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JUPITER, Fla. — You want to talk about looking the part, well, Cardinals non-roster camp invitee and former top Cincinnati Reds prospect Jose Barrero certainly fits the bill. If you just looked at the 6-foot-4, 211-pound Barrero with no information about his background, you’d undoubtedly guess he’s an athlete.

You wouldn’t be crazy to guess he played wide receiver, easily envisioning him catching passes and accelerating away from defenders on the gridiron.

If someone said he played basketball, you’d instantly imagine him driving down the lane, elevating above the rim and throwing down a dunk on that one defender too proud not to jump in an ill-considered block attempt.

On a baseball diamond, his athleticism remains evident. The “tools� overflow from Barrero’s game. Signed as an international free agent out of Cuba in 2017, Barrero flashed above average defensive ability as a shortstop in the minors. He also displayed above average power and speed.

Putting it all together into one game-changing package? Well, that hasn’t happened. Fortunately for the Cardinals, they’re not relying on Barrero to provide a game-changing presence. They’ve been auditioning him as a potential fill-the-gaps player. Based on his ability and their needs, Barrero should head to St. Louis as a utility player with the club when they get ready to start the season.

“They told me I’m here to play center field, left field, right field, shortstop,� he said. “So whatever they tell me, I’m here working every single day to help the team. That’s the most important thing.�

Barrero, 26, would give the Cardinals a legitimate backup shortstop capable of handling the position, defensively, on a regular basis. He’s also versatile enough to play all three outfield positions — including center field. He also has started big-league games at second base.

With the wealth of options available at the corner infield positions in Nolan Arenado, Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Alec Burleson and potentially Luken Baker, Barrero’s ability to provide middle infield depth should prove important.

At the same time, Barrero’s ability to step into any spot in the outfield allows the Cardinals flexibility. For example, if Michael Siani makes the opening-day roster and the organization prefers to send Victor Scott II to Triple-A to play every day, the club still will have a backup center fielder if Siani’s in the starting lineup alongside Lars Nootbaar.

There’s some risk that comes with rolling the dice on upside and athleticism when it’s a player you’re counting on as an everyday starter. When it comes to a bench player, why not roll the dice?

Barrero could have that eureka moment where he makes good on those previous flashes of athletic brilliance. If not, he’s still able to adequately fill multiple roles, defensively, on any given night.

In 2022, Baseball America ranked him the No. 33 overall prospect in all of Minor League Baseball. In 2023, he swatted 19 home runs and stole 20 bases at Triple-A in just 80 games.

The Cardinals have been working with Barrero on shortening his swing, being direct to the baseball on a consistent basis and not trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark. That’s been the focus of his work with new hitting coach Brant Brown.

“Right now, line drives. Line drives. I just want to be on base,� Barrero said of his approach at the plate. “Line drives. I’m working on that.�

It stands to reason that a simple, short, compact swing will translate best to a bench role that will not include daily at-bats. The more moving parts, the more maintenance required to keep the swing in sync.

Barrero, a right-handed hitter, showed the sort of short direct swing and line-drive approach the Cardinals have been harping in a Grapefruit League game against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at Roger Dean Stadium.

With two outs and two runners in scoring position in the fourth inning, Barrero fouled off an 0-2 pitch, scratched his way back into a 2-2 count and then lined a fastball into center field for a two-run single.

“That’s my mindset every time,� Barrero said. “Every time that we’re hitting, I’m thinking line drive, take good at-bats, and that is going to be good for me. I can help the team when I’m thinking like that.�

The single came as part of a 2-for-3 performance in the batter’s box. He also scored a run and drew a walk. Barrero started the game and played all nine innings in left field.

“That’s a really good example of taking it to heart and understanding what it needs to look like as far as just shortening up and more contact through the middle of the field and being direct,� Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said after that game. “He was adamant about making that change, which is good because he has never committed to it. You’re seeing a lot less big swings. That doesn’t mean he can’t take his shots in 3-1, 2-0, counts. But he’s very mindful about shortening up right now. It’s looked better, and I think it could be more helpful.�

There’s no doubt Barrero’s versatility also can be a big help. He currently isn’t on the 40-man roster, so the Cardinals will have to shuffle some things to clear room for him out of camp.

That could mean exposing one of their other utility player types such as Jose Fermin or Michael Helman to waivers, but being afraid they might lose one of their other utility options to another organization shouldn’t keep the Cardinals from betting on Barrero’s fit, ability and upside.