Nathan Church Shines with Two Home Runs for St. Louis in Fantasy Hitting Recap The St. Louis Cardinals’ young core delivered a standout performance on Saturday, with Nathan Church leading the charge in a 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Busch Stadium. The 25-year-old outfielder, a former UC Irvine product, went 2-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored, and four RBI. This marked his fourth home run of the season and pushed his batting average to .254 with a .760 OPS in 70 plate appearances. Church’s contributions also included 11 runs scored, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases on three attempts, solidifying his role as a key player for the rebuilding Cardinals. Despite losing key veterans like Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado this offseason, the Cardinals remain competitive with a 14-12 record. Church’s versatility as a player who can fill all three outfield positions adds value to his utility. His 92 MPH arm strength, ranking in the 91st percentile according to Baseball Savant, makes him a valuable asset for manager Oli Marmol. However, his offensive metrics raise questions about sustainability. Church’s 4.7% barrel rate and 34.9% hard-hit rate rank in the 24th percentile, while his 26.2% strikeout rate is in the 29th percentile. His 6.2% walk rate (22nd percentile) and 45% chase rate (second percentile) further highlight inconsistencies in his approach. Despite these concerns, Church’s recent performance has shown promise. In April, he’s hitting .277 with an .886 OPS in 54 plate appearances, a stark contrast to his .188 average and .376 OPS in March. His ability to launch the ball effectively, with a 34.9% launch-angle sweet-spot rate 1.6% higher than the league average, suggests potential for improvement. While his .#st_louis_cardinals #nathan_church #busch_stadium #baseball_savant #oli_marmol
Nathan Church Shines with Two Home Runs and Defensive Acrobatics in Cardinals' Loss Nathan Church delivered a standout performance on Saturday, launching two home runs into the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen during a 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners. The game, played at Busch Stadium, showcased Church’s emerging offensive prowess and defensive brilliance, solidifying his role as a key contributor for the Cardinals. Church’s first-inning home run, a towering shot into the bullpen, marked the start of a historic day. The second inning saw him repeat the feat, sending another ball soaring into the same area. These two home runs, his first career multi-homer game, propelled his season total to four and elevated his on-base plus slugging (OPS) to a robust .760. Manager Oliver Marmol praised Church’s growing confidence, noting, “The swings are looking better and better. The confidence, it’s continuing to grow — which is what he needs.” Beyond his offensive heroics, Church’s defensive skills shone. In the sixth inning, he leaped to rob Mitch Garver of a potential extra-base hit, a play reminiscent of his Opening Day defensive highlight against Tampa Bay’s Ryan Vilade. The Mariners’ bullpen erupted in frustration, contrasting with Marmol’s exuberance. “That was pretty sick,” Scott said, describing his animated reaction to Church’s catch. Church’s approach to defense is pragmatic yet effective. “First rule of thumb, just get to the wall as fast as you can,” he explained. “If there’s a play to be made, then jump and try and catch it.” His ability to distinguish between balls that should land in the bullpen and those that must be kept out of it proved critical. Church ended the game 3-for-3 in this regard, showcasing his dual threat as both an offensive and defensive asset.#seattle_mariners #nathan_church #oliver_marmol #busch_stadium #lars_nootbaar
JJ Wetherholt To Make Cardinals’ Opening Day Roster Infield prospect JJ Wetherholt has secured a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day roster, according to team president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who shared the news with reporters. The 2024 draft seventh overall pick will join the club’s 40-man roster, with infielders Thomas Saggese and José Fermín, as well as outfielder Nathan Church, also breaking camp with the team. Outfielder Nelson Velázquez, however, will be assigned to Triple-A Memphis to make room for Wetherholt. The Cardinals’ decision to include Wetherholt was anticipated but significant given the team’s rebuilding phase. Over the winter, the club traded key players like Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan to clear roster space and create opportunities for younger talent. These moves were driven by both cost-cutting and the need to evaluate prospects in a major league environment. Wetherholt, a high-ceiling player, was a central figure in this strategy. Wetherholt’s 2025 season showcased his potential. Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, he recorded 496 plate appearances with a .306/.421/.510 batting line (154 wRC+) and 23 stolen bases. His 14.5% walk rate and 14.7% strikeout rate highlighted his plate discipline and power potential. Defensively, his shortstop skills were deemed sufficient for a big league role, though he also played second and third base. Despite his performance, Wetherholt faced competition for playing time. Masyn Winn, a top defensive shortstop under contract through 2028, occupied the shortstop position, while Nolan Gorman was expected to take over at third base. Wetherholt’s primary opportunity came at second base, where he hit .212/.386/.394 (115 wRC+) in spring training, including two home runs. His .#jj_wetherholt #st_louis_cardinals #chaim_bloom #nathan_church #tommy_john_surgery
