Nolan Gorman takes batting practice at spring training in February 2021 in Jupiter, Fla. (Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com)
Bats/Throws: L/R
Height/Weight: 6-1, 210
Age: 21
Acquired: Drafted 2018 (19th overall), O’Connor HS (Phoenix)
In 2021: .279/.333/.481, .814OPS, 25 HR, 75 RBIs, 20 2B (Class AA, AAA)
Scouting Report: Already ahead of his peers when it came to power potential, no young hitter appeared more improved than Gorman entering 2020’s spring training. He steadied his stance and tightened his swing – becoming far more a hitter with power than just having power when he hit. If only he had games to show it. A year delayed, Gorman put on a display. In a season split between Class AA Springfield (76 games) and Class AAA Memphis (43 games), Gorman hit 25 homers, had 46 extra-base hits, and left the Texas League with a .509 slugging percentage. As impressively, he slashed his strikeout rate down from 33.3% in 2019 to 23.9% in 2021, all while facing better pitching at a level at least three years above his age. Oh, and he learned a new position: second base. Cue the Dan Uggla comps. After a spring spent at second with coach Jose Oquendo, Gorman impressed the Cardinals with his range for the position and improved footwork. His arm strength, which sizzled at third, helps compensate for the instincts he’s developing on the job. Gorman projects as a 30-homer infielder from the left side, and he’ll reach the majors when his swing carries him there. That could be ASAP. Only the position is TBD.
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He's already raking this season at AAA Memphis, where he has homered in four consecutive games and is batting .351 to pair with a 1.253 OPS.
ETA: 2022.
Derrick Goold
Derrick Goold is the lead Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and past president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
