Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals’ Speedster Victor Scott II Getting Opportunity to Impress

Originally posted on The Forkball | By JM Kerska | Last updated 4/1/24

The 2024 season is underway, and the St. Louis Cardinals rookie Victor Scott II is getting his first taste of the big leagues. The speedy outfielder is getting an opportunity to start in centerfield for the Cardinals to begin the season. Scott II had impressive spring training performance in which his on base percentage was over .400 and he posted a batting average of .317. Additionally, and the biggest reason he’s getting an opportunity is due to the unfortunate injury to young outfielder and former top prospect Dylan Carlson.

Tearing Up the Basepaths in the Minors

Scott II has seen himself rocket up the prospect rankings due to his performance in the minors. In 163 minor league games played, the speedy outfielder has racked up 107 stolen bases and posted an impressive .290/.367/.419 slash line. Additionally, he provides excellent defense in the outfield. He also earned an invite to the Futures Game on All-Star weekend in 2023. The most important statistic is his on base percentage. If he can continue to get on base anywhere near that rate in the majors, it will be a nightmare for opposing teams. He’s the type of player that is capable of turning a walk into a triple in an instant.

Scott II is a Blast From the Past

Victor Scott II stolen base counter: 1 pic.twitter.com/XAecdmrosC
— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) March 28, 2024

Scott’s first career stolen base, and it’s not even close.

Scott’s skill set is reminiscent of the players from the Whitey-ball era. He showcases excellent defense combined with contact hitting and good plate discipline, all while causing chaos on the basepaths. This style of play has been missing at the major league level for some time now. However, with the new rule changes, players like Scott II are more likely to find a spot on major league rosters.

The stolen base has returned as a viable weapon, and Scott II is showing that he can fill that role. Players like him make the game more exciting to watch, and that’s something baseball sorely needs. Hopefully, he will continue to be successful and will be able to make an impact on the big league roster for years to come.

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

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