Rookie SS the new face of the franchise

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.

ST. LOUIS – Already a long shot to get back into the playoffs because of an early-August stumble, the Cardinals' chances of pulling off a late-season rally took another massive hit on Saturday night when catcher Willson Contreras fractured a finger on his right hand.

The Cards showed a measure of resiliency on Sunday in Minnesota by snatching a win away from the Twins in a game-turning ninth inning. Combined with what they did earlier in the week against the Brewers, the Cardinals have suddenly won back-to-back series. How well they hold up over the next two weeks – when they face Mike Shildt’s Padres, the Yankees, Brewers and Mariners – could decide their future as a playoff contender.

If the Cardinals don't reach the postseason for a second straight season, changes could abound. Regardless of who stays and who goes – on the roster or in leadership positions – one thing has become certain in a season without much St. Louis could consistently count on: Rookie shortstop Masyn Winn will be the face of the franchise going forward.

Heck, in some ways, Winn already is the face the franchise with the way he has already grabbed control of the shortstop position with electrifying plays almost nightly while also holding his own at the plate.

Cornerstones Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have seen their power numbers dip to career-low levels, former top prospects Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman have been demoted to Triple-A Memphis and marquee free-agent signing Sonny Gray has seen his first season with St. Louis hampered by home run balls.

• Winn using Players' Weekend as tribute to his family

As for Winn, he is ready to handle the responsibility that will inevitably come with being the focal point of the Cardinals' core for years to come.

“I love it and I welcome it,” Winn said with conviction. “There have been a lot of great shortstops and great players in this organization, but I’d love to be a Cardinals for life and make that happen.

“It is definitely a big responsibility [being the face of a franchise], but I definitely feel like it’s something I can handle. This is all I want to do, this is all I really know how to do and it’s all I want. I’m excited to be here for a while and compete every day.”

If it wasn’t already certain that the Cardinals were Winn’s team, it became crystal clear Tuesday when the club released veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford. The Cards signed Crawford midway through Spring Training as insurance in case Winn didn’t hit. That, of course, was no certainty after Winn wobbled badly at the plate in his 2023 cameo.

This season, all Winn has done is rank third among qualified NL rookies in batting average (.278), fourth in on-base percentage (.325), second in hits (128), fifth in homers (11), tied for third in runs (61), tied for second in doubles (22), tied for third in triples (four) and fourth in RBI (46). His 37 multihit games are first among all MLB rookies, his six home runs since July 26 are the most on the Cardinals and his .294 batting average against right-handed pitching is in MLB’s top 10 among right-handed hitters. He’s done all of that while also leading all MLB shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved (13).

“Last year at this time, I was not in a good spot offensively, and I was really battling,” said Winn, who recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of his MLB debut, which was Aug. 18, 2023. “Now, to see the growth I’ve made, I’m just super excited to get along with my career. Now, I’m looking forward to making a lot of new memories and playing a lot of really good baseball.”

Still just 22 years old, Winn has shown his advanced maturity and adaptability with how he’s handled the bat late in counts. His 67 two-strike hits – second only to Guardians star José Ramírez in MLB – speak to his high baseball IQ and ability to shorten his swing when needed.

“It’s so hard to play in this league at his age and go through the ups and downs and not be an emotional roller coaster, but his personality, competitiveness and toughness have allowed him to ride it extremely well,” Cards manager Oliver Marmol said. “He is less concerned with what people think about him and more concerned with competing at the highest degree. He’s one of my favorite players to manage because I just love his competitive drive.”

It’s a drive that has made Winn the face of the Cardinals – today, tomorrow and for years to come.