The St. Louis Cardinals announced that third baseman Nolan Arenado will head to the team’s complex in Jupiter, Florida, on Friday to begin a rehab assignment as he works back from a right shoulder injury that placed him on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 1. Manager Oliver Marmol shared the update before Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers, noting the plan is to build shoulder strength and get Arenado into games there once he’s ready.
Arenado, in his fifth season with St. Louis after arriving from Colorado ahead of 2021, has acknowledged the shoulder has bothered him for much of the year. He initially tried to play through it before agreeing to the IL stint. The 34-year-old is in the toughest offensive stretch of his 13-year career, hitting .235 with a .660 OPS and 10 home runs in 96 games. The average and OPS are career lows, and the 10 homers match the fewest he has hit in any season in which he played at least 100 games; he hit eight during the shortened 2020 season when he appeared in 48 games.
The update comes as St. Louis, now 57-58, has slipped below .500 and signaled a pivot toward the future after dealing All-Star closer Ryan Helsley at the trade deadline. Even so, a healthy Arenado would be a stabilizing presence for the lineup and infield as the club navigates the final stretch of the season.
Context and what it means
– Jupiter, Florida, is the Cardinals’ spring-training base, where players often begin rehab work before appearing in minor-league games. The team has not provided a firm return date; the timeline will depend on how the shoulder responds to increased activity.
– Shoulder issues can sap bat speed and power. If the rehab period successfully addresses strength and discomfort, it could help Arenado’s production trend back toward his established norms.
– Beyond his bat, Arenado’s elite defense and veteran leadership could help a reshaped roster, especially as younger infielders get opportunities down the stretch.
Arenado’s track record remains elite. He is an eight-time All-Star with 10 Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger awards, widely regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen of his era. Since joining St. Louis, he has hit .266 with a .779 OPS, 116 home runs, and 415 RBIs, contributing to postseason trips in 2021 and 2022.
A hopeful outlook
– A brief reset to strengthen the shoulder offers a clear path for Arenado to finish the season on a stronger note.
– His presence—whether in the lineup or around the clubhouse during a rehab stint—can be valuable for a club recalibrating after the deadline.
– If the shoulder responds well, fans could see a noticeable uptick in quality of contact and consistency when he returns.
Summary
Nolan Arenado will begin a rehab assignment in Jupiter on Friday as he recovers from a right shoulder injury that sent him to the IL on Aug. 1. The Cardinals have not set a return date, but the goal is to build shoulder strength and get him into games at the complex soon. Despite a down year at the plate, Arenado’s decorated career and defensive excellence underscore his potential impact if the rehab goes as planned.