootbaar’s numbers from last season may not immediately stand out, but his impact goes beyond production. He slashed .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs and 48 RBI while bringing energy, patience, and defensive flexibility to the Cardinals lineup. When healthy, he changes the tone of the offense, which made this rehab appearance so important for St. Louis.
The Cardinals do not need Nootbaar to carry the franchise alone. They simply need him back near his normal level. Friday’s early statement suggested that possibility may be closer than expected. The dugout felt louder. The excitement returned fast. And if Lars Nootbaar truly looks this sharp after one injury rehab game, how much more dangerous can these Cardinals become once he officially returns?
