Player News
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Nootbaar -- who is recovering from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels -- has dealt with discomfort in both feet off and on over the past two-and-a-half years, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Nootbaar has had ongoing treatment during the season to address recurring soreness in his heels, but he elected to have surgery earlier this month with the goal of alleviating the condition. It's difficult to gauge how much the foot issues have affected Nootbaar's play, but it's notable that his sprint speed has fallen each year, from the 83rd percentile in 2021 to just the 39th percentile in 2025. The outfielder admits that the discomfort "was holding me back." Nootbaar -- who played a career-high 135 games this season but produced a career-low .686 OPS -- has not been ruled out for Opening Day next season, but because the surgery he had is uncommon, there's uncertainty regarding how long his rehab will take.
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Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Sunday that Nootbaar (heels) isn't guaranteed to be available for the start of the 2026 season, Matt Pauley of 1120 AM KMOX St. Louis reports. Nootbaar is on the mend from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels. At the time the procedure was performed, the Cardinals didn't put a timeline on Nootbaar's return to full baseball activities, but Bloom's comments suggest that the outfielder could need around six months to get back to 100 percent health. Bloom noted that Nootbaar won't be hurried along in the rehab process, and even if the 28-year-old winds up on the injured list to begin the 2026 campaign, he would be shelved for only a limited amount of time. Nootbaar played in a career-high 135 games in 2025, slashing .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs, four stolen bases, 48 RBI and 68 runs over 583 plate appearances.
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Nootbaar underwent surgery Oct. 7 on both heels to shave down Haglund's deformities, John Denton of MLB.com reports. It's unclear how long Nootbaar's heels have bothered him, and it's also uncertain how long his rehab is expected to take. Nootbaar finished with career highs in games played (135) and plate appearances (583) this season but posted a disappointing .234/.325/.361 batting line with 13 home runs.
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Nootbaar isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers. Nootbaar will get a chance to regroup Saturday after going 2-for-17 with an RBI and a run scored over his last five games. Alec Burleson will start in left field with Nootbaar out, opening up first base for Nolan Gorman.
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The Cardinals reinstated Nootbaar (ribs) from the injured list Saturday. Nootbaar has been on the injured list since mid-July with a left costochondral sprain but has played three rehab games in Double-A, going 4-for-14 with an RBI and a run scored. Now fully recovered, he'll reclaim an everyday role in the Cardinals' outfield and replace Jose Fermin on the active roster.
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Stats
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | KO | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | STL | 135 | 509 | 68 | 119 | 13 | 48 | 64 | 119 | 4 | .233 |
| 2024 | STL | 109 | 348 | 39 | 85 | 12 | 45 | 52 | 79 | 7 | .244 |
Last 7 Games
| DATE | Opp | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | KO | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/28 | @  |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/27 | @ |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 9/26 | @ |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9/24 | @  |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 9/23 | @ |
5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9/22 | @ |
4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 9/21 | vs  |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Upcoming Games
| date | Opp | time | Scheduled Starter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/26 | vs  |
4:15 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/28 | vs |
2:15 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/29 | vs |
2:15 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/30 | vs  |
7:45 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 3/31 | vs |
7:45 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 4/01 | vs |
1:15 PM | Not Announced Yet |
| 4/03 | @  |
1:10 PM | Not Announced Yet |