Victor Scott II may be giving Cardinals fans hope again with new Driveline swing video

When it comes to Victor Scott II, any signs of hope are welcome at this point, and the footage that Driveline just put out of his work with them has got to be the best swing I've seen him take in a long time.

Driveline's official X account posted some work they've been doing with Scott recently, and yes, while it is in a batting cage and controlled enviornment, it was certainly fun to see him doing damage to the baseball in a meaningful way.

Will that change his standing with the organization? I remain skeptical.

Cardinals seem unlikely to bring Victor Scott II back in 2027

Some players really do find a new gear after working with Driveline, but it's felt like for a while now that Scott would not be returning to the Cardinals in 2027.

As always, the Cardinals' actions speak loudly, and how they handled Scott this season after his terrible start should tell you everything you need to know.

Scott was demoted in the summer after a really rough start to the season. All offseason, the Cardinals talked up Scott's preparation and pumped him up as a breakout candidate for the year again, but if anything, things got even worse for Scott.

On the season, Scott slashed .193/.270/.253 with a 51 wRC+ in 80 games. He did not get on base enough to use his speed, and even when he did, he often looked hesitant on the basepaths. Scott also wasn't the same level of defender out in center field as he was before, leading the Cardinals to declare Nathan Church to be their clear-cut starting center fielder entering this offseason.

Even when Scott came back up in September, he started just two games for the club that whole month and got just 11 plate appearances. If they had any desire to see him in St. Louis long-term, I don't see why they wouldn't have given him more opportunity, especially since Jordan Walker clearly needed some days off, Joshua Baez went down with an injury, and Church's role with the team is not above having days out of the lineup.

Maybe if the Cardinals didn't like Scott's work ethic or character, they'd do something like that, but we know they've always been very complimentary of him. I don't believe that is fake by any means, which tells me they really must be down on his talent to keep him in Memphis all summer and not utilize him upon his return.

Scott looks like a clear non-tender candidate at this point, or perhaps there'll be a trade available to St. Louis. But overall, it's very difficult to believe he'll be back with the club next year.

That doesn't mean Scott is out of chances. I know another organization would take a shot on Scott, and whether he finds a way to become a clear-cut starter or finds niche roles with clubs, he has the tools to be a valuable piece of a contender in the future. He hasn't unlocked that in St. Louis, but maybe someone else can.

Scott will also be playing baseball in the Dominican Republic this winter, so expect to see more footage of him this offseason.

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