Four unreferred baseball cardinals foreseen to take the field later in 2025, despite skipping the initial squad in 2025.
When the St. Louis Cardinals unveiled their 26-man roster for the 2025 Opening Day, they left fans scratching their heads with a handful of surprise choices.
Unheralded outfielder Victor Scott II snagged a starting spot, impressing management with his scorching spring numbers. However, the inclusion of Michael Siani on the roster sparked a wave of bafflement and consternation among the fanbase. These two speedy lefties, exceptional defensively, share a similar profile, with Scott boasting a higher offensive ceiling and Siani's defense arguably outdoing his counterpart.
The lack of a backup shortstop left fans scratching their heads, too. With utility man Brendan Donovan adding another glove to his collection to fill the void, it's expected that Masyn Winn will play multiple games at shortstop in his sophomore season in the majors.
Steven Matz's assignment as a swingman in the rotation took fans by surprise. Usually, the Cardinals prefer their expensive veterans. But this time, John Mozeliak and Oliver Marmol opted to clear a path for a young star like Matthew Liberatore to shine in the rotation. Unfortunately, this decision excluded another talented young pitcher.
The restricted roster space forced the organization to sideload some exceptional and youthful players in Triple-A Memphis, waiting for their chances in the majors. An injury, trade, or underperformance would usher in opportunities for these overlooked players.
Here are the 4 players who narrowly missed the 26-man roster for the St. Louis Cardinals, but they'll still get ample playing time in the majors this year.
Outfielder Matt Koperniak
Before the Spring Training, Matt Koperniak was a relatively anonymous outfielder. The 27-year-old boasts promising power, a reliable glove at all three outfield spots, and a strong strike zone awareness (BB-K ratio). Koperniak has posted admirable offensive numbers in the minors throughout his career.
During the spring circuit, Koperniak elevated his game. Across 33 plate appearances, he slashed .355/.394/.645 with two home runs, three doubles, and six RBIs. He was a standout hitter for the Cardinals in Spring Training, but was surprisingly demoted to the Triple-A Memphis squad near the end of camp.
The confusing move left fans puzzled, as Koperniak is on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, so a corresponding roster move wasn't necessary to include him on the 26-man roster. Fans wondered why Koperniak wasn't selected as a more viable bench bat from the left side over Michael Siani.
Assuming he keeps up his strong hitting, Koperniak could see the majors sooner rather than later. If either Michael Siani or Jordan Walker struggle out of the gate, he could be promoted. If an injury occurs to any one of the club's position players, he'd likely be among the first calls to join the major league roster, especially if there's an outfielder injury.
In the exhibition game between the Cardinals and the Memphis Redbirds, Koperniak started as Memphis's designated hitter and went 4-4 with a run against the major-league squad. This impressive display came just a week after the Cardinals sent him to Triple-A to begin the year.
Prepare yourself to see Matt Koperniak in the majors this year.
Note: There's no extra data available on Matt Koperniak's specific 2025 Cardinals spring training performance beyond general transaction notes. Teams often keep promising players in the minors to manage service time, delay free agency eligibility, or for minor league development.
- Surprisingly, outfielder Matt Koperniak, despite his impressive spring numbers, was left out of the St. Louis Cardinals' 26-man Opening Day roster for the 2025 season.
- Koperniak, a promising left-handed hitter with a strong strike zone awareness and reliable glove at all three outfield spots, was demoted to Triple-A Memphis near the end of spring training, sparking confusion among fans.
- With the Cardinals' outfield somewhat settled, the decision to send Koperniak down was considered perplexing, especially given his placement on the 40-man roster and the positional flexibility he offers.
- In a game between the Cardinals and Memphis Redbirds, Koperniak, as the designated hitter, displayed his potential with a 4-4 performance, reinforcing his readiness for the major leagues in the 2025 season.
