St. Louis Cardinals: Tommy Edman is earning the leadoff spot

Coming into 2021, the St. Louis Cardinals needed someone to step up in the leadoff spot. So far this spring, that has been all Tommy Edman.

For the first time in almost a decade, Matt Carpenter won’t be an everyday player in the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup. The vast majority of the time that Carpenter has been in the lineup, he’s been a plug-and-play choice for the leadoff spot.

Carpenter excelled because of his ability to get on base, but that has faded in recent years. In 2020, the Cardinals’ primary leadoff man was frequently Kolten Wong. While Wong did a fine job at leadoff in 2020, he is not wearing Cardinal Red anymore.

In his absence, there has been a debate about who should be the choice to take his place at the top of the lineup. In spring training, there has been one clear answer.

In all but a couple of games, Tommy Edman has been the Cardinals’ leadoff man, and he’s earned that spot.

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Tommy Edman came into spring training trying to fend off Carpenter for both leadoff and second base. In 24 at-bats, Carpenter has just one hit. Edman has 10 in 27.

Of his 10 hits, two of Edman’s have been doubles, and he has two stolen bases. Edman still isn’t really taking many walks (just one so far), but that isn’t his M.O.. Edman is going to be in the lineup to set the table, whether through hits or walks.

His .370/.393/.444 slash line would mark a good improvement over 2020, and more than the Cardinals need out of a leadoff man.

Mike Shildt has tested Carpenter, Harrison Bader, and a couple of others at the leadoff spot, but each time he has always gone back to Edman. With Paul Goldschmidt looking like a good bet to bat second in 2021, Edman could see better pitches right off the bat than if someone else was backing him up.

Edman has started 43 of his career 147 games at leadoff over the past two seasons and has just a .674 OPS out of that spot. However, a lot of those at-bats came during a down 2020 year, and it’s just 43 games.

There is still a week and a half of spring training left, but Edma has done enough to earn the leadoff spot on Opening Day.