Cardinals Make Decision on Struggling Player

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Segun Ajayi | Last updated Jun 8, 2026 10:30 AM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned center fielder Victor Scott II to Triple-A Memphis ahead of their next game in New York after a season-long slump at the plate and a dip in overall impact.

STL Sports anchor Tamar Sher reported that Scott did not travel with the team after the Cardinals confirmed the move. This comes after a poor run of form where Scott failed to meet expectations both offensively and defensively, despite opening the season with strong speed-based production.

The 25-year-old went 0-for-2 with two walks and stole his ninth base of the season in Sunday’s 5–3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. That performance briefly showed his potential, but his season numbers told a different story.

Scott finished his stint in St. Louis with a .194 batting average, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs, and a .534 OPS, and his OPS dropped to .532 across the season, which placed him near the bottom of qualified hitters. He ranked 189th among 191 players with at least 180 plate appearances.

#NEWS: The Cardinals have optioned center fielder Victor Scott II to Triple-A Memphis. He did not travel with the team to New York.

Scott was batting .194 with 2 HR, 9 RBI and a .534 OPS.#stlcards | @KMOV | @MatrixMidwest
— Tamar Sher (@tamar_sher) June 8, 2026

Scott opened the year in good form as he stole two bases on Opening Day and showed early aggressiveness on the bases, finishing 2025 with 34 steals in 38 attempts. He set a goal of 70 steals for 2026, and early signs suggested he might chase that number after recording five sacrifices in his first 10 games. However, his early production faded quickly, and from April 7 to April 29, he failed to record a sacrifice.

Through 60 games, he stole only eight bases, far below his expected pace. His bat also cooled off, as he hit just .196 with a .532 OPS over that stretch. His defensive value also declined.

In 2025, Scott posted 17 outs above average in center field. In 2026, that number dropped to 3, showing a clear dip in range and impact in the outfield.Scott showed a brief late push at the plate before his demotion. Over his final few games, he went 4-for-13 with two walks, a double, and a stolen base.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol (31).© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

However, the Cardinals already planned roster adjustments due to returning outfield depth. Lars Nootbaar returned on June 5, and Nathan Church is close to activation from the injured list. That leaves the Cardinals with a roster crunch in the outfield.

The Cardinals chose Scott as the odd man out and kept Bryan Torres for his defensive versatility. The move also gives manager Oli Marmol additional flexibility as St. Louis looks to improve its outfield production.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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