Hopes for the Offseason: Randal Grichuk

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If anyone on the St. Louis Cardinals has an important Spring Training facing them, it’s Randal Grichuk.

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Understatement right? The offseason really didn’t start that way for Grichuk. It was believed he would be battling it out for the right field position with Oscar Taveras. If Oscar won out, he would still be on the bench. After the tragic death of Oscar, everything for the organization changed. The club moved pretty quickly to get a veteran bat and defender for the right field spot in Jason Heyward.

As the guy now considered the center piece of the trade that sent away World Series MVP and hometown hero David Freese to the Anaheim Angels, there are a high expectations for this guy.

Now, Randal will be fighting just to have a spot with the big club. He can play any outfield position. In 2014, Grichuk came up and proved himself as a decent defender with a decent bat. Decent doesn’t win you many friends in the majors. The Cardinals will want more if he hopes to secure an everyday spot. That said, he’ll now be competing with Matt Holliday, Jason Heyward, Jon Jay, Peter Bourjos and Stephen Piscotty. And others, I’m sure. For just a spot.

My hopes for Grichuk’s offseason?

* He realizes how hard he will have to work.

* He works on his hitting. He started out good. And then… pitchers figured him out. Hopefully he’s working on that … like now!

* He works on defending. He was good, but could have been a lot better.

He has so much potential. It will be interesting to see if moves are made to clear a path for him. Or if he has to work. As the guy now considered the center piece of the trade that sent away World Series MVP and hometown hero David Freese to the Anaheim Angels, there are a high expectations for this guy.  Let’s hope he knows that and steps up big and at least earns himself a spot with the club. If he gets a starting spot, that will be even better.