Most fans assume the worst offensive spot in baseball history is fixed. They are wrong. The St. Louis Cardinals entered the season with center fielders ranked as the second-worst group in the league since 2023, posting a dismal 74 wRC+, according to Viva El Birdos. That number tells a harsh story about a position that cannot hit. The team’s entire production from that spot relied on gloves, not bats. Much of the 3.5 total fWAR recorded by these players during the 2023-2025 span came purely from defense. The bats were silent.
Only one player in that three-year window could swing a stick effectively. Lars Nootbaar was the sole above-average offensive player among the three men who played over 100 games in center field. Everyone else failed hard. Victor Scott II and Michael Siani both came in at least 35% below league average with the bat over that same span. The team hoped for a miracle in 2026. They gave Victor Scott II the everyday job after he did swing work in the offseason. That hope evaporated fast. Scott was demoted to Memphis in June after posting a 55 wRC+ in over 60 games.
A Sudden Shift in Fortune
The roster hole did not stay open for long. While Scott struggled, Nathan Church mixed in all around the outfield. Viva El Birdos reports that an outstanding April performance enabled him to challenge Scott for center field playing time. With Jordan Walker breaking out in right and Nootbaar trying to regain value in left, Church got the chance. He took the everyday job once Scott was sent down to the minors. But the story had a twist. A miserable July caused a loud conversation about the team’s future in center field. The mood was dark. Fans wondered if anyone on the roster could actually hit.
Then the calendar flipped to August. The tune changed completely. Church turned it around when it mattered most. This late surge is the only reason he is even in the picture for 2027. The St. Louis Cardinals observe Nathan Church trying to secure a 2027 starting role as Leo Bernal keeps impressing. The team is not just looking at stats from June. They are looking at the player who showed up when the season was on the line.
The 2027 Battle
The path to the starting spot is narrow. Church has the job for now, but he is not safe. He must beat out Leo Bernal for the long-term role. The franchise cannot afford another year of 35% below average hitting. The defense will only carry the team so far. Church proved he can handle the pressure in August. He proved he can take the lead when the previous starter failed. The Cardinals are watching closely to see if this was a fluke or a real breakout. The future of the outfield depends on it. If Church can stay hot, he becomes the answer. If he fades, the hole returns. The window is open, but it might not stay that way.
