MESA, Ariz. — Within minutes of the Cardinals confirming that Victor Scott II will be their starting center fielder, the rookie and top prospect walked by on his way to the team's clubhouse at Sloan Park.
He was already dressed, sporting a new No. 11, and ready to go.
Everything about him happens fast.
During Monday's game against the Cubs, center fielder Dylan Carlson sustained a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. Carlson collided with teammate Jordan Walker as both attempted to catch a line drive into the right-center gap. Carlson went through a series of tests in Arizona before returning to St. Louis this week for more exams and a treatment plan. John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, said the initial word from the team's medical staff is that Carlson's recovery will be measured in "weeks, not months."
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Carlson will open the regular season on the injured list and become the third of the team's planned four outfielders to be placed on the 10-day IL.
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery) and Lars Nootbaar (fractured ribs) are set to be put there Thursday as well, backdated to Tuesday. Of the three, Nootbaar is the closest to be activated, and two Cardinals officials said Tuesday at the starting left fielder could be ready when the minimum days are up on the IL.
Scott, 23, made a strong bid during spring training to replace Edman as the everyday center fielder, and his play had the Cardinals consider putting Carlson in left and Scott in center for opening day.
They opted instead to reassign Scott to Class AAA Memphis, where he would play every day and impact the major-league team later in the summer. Carlson's strong finish to the Florida portion of spring training won the starting job in center field.
Scott's promotion to replace Carlson signals one thing for sure.
"He's our starting center fielder," manager Oliver Marmol said Tuesday morning. "He's here to play."
The minor league's Gold Glove-winner for his play in center field, Scott has yet to play a game above the Class AA level. He stole 94 bases in 108 attempts this past season, and in 132 games split between Class A and Class AA, he hit .303 with a .369 on-base percentage. This spring, Scott led the team with four steals and his slash line in 38 at-bats was .316/.409/.368. He had 12 hits and almost as many walks (five) as strikeouts (six) in his first major-league spring training.
Scott will appear at some point in the spring finale Tuesday against the Cubs, though they chose not to put him in the starting lineup. They didn't want to rush him.
Yet.
Here are the lineups for the exhibition schedule finale.
CARDINALS
1. Brendan Donovan, LF
2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
3. Nolan Arenado, 3B
4. Nolan Gorman, 2B
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Jordan Walker, RF
7. Alec Burleson, DH
8. Brandon Crawford, SS
9. Michael Siani, CF
Starting pitcher: Kyle Gibson, RHP.Â
CUBS
1. Ian Happ, DH
2. Nico Hoerner, 2B
3. Cody Bellinger, CF
4. Christopher Morel, 3B
5. Dansby Swanson, SS
6. Miguel Amaya, C
7. Michael Tauchman, RF
8. Garrett Cooper, 1B
9. Miles Mastrobuoni, LF
Starting pitcher: Shota Imanaga, LHP.
This story will be updated.
Check back throughout the day here at for the latest news, details, and analysis from the Cardinals-Cubs game at Sloan Park.
ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ columnist Ben Frederickson reflects on a night game in West Palm Beach that saw Dylan Carlson smash a grand slam before Victor Scott II robbed a homer. "It's great for the organization," Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said. Edited by Jenna Jones.
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