Again in mid-Could, Dylan Carlson suffered a sprained ankle that resulted in over three weeks on the injured record. The sprain brought about sufficient harm that it “was one thing that we realized would possibly want some extra [surgical] consideration down the highway, so we’re looking at it once more,” Carlson informed MLB.com’s John Denton, and each the outfielder and the Cardinals are ready on the outcomes of some assessments earlier than deciding whether or not or to not go forward with the arthroscopic surgical procedure in brief order.
Such a process would formally finish Carlson’s 2023 season, although it’s already potential he won’t play once more attributable to an indirect pressure. Carlson was positioned on the 10-day IL final week with what he revealed was a Grade 2 pressure, detailing how he felt some gentle discomfort after a swing throughout a sport towards the Rays, after which seemingly aggravated the indirect downside after sneezing a day later.
“It’s been that sort of yr,” Carlson summarized, as his fourth Main League season would possibly finish with an underwhelming slash line of .219/.318/.333 over 255 plate appearances. It’s honest to level to the lingering ankle downside as a purpose for this efficiency, although Carlson additionally hit solely .236/.316/.380 over 488 PA in 2022. This lack of manufacturing has dimmed the star of the previous top-20 prospect, who completed third in NL Rookie Of The Yr voting in 2021 and gave the impression to be a future cornerstone for St. Louis.
As a substitute, Carlson is certainly one of many Cardinals gamers at one thing of a crossroads because the group tries to determine its subsequent steps after a completely disappointing 2023 marketing campaign. St. Louis is properly on its approach to solely its second shedding season of the twenty first century, and with a rotation overhaul wanting like the highest offseason precedence, the Playing cards would possibly properly look to accumulate pitching by buying and selling from its outfield depth.
Regardless of his powerful season, Carlson drew loads of consideration previous to the commerce deadline, as rival groups would possibly assume the 24-year-old may blossom with a change of surroundings. Since golf equipment will clearly need to be sure Carlson is wholesome earlier than swinging a deal, whether or not Carlson undergoes the ankle surgical procedure now or after the season could possibly be a slight consider his commerce candidacy, although an arthroscopic process in all probability shouldn’t affect the outfielder’s readiness for Spring Coaching.
