Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Foot pain dates back multiple years
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Nootbaar -- who is recovering from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels -- has dealt with discomfort in both feet off and on over the past two-and-a-half years, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar has had ongoing treatment during the season to address recurring soreness in his heels, but he elected to have surgery earlier this month with the goal of alleviating the condition. It's difficult to gauge how much the foot issues have affected Nootbaar's play, but it's notable that his sprint speed has fallen each year, from the 83rd percentile in 2021 to just the 39th percentile in 2025. The outfielder admits that the discomfort "was holding me back." Nootbaar -- who played a career-high 135 games this season but produced a career-low .686 OPS -- has not been ruled out for Opening Day next season, but because the surgery he had is uncommon, there's uncertainty regarding how long his rehab will take.
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Could miss start of '26 season
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Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Sunday that Nootbaar (heels) isn't guaranteed to be available for the start of the 2026 season, Matt Pauley of 1120 AM KMOX St. Louis reports.
Nootbaar is on the mend from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels. At the time the procedure was performed, the Cardinals didn't put a timeline on Nootbaar's return to full baseball activities, but Bloom's comments suggest that the outfielder could need around six months to get back to 100 percent health. Bloom noted that Nootbaar won't be hurried along in the rehab process, and even if the 28-year-old winds up on the injured list to begin the 2026 campaign, he would be shelved for only a limited amount of time. Nootbaar played in a career-high 135 games in 2025, slashing .234/.325/.361 with 13 home runs, four stolen bases, 48 RBI and 68 runs over 583 plate appearances.
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Has surgery on both heels
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Nootbaar underwent surgery Oct. 7 on both heels to shave down Haglund's deformities, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
It's unclear how long Nootbaar's heels have bothered him, and it's also uncertain how long his rehab is expected to take. Nootbaar finished with career highs in games played (135) and plate appearances (583) this season but posted a disappointing .234/.325/.361 batting line with 13 home runs.
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Getting rest Saturday
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Nootbaar isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.
Nootbaar will get a chance to regroup Saturday after going 2-for-17 with an RBI and a run scored over his last five games. Alec Burleson will start in left field with Nootbaar out, opening up first base for Nolan Gorman.
Nootbaar (cramps) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Marlins.
Nootbaar was forced out late in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Yankees after dealing with some muscle cramping, but he was able to make enough progress overnight for the Cardinals to clear him to rejoin the lineup for the start of a three-game set in Miami. The 27-year-old had made each of his previous three starts in left field but will shift over to right Monday while Jordan Walker gets the evening off.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Exits early with muscle cramping
Rotowire
Nootbaar was removed after seven innings of Sunday's game against the Yankees due to muscle cramping, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar went 3-for-4 with a run scored before Garrett Hampson came off the bench to replace him in left field in the top of the eighth. The 27-year-old doesn't seem to be dealing with a significant concern and could be ready to return to the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins after getting rehydrated and resting up.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Back in action Wednesday
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Nootbaar (knee) will start in center field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game versus the Rockies.
Nootbaar exited Monday's game after fouling a ball off his left knee and didn't play Tuesday, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in Wednesday's series finale. The outfielder is slashing only .231/.222/.308 and hasn't drawn a walk in seven games since coming off the injured list.
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Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Sitting out Tuesday
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Nootbaar (knee) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies.
Nootbaar fouled a pitch off his knee in the third inning Monday and was eventually replaced by Jordan Walker later in the contest. He'll continue to rest Tuesday, as the Cardinals face left-hander Kyle Freeland. Walker is in right field and batting sixth for St. Louis. The Cardinals face another lefty in Austin Gomber for Wednesday's series finale before an off day Thursday, so Nootbaar could rest until the weekend.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Departs with bruised knee
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Nootbaar left Monday's game against the Rockies due to a bruised left knee, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar hit a foul ball off his knee during his at-bat in the third inning and was removed a few frames later. Jordan Walker replaced Nootbaar in right field. X-rays on Nootbaar's knee returned negative and he can be considered day-to-day, per Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar: Resting with lefty on mound
Rotowire
Nootbaar is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
The Cubs are sending a lefty (Shota Imanaga) to the hill for the series finale, so the left-handed-hitting Nootbaar will receive the night off. With Nootbaar on the bench, the Cardinals will roll out a starting outfield of Alec Burleson, Victor Scott and Jordan Walker from left to right.
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