Cardinals Newcomer Strikes Out Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt In Live Practice
The St. Louis Cardinals accomplished their top priority of retooling the rotation after a tumultuous 2023 season and are ready to bounce back.
As spring training takes off, all eyes are on the three veteran starters the Cardinals picked up this offseason.
Newly acquired right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson shut down five-time Silver Sluggers Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt on no-look strikeouts Tuesday during live practice, as shared by MLB.com's John Denton.
The Cardinals signed Gibson to a one-year, $12 million contract with a club option this offseason to help fill one of the three missing holes in their rotation.
Gibson posted a 4.73 ERA with a 157-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .270 batting average against and 1.32 WHIP in 192 innings pitched last season with the Baltimore Orioles.
The 36-year-old is no ace by any means but his ability to pitch an extensive amount of innings will surely be an asset for the Cardinals in 2024.
Striking out both Arenando and Goldschmidt is certainly a commendable feat -- especially at his age -- but it needs to be noted that the live-hitting practices showcased are light and should not have much stock taken from them. It's merely to point toward the fact that Gibson is proving he can still hang with the big guns.
Some feel that the Cardinals still need to add rotation depth, despite landing Gibson, Lance Lynn and Sonny Gray this winter.
Hopefully, Gibson will prove his worth this upcoming season and continue to strike out top hitters in the game, as he's doing now in Jupiter.
More MLB: Potential Cardinals Fit Reportedly Expected To Sign Overseas In Shocking Move
