Carlson's debut 'everything you dream about'

The long-awaited debut of the Cardinals' top prospect, Dylan Carlson, featured two games, his first Major League hit (which landed for a double), a walk and a stellar catch that allowed fans a sneak peek into what the future could look like for the 21-year-old outfielder.

For Carlson, making both starts in Saturday’s doubleheader for his Major League debut was his dream realized.

“It’s been everything you dream about, pretty much,” Carlson said. “The other day they told me I was coming up here, and I had to drive from Springfield to St. Louis, and got to ride the bus with the team, which was pretty cool, and now we’re here and playing ball.”

Carlson went 0-for-3 in the first Cardinals win but made a great catch in the fourth inning when Edwin Encarnación roped a ball to left with a 106-mph exit velocity, according to Statcast.

In the fourth inning of the Game 2 victory, Carlson worked a full-count walk, and on the eighth pitch of his at-bat in the fifth inning, he lined a double into right field for his first hit.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was a good at-bat, he was throwing me a lot of good pitches. I was able to get the barrel on one. Helped the team right there in that situation, keep adding on. It was a moment I’ll always remember.”

Even though they couldn’t be there in person, his family was watching from their home in California.

After training at Busch Stadium for Summer Camp with no number on his uniform during intrasquad games, Carlson debuted with No. 3. He said he got a call from José Oquendo, who was running the Springfield camp before joining the Major League staff as the third-base coach, telling him he was being promoted. On Saturday he got to Guaranteed Rate Field early enough to work with Oquendo and the other outfielders to get his bearings.

“I was pretty excited, more than anything,” Carlson said. “I was really excited to get out there and play. And to just get some wins right away, win that first game, get that big lead right from the start of the game. Once that first pitch happened, it’s baseball again.”

Three Cardinals made their debuts Saturday: Carlson, right-hander Jake Woodford and second baseman Max Schrock. Woodford started Game 2 and threw three innings, allowing one run. Schrock started the second game and went 2-for-3, leading off the fifth inning with a single that started the four-run rally.

Woodford found out he was starting Game 2 right after Game 1 ended, so he had about 45 minutes to eat, send a quick text to his family letting them know and get back to the field to prepare. He started with two quick, perfect innings before giving up a home run to Luis Robert to lead off the third. But he got three quick outs after that, ending the inning by striking out Tim Anderson swinging.

“It was still really exciting,” Woodford said. “I was definitely a little nervous before. “I’m just trying to stay ready for whatever role they see fit. Whether that’s in the bullpen or as a starter, I’m going to stay locked in and ready for when my name is called.”

Per Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Cardinals had three players make debuts in a game was April 1, 2008, when Brian Barton, Rico Washington and Kyle McClellan debuted.