Masyn Winn is widening his range to prove he can be a game-changing defender at shortstop, even as he reshaped his rookie season after a rough start. With the Cardinals’ postseason ambitions still within reach and 40 games remaining in the regular season, Winn is staring at historic benchmarks that would mark a turning point in St. Louis defense.
Manager Oliver Marmol has been vocal about Winn’s fearless approach. He’s not playing it safe, Marmol said, citing Winn’s willingness to chase plays that others might not even attempt. That ambition is reflected in the numbers: Winn leads the majors in Outs Above Average (OOA) with 22, a mark that would be the highest single-season total by a Cardinal since the stat’s inception in 2016. If he reaches 20 OAA this season, it would be a Cardinal first, and his 22 would rank among the top seasons by any infielder since 2016. Winn has committed only two errors all year.
In the past 46 games, Winn has logged 123 assists, dating back to his last miscue. The goal isn’t to curb his aggressiveness, but to pair it with improved technique and preparation. “Usually, when you have the range and the arm and you get to what he gets to, it comes with a lot of errors,” Marmol explained. “Not because you’re not a good defender, but because you do things that others can’t, and sometimes it leads to throws getting away from the first baseman. You have more opportunity for errors. The fact that he gets to more than anybody and still is doing what he’s doing from securing the baseball is highly, highly impressive.”
Winn’s most recent error-free stretch came against the Colorado Rockies and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, last year’s Gold Glove Award winner in the National League. Winn has garnered strong defensive metrics overall, though his Gold Glove bid has been tempered by those occasional mistakes. The Cardinals have not had a Gold Glove shortstop since Edgar Rentería won his second straight in 2003, and Rentería remains the last Cardinal shortstop to win the award at a position that has been difficult for St. Louis to claim in the Rawlings era.
For Winn, the path to stronger defense has been rooted in focus. He emphasizes pregame preparation and attention to detail, a habit he credits with making his first step quicker and his range better. “It’s really just my attention to detail,” Winn said. “I think this year has been a lot better. It’s my pregame work. I try to get out there every day to take grounders. Maybe it’s superstition at this point. But to get ready for the game, I’m just trying to slow the game down. I feel like last year there were a lot of mental errors. That’s stuff I can control.”
The Cardinals have noted Winn’s refined pre-pitch setup and his readiness for any ball on any pitch. Marmol’s philosophy has aligned with Winn’s approach: be aggressively competent across the board rather than picking safer paths that might reduce errors but undercut your overall impact.
Defensive metrics corroborate the eye test. Winn sits at plus-6 Defensive Runs Saved, placing him just outside the leaders, while his 19.5 Defensive Runs Above Average (DRA) leads the majors for any position other than catcher. He’s ahead of Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. in DEF, underscoring Winn’s multifaceted value at short. Since 2000, only one Cardinals infielder has posted a DEF higher than Winn’s current 19.5 for a season: Scott Rolen’s 23.4 in 2004 at third base. The takeaway is clear: Winn is operating at a historic level for a Cardinals infielder, not just a rookie.
Beyond Winn, the Cardinals also had to manage a bruised right foot for first baseman Willson Contreras after he was hit by a pitch. X-rays showed no fracture or structural damage, but Contreras remained day-to-day, with plans to rejoin the lineup after the off day and in time for a weekend series against the Yankees.
Attendance has been a topic of late, with the team drawing one of the season’s softer stretches at home. The three-game set with Colorado drew a total paid attendance of 62,156, well below the Rockies’ three-game visit in July. Through the season, the Cardinals’ average attendance hovered around 28,902 per game, placing them in the lower half nationally.
What this means for the Cardinals is twofold: Winn’s defensive ascent could anchor the middle of the infield for years and help compensate for any offensive ebbs and flows. If Winn sustains this level of play, the Cardinals could boast one of the league’s most dynamic defenses at shortstop, a facet that often translates into tighter games and more opportunities to win late. His blend of range, arm strength, and improved footwork makes him not just a promising young shortstop, but a potential cornerstone of St. Louis’s infield for the foreseeable future.
Summary and outlook
– Masyn Winn is leading the majors in Outs Above Average (22) and has been a standout range defender with only two errors this season.
– His defensive metrics (DEF 19.5, DRS +6) place him among the top in the league for non-catcher positions, with a potential historical Cardinal mark on the horizon.
– Winn emphasizes meticulous pregame preparation and mental discipline as the keys to his improvement and continued success.
– The team continues to navigate injuries (Contreras) and attendance fluctuations, but Winn’s progress provides a bright defensive foundation as the Cardinals chase a competitive finish. Positive momentum around Winn’s development offers a hopeful narrative for the Cardinals’ infield defense in the coming seasons.