3 under-the-radar Cardinals players who will help the most in 2023

1. Jake Woodford

Jake Woodford is quietly having one of the best Spring Training performances among pitchers during the preseason. He has appeared in four games this spring, netting 12.2 innings of work.

In those 12.2 innings, he has recorded one start, eight hits, and has struck out eleven batters while giving up just four runs. He is making a strong case to be involved in a very crowded bullpen in St. Louis and to be on the shortlist for a starting role if a pitcher goes down.

The 26-year-old is entering his fourth big league season, and through all four seasons as a major leaguer, he has been up and down from AAA and the majors. He posted a strong season in the bigs last year when he was up in St. Louis, but that didn't stop the Cardinals from continually sending him down.

He made just one start for the Cardinals last year and made appearances in 27 games overall. He concluded his 2022 campaign with a 4-0 record, a 2.23 ERA, and posted 24 strikeouts in 48.1 innings of work.

Even more impressive than his ability to limit his earned run total to 12 runs was his ability to keep the ball in the yard. He allowed one home run last season and has given up 15 over his three-year big league career.

There are many question marks in the Cardinals rotation. There are injury-prone players and players who have not proven that they can be consistently relied upon in St. Louis.

Like it or not, Woodford is pitching his way on the shortlist of taking a full-time starting rotation role next season, given the lack of pitchers under contract after the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

2. Nolan Gorman

The only reason that Nolan Gorman could be considered under the radar is because of the emergence of left-handed hitters Brendan Donovan and international superstar Lars Nootbaar.

Gorman was a top-100 prospect in the Cardinals organization and has since graduated to be an everyday big leaguer. He would be the starting second or third basemen on plenty of teams and would be on the Cardinals if not for the massive depth on the infield.

The 2018 first-round pick had a lackluster start to his major league career. He hit .226 last season with 14 home runs and 35 RBIs. However, if you combine his minor league totals with his time in St. Louis, he hit 30 home runs a year ago.

He came into spring training having reworked his swing, and he is having a good preseason for the Cardinals. Through 30 plate appearances, he has two home runs and five RBIs and is hitting .240.

Donovan looks like he has the starting second base spot locked up and with the new rules about shifting and his strong spring, the gold glover makes sense at second base to start the season.

Gorman can still slot into the designated hitter role against righties and have a massive impact on the team in 2023. With a full season under his belt, there is no reason why he couldn't eclipse 40 home runs this year. If that happens, look out.

3. Steven Matz

Steven Matz was a prize offseason addition to the Cardinals rotation last year after winning 14 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021. After a disappointing start to his Cardinals career, he is primed for a bounce-back season.

In 2023 for the Cardinals, Matz recorded a 5-3 record with a 5.25 ERA and made just 10 starts. At the end of the season when he regained his health, he was featured out of the bullpen as both a short and long-term relief option.

He is the only pitcher who is signed past the 2023 season, making him the team's ace as of the end of the 2023 campaign. There are a lot of things riding on Matz finding his 2021 form, where he struck out 144 batters.

His start to spring training is a reason for optimism. He has made one start in Grapefruit League play and has thrown 6.2 innings overall. He has given up three hits, a solo home run, and has struck out nine batters.

There has hardly ever been a question about Matz's ability to be a top of the rotation starter, and if he is healthy for most of the season, the Cardinals could be getting a top starting pitcher from their own organization.