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The St.
Louis Cardinals entered the 2026 Major League Baseball season with low expectations, but have shocked the baseball world.
When the season kicked off, there were plenty of people around the baseball world talking about this club as a potential last-place team.
Instead, the Cardinals are five games above .500 at the All-Star break at 50-45 and are just one game out of a National League Wild Card spot.
The Cardinals are the top National League club on the outside looking in right now.
All in all, St.
Louis has been significantly better than expected this season.
It's been a pleasant surprise and it goes to show that the young guys throughout the roster have stepped up, to say the least.
With that being said and the All-Star break here, let's grade each St.
Louis position player who has gotten some time in the majors.
Pedro Pages, Catcher C+ Pages hasn't done much with his bat yet this season (.212 batting average) but he has been a good leader in the clubhouse and has done well with the pitchers.
His role isn't as big as it was at the beginning of the season, but overall a net positive presence.
Alec Burleson, First Base B+ Burleson has 15 homers and 67 RBIs through 94 games played.
His .273 batting average is a bit of a step back from last year, but he'll be just fine.
Overall, he has been great.
JJ Wetherholt, Second Base A+ An unbelievable first half to the season for the rookie infielder.
Wetherholt has been great with his bat and even better defensively.
Plus, he has a nice, new contract extension.
The team couldn't ask for more from him.
Masyn Winn, Shortstop B- Winn has been excellent defensively.
He's in the 97th precentile in outs above average with eight.
It's hard to live up to his defensive performance from last season, though.
Plus, his bat has been a bit inconsistent.
Nolan Gorman, Third Base F Gorman began the season as the Cardinals' starting third baseman, but his bat was not able to get going.
He has since been demoted to Triple-A after batting .194 in 62 games with seven homers.
Nathan Church, Outfielder B- Church has been very solid as a rookie.
He's playing good defense and is slashing .236/.280/.384 in 77 games played.
He missed some time earlier in the campaign, but has played well since returning.
Victor Scott II, Outfielder D Like Gorman, Scott is down in Triple-A right now.
The reason why he has a higher grade than Gorman is the fact that he was playing elite defense before going down.
Jordan Walker, Outfielder A+ Walker is the biggest comeback story of the 2026 season in general.
Walker has gone from a former top prospect who looked like a potential bust to a legit MVP contender and an All-Star.
What a year.
Ivan Herrera, DH/Catcher A- Herrera has been very solid all season.
He's an All-Star and has been one of the club's most consistent bats, up there with Walker, Burleson and Wetherholt.
He has been able to stay healthy as well, but his batting average and OPS have both taken hits.
Jose Fermin, Utility B Fermin has been a very solid bench bat for the Cardinals.
He's batting .259 and can play all over the field.
It's hard to ask for much more.
Lars Nootbaar, Outfielder B+ Nootbaar would be in the "A" range if he were healthy all season.
He missed time early on, but has been great since he returned to the field.
He looks healthy and has been better offensively than he was last year.
Plus, he's a leader for this young club.
Blaze Jordan, Third Base B- Jordan came out of the gate hot, but has cooled at the plate.
Overall, he still has been a net positive for the club, though.
Thomas Saggese, Utility D+ Saggese has played in 32 games on the season in the majors and batted .184.
Bryan Torres, Utility C Torres has played in 30 games in the big leagues and has four homers.
Not bad.
Jimmy Crooks, Catcher C- Crooks dominated down in Triple-A, but is batting just .164 in 25 games played in the majors this season with two homers and eight RBIs.
The Cardinals need more.
Nelson Velazquez, Outfield B Velazquez has played in 24 games since being promoted to the big leagues and has four homers, 12 RBIs and is batting .246.
A very solid bench bat.
Ramon Urias, Yohel Pozo, Cesar Prieto N/A All three have gotten some action in the majors, but haven't moved the needle.
Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball.
Outside of journalism, Patrick received an MBA at Brandeis University.
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