After his first full season with the St. Louis Cardinals, rookie shortstop Masyn Winn appears to be an important part of the team’s future. Winn blends strong offensive and defensive performance with tremendous emotion and star power on the baseball field. As the Cardinals focus on player development and young talent this summer, it’s evident that Winn is an important part of that.
Cardinals Shortstop Will Be A Key Part Of Rebuild
Solid Rookie Year
Winn set the club record for shortstop games played as a rookie, with 147. In 2024, he had a slash line of.267/.314/.416 with 57 RBI, 15 home runs, and 11 stolen bases.
Winn’s first complete season began in 2024, but it was not his first time playing in Major League Baseball. Winn played 37 games by the end of the 2023 season. His slash line in those games was far poorer than in 2024, at.172/.230/.238. After the 2024 season, Winn informed reporters that having some time at the end of 2023 aided his success.
“I think having that month, month and a half or so of really struggling up here last year really helped me and got me mentally prepared for what could be,” Winn went on.
At the bat, Winn didn’t allow easy outs. He had the 25th lowest whiff percentage among qualifying MLB players (18.8%). He had the 35th lowest strikeout rate, at 17.1%. Both metrics ranked in the top 25 percent of the league. By the end of the season, Winn had established himself as the Cardinals’ leadoff man.
Defensive Star
Winn is a finalist for the National League Golden Glove Award at shortstop. If he wins, he will become only the second Cardinals rookie to win the honor. The other was Brendan Donovan in 2022.
In 2024, Winn had a defensive run value of four, tying him for ninth among MLB shortstops. Winn led all MLB shortstops in defensive runs saved (plus 14). He had three outs above average, placing him in the League’s top 16th percentile. However, it ranked him 18th among MLB shortstops.
Winn’s arm strength may have been his most impressive defensive attribute. At 92.7 mph, Winn had the second-fastest average throw from shortstop. He reached a top speed of 101.2 mph when throwing from the infield.
“He’s done a great job of shoring up this defense here and providing that entertainment value for people when they come to the ballpark,” said Hall of Fame Cardinals Shortstop Ozzie Smith on September’s Cardinals Insider show.
Learning From The best
Winn has the advantage of being tutored by his childhood hero, Smith. Smith, nicknamed “The Wizard” for his spectacular defensive performances, is currently a coach and consultant for the Cardinals. Winn gains the advantage of working with him in Spring Training and having him available throughout the season.
“When I first met him a few years ago, I was shaking. “It was pretty crazy for me,” Winn told the Cardinals Insider show. “Working with him this year in Spring Training and to go out there and show the skills off and to be somewhat the type of player he was is pretty special.”
The Hall of Fame shortstop and rookie shortstop clearly admire one other. Smith notices something remarkable about Winn.
“His baseball intellect, his instincts are one of the things that makes him stand out,” Smith told reporters. “I think that’s the thing that separates guys is their instinctive ability to be in the right place at the right time and he certainly possesses that.”
Ready To Grow
Winn bought a house in Jupiter, Florida, to be closer to the Cardinals’ spring training facilities. He is committed to improving as a player. When reflecting on his first full season, Winn told reporters that he had learned numerous lessons from 2024.
“It’s a long year, just being out there every day and just knowing it’s a grind I think will be good for me going forward,” Winn told ESPN.
Winn, who plays with strong intensity and emotion, has emerged as the Cardinals’ marketing darling. However, he recognized that this can exacerbate dismal seasons like as 2024.
“It’s tough, I’m a perfectionist and I hate losing,” Winn replied. “It’s difficult for me not to treat every at-bat as if it were the biggest at-bat in the world, or every game as if it were Game 7 of the World Series, but I’m getting used to it. But I personally enjoy playing with emotions. I feel that gives me an advantage out there.”
Winn possesses all of the necessary skills as a player and attitude to be the Cardinals’ face for many years to come. He is only 22 years old, and he will have the opportunity to be a key component of the franchise.
