Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026
Result: Cardinals 9, Astros 4
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Thomas Saggese had one primary reaction to playing the outfield on Thursday for the first time since he was in Little League.
“It’s lonely out there,” he said.
Trying to find a right-handed hitting option for the outfield, and looking for more ways to get Saggese into the lineup, has prompted the Cardinals to try Saggese in the outfield this spring.
It comes after all 2,411 innings of his professional career, including 769 in the majors, have come as an infielder.
“You’re a lot farther from the action,” Saggese said. “It’s interesting. That was the first thing I thought when I got out there. I was like ‘Woah.’
“The sound of the bat was weird. In the infield it’s like way louder. The jog in was far.”
Part of the reason for Saggese feeling lonely as he played six innings in left field was that only one ball was hit in his direction, a line drive off the wall, which he fielded cleanly and threw to second.
“I was trying to get them to hit it that way,” said pitcher Matthew Liberatore.
The first batter after Saggese came out of the game singled to left field.
Saggese might get in another game in the outfield before he leaves camp on Sunday to play for team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, where he expects to play the infield.
“I think it will be good for me and the team to be able to move me wherever,” Saggese said of adding the defensive versatility. “I got in a lot of games last year because I could play all around the infield. Every team needs a guy like that.”
Here is how Thursday’s game broke down:
High: The Cardinals hit four home runs, including a three-run blast by Alec Burleson, their second three-run homer in as many games.
Low: Masyn Winn drew two walks but grounded out in his other plate appearance, leaving the Cardinals’ combined starting leadoff hitters 0-of-12 in the first six spring games.
At the plate: The other home runs were hit by Yohel Pozo, Jimmy Crooks (a two-run shot) and minor-leaguer Jon Jon Gazdar … Gazdar also doubled and scored the go-ahead run as the Cardinals broke a 4-4 tie with a four-run seventh inning … Bryan Torres, who also has played both the infield and outfield this spring, also had a two-hit day while playing second base. Torres is leaving camp on Sunday to play in the WBC for the team representing Puerto Rico.
On the mound: Liberatore worked three innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three. He threw 51 pitches … JoJo Romero worked a scoreless inning, pitching around a one-out walk.
Worth noting: Ivan Herrera played for the first time this spring, going 0-of-2 as the DH. He is scheduled to catch for the first time on Sunday … Ramon Urias is expected to make his Cardinals debut on Friday, most likely playing third base … Zak Kent, whom the Cardinals designated for assignment when they signed Urias, was claimed off waivers by the Twins. It’s Kent’s third team since the start of spring training. He was only in camp for less than a week with the Cardinals after they claimed him off waivers from Texas.
Up next: Quinn Mathews, one of the Cardinals’ top pitching prospects, will get the start on Friday against the Mets in Jupiter. Tink Hence also is set to make his second relief appearance.
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