The Cardinals' Secret Weapon: Jon Jay's Impact
Subtle Shifts by Cardinals sparking their 2025 Transformation
There's more to the St. Louis Cardinals' impressive performance in 2025 than just their offense and strengthened pitching. Their defense, which is leading the pack in baseball, is the unsung hero propelling them to success.
With 24 Outs Above Average (OAA) under their belt through 49 games, the Cardinals have established a staggering 10-point lead over their closest competitors, the Braves and Astros. This defensive prowess is a testament to their exceptional fielding abilities and has played a pivotal role in their victories this season.
Three defensive all-stars contributing to this success are Arenado, Scott, and Winn, who rank among the top 15 players in baseball in OAA. Arenado and Scott, tied at the eighth spot overall, have proven to be top-tier third basemen and center fielders, respectively. Winn, ranked 15th in OAA, showcases his defensive prowess as a shortstop.
Behind these front-runners, players like Contreras, Donovan, Nootbaar, and Walker have stepped up, demonstrating their defensive mettle in their respective positions.
Among these standouts, Jordan Walker's defensive transformation is particularly notable. A struggle in the past, Walker has been helped by Jon Jay's guidance to become a reliable defensive outfielder this season.
Jay, a former Cardinals outfielder, joined the team in 2025 to help fine-tune the defense, especially for the outfielders. His expertise has played a significant role in transforming Scott into a Gold Glove contender and Walker into an average or potentially better defensiveoutfielder, significantly bolstering the team's defense.
The Cardinals are reaping the benefits of Jay's return, as his coaching approach emphasizes the small but crucial details that adversely impact performance. With him onboard, the team has demonstrated a renewed focus on playing defense at a high level and running the bases effectively.
Despite having limited speedsters on the roster, the Cardinals are tied for ninth in baseball in "Baserunning Runs," a statistic quantifying their impact on the base paths. This improvement from their 19th-place standing last year underscores the positive influence of Jon Jay's coaching methods.
Though his hire may not have been a headline-grabbing move, the outcome speaks for itself. The addition of Jon Jay has proven to be a game-changer for the Cardinals, elevating their defense and baserunning capabilities, making them a formidable force to be reckoned with on both the field and the base paths.
In the context of the impressive performance of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2025, Jon Jay's coaching approach is significantly bolstering their defense, notably helped by his guidance in transforming Jordan Walker into a reliable defensive outfielder. Additionally, the Cardinals, despite having limited speedsters, are tying for ninth in baseball in "Baserunning Runs," a testament to the positive influence of Jon Jay's coaching methods on their baserunning capabilities as well.
