Postcard from Cardinals spring training camp for Thursday, March 19, 2026
Result: Cardinals 5, Nationals 1
Weather: Partly cloudy, 74 degrees
By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – After another 0-for-3 day at the plate, Masyn Winn had a pretty honest description of how his spring training has gone for the Cardinals.
“Defensively great, offensively not so great,” Winn said on Thursday.
The hitless day left Winn just 4-of-33 this spring, a .121 average. He has more strikeouts, six, than hits and has not driven in a run all spring.
In nine games in March, Winn has just two hits in 25 at-bats.
“I feel good,” he said. “If you asked me this last year I would have been lying to you if I told you I felt good. I’m not too worried about it; I’d much rather perform during the season than in spring training but we’re still working on some stuff and it just hasn’t translated into results yet.”
Winn knows that once the regular season starts, everything that happened during the spring can be tossed aside. Last season, he had an even worse spring, posting an .080 average with only four hits in 50 at-bats.
“I’d much rather be hitting .300 than .100 but I can’t look at spring training and get overwhelmed when we have 162 (games) ahead of us,” he said. “Being upset over 30 spring training games would just kind of be over-reacting on my part.
“I think gladly I’ve kind of earned my spot at short or I would probably be stressing a little bit but I feel comfortable at the plate. It’s only a matter of time before things start clicking.”
Winn’s manager, Oli Marmol, is not worried about his spring performance either.
“I see him committing to an approach and I don’t mind where he’s at,” Marmol said. “I’ve got zero concerns with Masyn right now.”
Here is how Thursday’s game broke down:
High: Nelson Velazquez continued his push for a spot on the roster with a two-hit day, driving in the Cardinals’ first run.
Low: Winn struck out twice in his three at-bats and left three runners on third.
At the plate: Alec Burleson reached base in all three of his plate appearances with two hits and a walk. He raised his spring average to .323 … The Cardinals’ other runs came courtesy of minor-leagues. Dakota Harris had a two-run single and Trey Paige hit a two-run homer.
On the mound: Quinn Mathews came back from the minor-league camp to make the start. He worked four innings, allowing one run, walking three and recording four strikeouts … The bullpen combined for five scoreless innings with George Soriano and Chris Roycroft each working an inning. Neither has allowed a run all spring.
Worth noting: The Cardinals prospects defeated the Nationals prospects 9-8 in the spring breakout game that followed the regular game. Joshua Baez hit a two-run homer and Ryan Mitchell also homered. Baez had homered in the breakout game two years ago as well … JJ Wetherholt reached base three times on two hits and a walk … Liam Doyle started but did not finish either the first or second inning being charged with four runs, three of which scored after he came out of the game. He struggled with his control, walking four. Tanner Franklin worked three innings, giving up one run.
Up next: The Cardinals have three games remaining in Florida before breaking camp. Matthew Liberatore will get the start on Friday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie while Andre Pallante will start in a minor-league game on the back fields.
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