4 Cardinals who could be featured in the revamped Backyard Baseball game

Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley has been with the St. Louis Cardinals since he was drafted by the team in 2015 in the fifth round. Helsley came up in the system as a starting pitcher, but he was transitioned into a relief role in 2019. Since then, Helsley has become one of baseball's best relievers.

He's synonymous with the St. Louis organization, as he's been in the majors since 2019. Him representing the team in the video game would be quite fitting, as he's one of the longest-tenured players currently on the roster.

He features a fastball that tops out at 102 MPH, and his slider is one of the best pitches in all of baseball. According to Baseball Savant's run value, Helsley's slider has a nine value, one of the best in baseball this year. He also leads the league in saves with 38 on the season.

Ryan Helsley may not be the most well-known Cardinal this year, but his pitching stats would be off the charts if he became a video game character. His pitches often feel unreal, and it would be fantastic to see how he could take advantage of the wackiness that is Backyard Baseball.

Historically, Backyard Baseball has shied away from using relievers in the game, as Randy Johnson was the only pitcher in the game in 2001. Therefore, having Ryan Helsley tabbed as the Cardinals' lone representative in the game feels like a longshot. It would be awesome to see Helsley's fastball and slider translate to the game. The "fireball" power-up would pair very well with Helsley.

Lars Nootbaar

Few players on the Cardinals are more internationally recognized than Lars Nootbaar. The Japanese-American player represented Samurai Japan during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, and his performance on the global stage catapulted him to the international spotlight. Nootbaar was interviewed by American and Japanese outlets to describe his experience there.

Additionally, Nootbaar's personality fits the bill for a video game. He's energetic, personable, and is often seen having a laugh during the game. He is also well-recognized throughout the sport of baseball, so the notoriety factor plays into his inclusion well.

Being a position player helps his case, as the bulk of MLB players in past versions of the game were position players. While Lars has struggled this year, his balanced offensive profile could play well in the rebooted version of Backyard Baseball. He hits the ball hard (92nd percentile hard-hit percentage and 88th percentile average exit velocity), and he's fast (83rd percentile sprint speed in 2021). Injuries have limited Nootbaar's ceiling in reality, but his video game version could still play well.

Nootbaar is also a plus defender in the outfield, as he boasts plenty of range and an above-average arm. His arm strength ranks in the 83rd percentile in baseball, so he would be a solid corner outfielder in the game.

Nootbaar has notoriety, talent, and a personality that would fit well in a video game. He's also been has been in the Cardinals' system since he was drafted in 2018 by the organization. Lars Nootbaar is a Cardinal through and through, and him representing the team in Backyard Baseball makes plenty of sense.

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado has been one of baseball's most recognizable players since he debuted in 2013. Arenado has been able to pair his excellent defense with a power profile that is tantalizing, and he's been regarded handsomely throughout his career for his efforts on the field.

Arenado has 10 Gold Glove Awards, eight All-Star Game nominations, five Silver Slugger Awards, and he's a six-time Platinum Glove winner. Arenado's trophy case is filled to the brim, and his presence in Backyard Baseball feels quite logical given his illustrious career up to this point. Arenado is close to one of the best years of his career in 2022, so he's not a stretch by any means to be included in the game.

Arenado's power rankings in the game would be high, and his defense would have to be among the best among all players represented in Backyard Baseball's reboot. Arenado is in his fourth year with St. Louis, and he's going to be with the team for several more years barring a trade. He's slowly becoming a true Cardinal despite playing in Colorado for eight years.

Nolan Arenado has been in a slump for two years now, so Playground Productions would be using him at a low point in his career. However, Arenado remains one of the game's most popular players who is also respected by his peers. His jersey was the 11th-most purchased jersey in baseball at this year's All-Star break, so his popularity remains high among fans as well.

Arenado representing the Cardinals in the Backyard Baseball reboot would be fitting.

Masyn Winn

Masyn Winn would be my choice to represent the Cardinals in the newest version of Backyard Baseball. He's young, he's recognizable, he's talented, and his plus tools would fit quite well in a video game. In fact, Winn has made unrealistic plays all year as a rookie shortstop.

Winn is essentially already a video game character. His metrics are off the charts defensively. Winn's arm strength ranks in the 96th percentile in baseball, and he's in the 82nd percentile according to Outs Above Average. Winn also boasts plus-plus speed, as his sprint speed of 28.8 miles per hour is in the 87th percentile.

The rookie shortstop would fit right in with other noteworthy Backyard Baseball characters. He would be able to run circles around the defense on the base paths, make ridiculous defensive plays, and whip the ball to first base from across the diamond with ease. While he's slightly above average offensively, Winn's defense and speed would make him an easy choice to play within the game.

Winn was drafted by the Cardinals in 2020, and he made his debut just last year. Despite not being projected in the top three rookies to win National League Rookie of the Year, Winn's star is growing with each spectacular play he makes. Being chosen to represent the Cardinals in the historic video game would be quite fitting for a player who figures to be the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future. Winn makes the most sense among these players to represent the organization in the Backyard Baseball reboot.