Gorman overcomes nerves for most important question in his life

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 -- Hitting in the most prime spot in the Cardinals' lineup -- sandwiched between superstars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado -- lefty slugger Nolan Gorman has felt overwhelming pressure at times in his young MLB career to come through for St. Louis’ lineup.

However, Gorman has never quite felt as much pressure as he did this past Thursday when he flew to his native Phoenix ahead of teammates to surprise longtime girlfriend Madison Rivers with a wedding proposal. Even though the moment happened just days ago, the details of it are understandably still a bit fuzzy to the 23-year-old Gorman.

“I wasn't really nervous until I got down on a knee, but then I kind of blacked out,” Gorman said, half serious and half joking. “I’m still not really sure what I said and not really sure what she said.

“It was definitely a different kind of nervousness. Someone asked me if I was more nervous for my first big league at-bat or this [wedding proposal], and I’ve got to say, it was this, for sure. I got down on one knee and kind of froze. I think I froze for a second and didn't say anything. I had the ring in my hand and I’m thinking, ‘You actually have to ask her now!’ But I did it and she said yes.”

Gorman showing nervousness might come as a surprise to Cardinals teammates and coaches who marvel at the slugger’s matter-of-fact calmness in even the most tense of circumstances. Manager Oliver Marmol has even joked that he has wanted to put a mirror under Gorman’s nose just to make sure he’s still breathing -- and that was in 2023 after the power-hitting second baseman had smashed a go-ahead home run to beat the Dodgers in May.

Gorman, a prep All-American slugger at Sandra Day O’Connor High School, said he spent about two weeks planning the proposal, buying the ring two days before flying home. Proposing at Castle Hot Springs Resort -- not far from where he and Madison first met years ago -- also made the moment even more special, Gorman said.

However, he stressed that the proposal could have happened anywhere because he’s known for years Madison that was the woman that he wanted to spend his life with. Her carefree and pleasant demeanor, Gorman said, is the perfect balancing act for his serious-minded approach.

How serious is Gorman about his craft? Intent on curing the back woes that impacted his first two MLB seasons, Gorman completely changed his diet and incorporated some vigorous stretching routines over the winter to try to reduce the amount of inflammation in his back. Throughout Spring Training and the first three weeks of the regular season, Gorman’s back was a non-story -- something that the Cardinals feel could put the slugger in position to crush 30 to 35 home runs this season.

For all of Gorman’s seriousness, Madison is the perfect person to provide him support because of her “free spirit” demeanor, he said.

“She’s such a good sounding board for me,” he said. “That’s someone I go back to every day, and she always listens. She does such a good job of keeping me level-headed. She’s a free spirit, and she can make friends with anybody she comes into contact with. She’s so easy-going and I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who didn’t like her.”

Gorman said he “always had a crush on” Madison, who grew up in his same Scottsdale neighborhood, but was two years ahead of him while they were in school. Their paths grew apart as Gorman went off to chase his baseball dreams with the Cardinals. He was the No. 19 pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, and by 2022 he had become the organization’s top overall prospect as a lefty hitter with prodigious power.

Minor League coaches and teammates still tell stories about the approximately 500-foot home run he hit in a Triple-A game in Durham, N.C., and the Springfield, Mo., building beyond the right-field fence that he battered with balls while at the Cards' alternate training site in 2020.

The two started dating in 2021, and one of Madison’s first trips to St. Louis was after Gorman received his first callup to the big leagues. How nervous was Gorman when his MLB debut rolled around on May 20, 2022?

“I mean, I was nervous, but not as nervous as I was a couple of days ago when I got down on one knee,” he said with a big smile.

Those nerves quickly dissipated when Madison said yes. Now, Gorman feels he can be his best self for the Cardinals with his best friend set to be by his side for a lifetime of memories to come.