The St. Louis Cardinals’ sparkling shortstop Masyn Winn now enters his fourth season as the cornerstone of the team’s infield. After winning his first Gold Glove last year, he is now firmly one of the better defenders in the game and the franchise stalwart at short. He’s got fantastic range and a cannon for an arm – routinely throwing 100 mph bullets to first base to punch out a runner.
The Redbirds’ second-round selection (54th overall) in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, Winn is blossoming into everything the club could have hoped for thus far, and he’s a star on the rise.
Having said that, his offense has never quite reached the same level as his glove work. He hasn’t been awful at the plate, but it’s been a learn-as-you-go process for the 24-year-old. He’s been steadily improving in 316 regular-season games over his fledgling MLB career, amassing a .252 average with 26 home runs and 120 RBI.
Despite playing most of the season with a meniscus tear in 2025, Winn still managed to hit .253, with nine home runs, 51 RBI, and nine stolen bases in 129 appearances. However, the Cardinals will count on him for vastly improved production in 2026, as he will likely bat near the top of the order in most games. The Cardinals would love to take advantage of his excellent speed, and some MLB analysts suggest that Winn could eventually blossom into a 20-20 player as he matures. However, he will have to get on base more, as he’s only stolen 22 bases in his tenure in the Gateway City.
Congrats to Masyn Winn for winning his first career Gold Glove at shortstop! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/HmSid96D52
— Dealin’ the Cards (@DealinTheCards) November 3, 2025
Where Do the Cardinals Covet Masyn Winn’s Bat?
Where that will be is a big question as the Cards get closer to Opening Day on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. When the first pitch is thrown, should the Texas native bat leadoff, or in the second spot, ahead of the ‘Birds’ big hitters?
While Winn looks like a traditional leadoff hitter, many are clamoring for St. Louis’s all-everything prospect JJ Wetherholt, who will start at second base, to hit first in the order. That would free up Winn to hit either second or seventh in the order.
Winn was a moving part in the lineup in 2025, but it seems that Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol wants to settle him into the two-hole this season. The Cards feel like his potential power could surface there, and Winn has already shown signs that he has plenty of might when he gets a hold of his pitch.
Here is a look at the 400-foot home run hit by #STLCards SS Masyn Winn, who was batting in the No. 2 spot in the order for the first time in his career. He hit the first pitch he saw — a 93.2 mph sinker — for his second HR of the season. It left the bat at 102.9 mph. pic.twitter.com/zyrXon5w5P
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 30, 2025
“He’s still a very young player learning how to navigate a full major league season,” Marmol said during spring training, according to Sports Illustrated. “The defensive foundation is elite, and we believe the offensive consistency will come as he continues to mature.”
Winn and the Redbirds begin the year with three games at home against Tampa before the New York Mets come to town. For now, it appears that Winn will start off as the number-two hitter, but that could change over the course of the year. Much of it will lie in the hands of the rookie Wetherholt. If JJ proves he can be dynamite at the top of the order, he and Winn could form a deadly 1-2 punch up the middle for the Cards for years to come.
Main Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
