SNUBBED: St. Louis Cardinals SHOCK Fans by Leaving Nelson Velazquez Off Opening Day Roster!

St. Louis Cardinals shock fans by leaving Nelson Velazquez off the Opening Day roster despite his standout spring training stats. Is this a case of 40-man roster politics overshadowing on-field performance? JD Hafron unpacks the surprising roster decisions, weighing Nelson Velazquez’s power numbers against Jose Fermín’s spot and the team’s risk-averse strategy.

Attention then shifts to rising star J.J. Wetherholt, who secures his major league debut after impressing in Memphis. Hafron explores whether Wetherholt can live up to the Rookie of the Year hype and anchor a dynamic young infield alongside Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II. The Springfield exhibition recap spotlights Dustin May’s strong tune-up and Joshua Baez’s progress. As the Cardinals eye Opening Day, questions remain: will offensive struggles persist, and who’s poised to step up as St. Louis embraces a new youth movement?

00:00 Opening Day Roster Reactions
12:08 JJ Wetherholt Makes Roster
25:54 Springfield Exhibition Game Recap

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