This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: To ramp up running program
Rotowire
Nootbaar (heels) has been increasing his agility drills and is soon slated to ramp up his running program, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar's running will occur on an altered-gravity treadmill, so while his progression from offseason surgery on both heels is coming along, he does not appear close to being cleared for game action. The 28-year-old outfielder will begin the campaign on the injured list, and there remains no firm timetable for when he might be ready for his season debut.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: No timetable to play in games
Rotowire
Nootbaar (heels) remains without a timetable for his Grapefruit League debut, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar is expected to begin the season on the 10-day injured list as he continues his recovery from offseason surgery on both heels. He's going through baseball activities and will continue to ramp things up as his health allows, but there's no target date for his participation in games. A clearer picture regarding Nootbaar's timetable should be available later this month.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Beginning stages of running program
Rotowire
Nootbaar (heels) has been able to hit and throw without issue but is just now getting into the stage of being able to run unaided, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Recovering from surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels, Nootbaar's arrival in Cardinals camp was delayed until Wednesday as the team awaited the delivery of an altered gravity treadmill. The outfielder said Wednesday that he does not have a timeline for a return, but the consensus is that he will begin the season on the injured list. Once healthy, Nootbaar will be the club's everyday left fielder.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Running on alt-gravity treadmill
Rotowire
Nootbaar (heels) has progressed to running on an altered gravity treadmill, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Nootbaar underwent surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels and is progressing slowly but surely. He will be a few days late in reporting to camp, as the Cardinals still need to have an altered gravity treadmill delivered to their spring training complex in Florida so Nootbaar can continue rehabbing. It's looking unlikely that Nootbaar will be ready in time for Opening Day, but more clarity on his timetable should be available later in spring training.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Could open season on injured list
Rotowire
Nootbaar (heels) opening the season on the injured list is "fair to assume" until he shows he can play in games at full speed, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Nootbaar underwent surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels. It's possible the outfielder looks good in camp and is ready to go Opening Day, but the likelier scenario is the rebuilding Cardinals err on the side of caution and ease Nootbaar into things. More will be known during spring training about the progress of his recovery. If Nootbaar does need an IL stint and Brendan Donovan is still with the team, Donovan could slide out to start in left field. Nathan Church could handle left field if Nootbaar isn't ready and Donovan is traded.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Settles with Cards at $5.35 million
Rotowire
The Cardinals and Nootbaar (heels) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.35 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Nootbaar played a career-high 135 games but produced a career-low .686 OPS for the Cardinals this past season. He underwent surgery on both heels in October and is not a lock to be ready for Opening Day. Once Nootbaar is ready, he's expected to be the team's primary left fielder.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Foot pain dates back multiple years
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Could miss start of '26 season
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Has surgery on both heels
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Getting rest Saturday
Rotowire
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.
Nootbaar (cramps) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Marlins.
Nootbaar was forced out late in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees after dealing with some muscle cramping, but he was able to make enough progress overnight for the Cardinals to clear him to rejoin the lineup for the start of a three-game set in Miami. The 27-year-old had made each of his previous three starts in left field but will shift over to right Monday while Jordan Walker gets the evening off.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Exits early with muscle cramping
Rotowire
Nootbaar was removed after seven innings of Sunday's game against the Yankees due to muscle cramping, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar went 3-for-4 with a run scored before Garrett Hampson came off the bench to replace him in left field in the top of the eighth. The 27-year-old doesn't seem to be dealing with a significant concern and could be ready to return to the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins after getting rehydrated and resting up.
10:27
8:51
2:14
1:29
0:33
0:21
1:59
1:27
0:22
0:44
9:02
1:05
10:52
1:17
0:51
1:22
1:12
9:37
0:57
9:43
