Two Cardinals poised for a breakout 2024

This story was excerpted from John Denton’s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

As it turns out, two of the players doing everything within their power to stoke a Cardinals comeback in the 2024 season are attempting a comeback of their own.

Brendan Donovan, who saw his stellar sophomore season cut short by ligament damage in his right elbow, has been a vocal participant on one of the many group text-message chains that the team has had going around throughout the offseason. Meanwhile, his closest friend on the Cardinals, lefty slugger Nolan Gorman, has aggressively sought to change his nutrition in hopes of it lessening the back pain that might be the only thing standing between him and a 40-home run season.

The 26-year-old Donovan, the only rookie Gold Glove winner (2022) in the rich history of the Cardinals, seems poised to become much more of a vocal leader in the season ahead. In between workouts to get his throwing arm ready for Spring Training, Donovan has attempted to motivate teammates to work to avoid what happened this past season when the Cards plummeted to last in the National League Central.

“You've got a very motivated, hungry team to win,” said Donovan, who hit 11 home runs in 95 games before leaving the team to have ligament repair surgery in his elbow. “We got some great acquisitions this offseason and key pieces. You will see a different product out there this year."

Added Lars Nootbaar: “Throughout our group chats, coming off last year, we’re personally motivated to right that ship and have a bounce-back year. You can tell with the energy -- even through text -- guys are excited to get back to Florida and have more motivation this year."

Gorman’s breakout second season -- one in which he smashed a team-best 27 home runs in 119 games -- was somewhat marred by a balky back that has bothered him since a 2020 weightlifting incident at the team’s alternate training site during the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down Minor League Baseball. Those pains knocked Gorman out of the lineup six times this past season, and his right hamstring strain to close the season could be traced to his back issues as well.

The Cardinals resisted all offers to deal Gorman this offseason for pitching, because they firmly believe he can be a dangerous middle-of-the-order thumper for the next decade. But to reach his maximum potential as a slugger, Gorman knows he must figure out ways to better manage the back pain that debilitates him from time to time.

In addition to learning a variety of new stretching exercises this offseason, Gorman has even cleaned up his nutrition in hopes that it will lower the levels of inflammation in his body. Fix the issues with the back and Gorman could soon be on a collision course with superstardom.

“As far as body-wise, core stability, mobility and flexibility -- things to help with the back -- I’ve even done different nutrition stuff to help with inflammation,” Gorman said. “It’s been a good offseason for me, and I’m excited to get to spring.”

Cardinals teammate and childhood friend Matthew Liberatore recently got a look at some of the thunder that Gorman can produce with his bat, and he very much liked what he saw.

“I think he’s going to be really special this year," Liberatore said. “I saw some video from him hitting the other day and his swing looks as good as I’ve ever seen it, and I’ve seen it for a long time. I’m anxious to see what he’s going to do this year, because it’s going to be special.”