Predictions for the St. Louis Cardinals 2022 season

ST LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 12: Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 at Busch Stadium on September 12, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 12: Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 at Busch Stadium on September 12, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)
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Tyler O'Neill, St. Louis Cardinals
Tyler O’Neill #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals receives a curtain call after hitting a go-ahead two run home run during the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium on September 18, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)

Josh Jacobs (@joshjaco2)

MVP: Tyler O’Neill

After finishing top 10 in MVP voting in his first full season as Cardinal starter, O’Neill is poised to put all five tools together again for another incredible season. Already a two time Gold Glover, O’Neill will earn his first All-Star appearance, finish top 5 in the NL MVP voting, and hit over 40 home runs for St. Louis.

Cy Young: Adam Wainwright

I was tempted to choose Dakota Hudson, but it feels right for Wainwright to finish his Cardinal career as the staple of the rotation once again. He may not be the most dominant starter in the rotation at the end of the season, but his consistency and ability to go deep into games will be huge for a thin Cardinal pitching staff.

X-Factor: Nolan Gorman

The highly touted Cardinal prospect has the potential to transform the Cardinals lineup by giving the club a powerful bat from the left handed side. If Gorman lives up to some of that potential this year, he could platoon at DH with Albert Pujols and slot in at 2nd base on other days to give the Cardinals lineup another dangerous bat in the 5th or 6th spot of the order.

Two sentence team evaluation: The 2022 Cardinals are banking that their strong finish to 2021 was a preview of what this team will be. With the continued development of younger players on the club, St. Louis could be a dangerous team come October.

Bold prediction: Watch out for Nolan Gorman

By the end of the 2022 season, Nolan Gorman will have cemented himself as an everyday player between 2nd base and DH, and Tommy Edman will become the super utility man that he was when he first debuted for the Cardinal ball club.

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