This Cards outfielder ranks ahead of Mike Trout

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ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals have always known just how dynamic of a talent Dylan Carlson is, selecting him in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft, quickly shuttling him through their farm system and continuing to give him more responsibility each season he’s been with the club.

Now, as Carlson’s game continues to blossom almost nightly with one spectacular defensive play after another, it is difficult not to ponder just how high of a ceiling the 23-year-old outfielder has and how great of a player he can someday become. After all, Carlson’s talent is just that enormous and his potential is that alluring.

Just look at how Carlson has absolutely saved the Cardinals this season by filling in impeccably for the injured Harrison Bader as the squad’s starting center fielder. It’s not hyperbole to say that while Bader was a Gold Glove winner in 2021, Carlson has been even better in center field in recent weeks. Despite having played just 167 innings in center, Carlson is already tied for fourth among all MLB players at that position in terms of Defensive Runs Saved (4). That ranks ahead of luminaries such as Cody Bellinger (3), Braves Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Harris II (3) and Mike Trout (2).

Carlson’s defense took center stage in recent days when he made one of the best defensive plays of the season for the Cardinals when he chased down a 110.2 mph rocket to save a game in the ninth inning in Atlanta. This past weekend against Philadelphia, Carlson had three more brilliant catches -- two of them going back on balls to run them down at the warning track and another where he came in and made a diving grab.

“Center field is different because you have more room to roam, you’re the guy who is in charge and you have that open freedom to go and catch the ball,” said Carlson, who’s played center field in parts of all three of his MLB seasons. “I feel comfortable in all the spots out there. Truthfully, it’s just about going and catching the ball.”

In both of those games, Carlson also showed off the diversity of his talent by hammering out three hits at the plate. Those kinds of performances lead to questions about just how bright of a future Carlson possesses. Is he a future Gold Glove performer either in right field or center? Is he on a collision course to be an All-Star? Or could he someday become an MVP candidate?

“Of course, you think about that,” admitted team president John Mozeliak, who selected Carlson with the 33rd pick of the 2016 Draft. “To make the catch he did and then come off the bench and still get three hits, that’s really special. He, too, is one of our young guys who has had to grow up at the Major League level and now we’re starting to see just the kind of player we believe he can be. He’s an exciting player, he has a high baseball IQ and he really knows the game. And there’s something that burns inside of him to be great, no doubt about it.”

Added Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol on Carlson someday potentially winning a Gold Glove: “He takes it personal that people think he can’t, or he hasn’t [won a Gold Glove]. I know that he’s voiced that before. So, yeah, I think that’s something that could be in his future.”