The St. Louis Cardinals have officially announced their Opening Day roster, and as expected, JJ Wetherholt is part of the lineup. This move was anticipated, but there’s a twist that has fans talking.
Nelson Velazquez, who impressed many during spring training, didn’t make the cut. Despite his standout performance, with a .357/.449/.667 slash line and four home runs in just 42 at-bats, the Cardinals opted for other options.
Velazquez, a power hitter with previous stints at the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals, seemed poised to fill a power gap in the Cardinals’ outfield. Yet, the team chose to give roster spots to Thomas Saggese, Jose Fermin, Nathan Church, Yohel Pozo, and Ramon Urias instead.
While Velazquez’s exclusion might raise eyebrows, it aligns with the Cardinals’ strategy to develop younger talent like Saggese and Church. For a team in a rebuilding phase, ensuring these players get regular playing time is crucial for their growth. Although it seemed Velazquez could be a key power bat for the Cardinals, the decision to send him down allows the team to focus on nurturing their emerging stars.
Here’s how the roster shakes out for the Cardinals as they gear up to face the Tampa Bay Rays at home:
Bullpen (8):
- RHP Matt Svanson
- RHP Riley O’Brien
- LHP JoJo Romero
- RHP Ryne Stanek
- RHP George Soriano
- RHP Matt Pushard
- LHP Justin Bruihl
- RHP Chris Roycroft
Catchers (3):
- C/DH Ivan Herrera
- C Pedro Pages
- C/1B Yohel Pozo
Infield (5):
- 1B Alec Burleson
- 2B JJ Wetherholt
- SS Masyn Winn
- 3B Nolan Gorman
- INF Ramon Urias
Outfielders (3):
- OF Jordan Walker
- OF Victor Scott II
- OF Nathan Church
The Cardinals are all set to kick off the 2026 season, and fans will be eager to see how this roster evolves as the year progresses.
