Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals’ Outfielder Dylan Carlson Returns From Injured List

Originally posted on The Forkball | By JM Kerska | Last updated 6/10/23

St. Louis Cardinals‘ outfielder Dylan Carlson has been activated from the IL. In a corresponding move Juan Yepez has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis. The team also activated pitcher Jake Woodford and optioned him to Triple-A as well.

Carlson Returns to Depleted Outfield

The Cardinals started the season with a logjam in the outfield. That quickly changed due to injuries. Before Carlson’s return, the entire projected starting outfield was on the IL. This forced them to recall top prospect Jordan Walker a little sooner than they probably wanted. The injury situation also pushed Gold Glove recipients Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman out of the infield and into the outfield.

It’s not exactly what was planned for the 2023 season. Carlson’s return gives the Cardinals’ outfield defense a much-needed boost. Especially with two projected starters, Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbaar still on the IL nursing back injuries.

Impresses During Rookie Campaign

The organization drafted Carlson in the first round of the 2016 draft. He quickly rose through the ranks in the minor leagues and made his debut late in the shortened 2020 season. The following season he put up a .266/.343/.437 slash line with 18 homeruns and 65 runs batted in. He also played excellent defense in the outfield. This performance garnered him a third-place finish in the rookie of the year voting.

Unfortunately, Carlson has struggled at the plate since then. He continued to rough up left-handed pitching from his natural right side of the plate, but his numbers plummeted from the left side. His struggles at the plate got him sent back to Triple-A for a short time in 2022 to try and find his swing. Seemingly he got it back together and took over as the everyday centerfielder after Harrison Bader was traded to the Yankees. The job was his for the taking but he continued to struggle from the left side of the plate, giving the front office doubts.

Odd Man Out

He found himself on the outside looking in to start the 2023 season. The team’s questionable decision to give O’Neill a chance at centerfield combined with Walker’s breakout performance in spring training pushed him down the depth chart. However, he now finds himself in a position to take back his starting job. If he can, it would be a tremendous boost for a team that’s struggling. This opportunity may not come again if he doesn’t make the most of it.

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

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