The St. Louis Cardinals have called up top prospect Masyn Winn, who will make his MLB debut this weekend, the team announced late Thursday night. The middle infielder will wear the No. 10 jersey, which no Cardinals player has worn since 1995.
Manager Tony La Russa wore No. 10 from 1996 to 2011, and it was retired when he left in 2012.
La Russa’s jersey retirement appears to have been merely ceremonial, since the No. 1 prospect in St. Louis’ farm system and the No. 32 prospect in all of baseball is poised to wear it again at Busch Stadium 11 years later.
To make room for Winn on the active roster, the Cardinals put outfielder Lars Nootbaar on the 10-day disabled list with a lower abdominal bruise. Nootbaar departed Wednesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics after being struck below the belt by his own foul ball.
Winn’s primary position is shortstop, but he has also played second base. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect has a perfect 80 scouting grade on his arm, indicating that he will play shortstop in the major leagues.
Winn has had grades of 60 fielding, 60 run, 55 hit, and 45 power.
Winn participated in spring training with the Cardinals earlier this year, hitting.333 with two home runs, nine RBI, two doubles, two triples, four stolen bases, and a.949 OPS in 18 games.
The 21-year-old Winn has subsequently spent the whole 2023 season with Triple-A Memphis, batting.288 with an OPS of.834. In 322 minor league games, Winn has 35 homers, 70 doubles, 168 RBI, and 92 stolen bases.
Winn had three hits and a 412-foot homer for the Redbirds on Thursday night, earning him a call-up just hours later.
“He’s one of the most dynamic players I’ve seen in a long time, and I’m excited that he’s coming up and we’ll get to see it up here,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told the reporters Thursday. “It’s an electric player.”
The Cardinals, in last place, lost 4-2 to the New York Mets in the first game of a four-game series. Winn will join the team in time for game two on Friday, which begins at 8:15 p.m. ET in Saint Louis.
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Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball, a Sports Illustrated/FanNation network. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation’s All Bruins, 247Sports’ Bruin Report Online, Rivals’ Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network, and the Daily Bruin, and his sports column work was recognized by the College Media Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.
