The St. Louis Cardinals’ situation at third base has become one of the more interesting roster questions heading into the final stretch of the 2026 season. With Nolan Gorman spending time in the minors after a difficult stretch at the plate, the organization has been forced to explore several alternatives. However, despite Gorman’s struggles, his recent development at Triple-A could give the Cardinals another reason to consider bringing him back.
Gorman’s demotion came on June 11 after one of the worst stretches of his season. From May 20 through June 11, the former first-round pick went just 3-for-55. His strikeout rate during that 17-game stretch climbed to an alarming 49.1%, while his wRC+ dropped to -22. The Cardinals ultimately decided that sending him to the minors was the best option for both his development and the organization.
With Gorman gone, the Cardinals turned to Blaze Jordan for increased playing time at third base. Jordan has done a respectable job, particularly defensively, but his overall offensive production has not exactly made him an obvious long-term answer.
Jordan has posted a .255/.279/.372 slash line and has hit only one home run during his time in the majors. That home run came in his second big-league game. His OPS has remained below .700 at .651, highlighting some of the limitations in his offensive game.
Defensively, however, Jordan has been much better than expected. He has accumulated four Outs Above Average, giving the Cardinals a valuable defensive presence. His 13.6% strikeout rate is also encouraging, although his 3.2% walk rate demonstrates that he rarely reaches base through free passes. His 34.7% chase rate is another concern and could become something the Cardinals focus on during the offseason.
Jordan has also shown a notable platoon split. He has performed well against left-handed pitching, producing a 122 wRC+, but his results against right-handers have been significantly worse, with only a 52 wRC+. That split could limit his usefulness as an everyday third baseman.
Jose Fermin has also received opportunities at third base while moving around the diamond. Fermin has primarily played second base, third base, left field and center field, giving the Cardinals some much-needed versatility.
His overall batting line of .240/.307/.359 is not particularly impressive, but his approach at the plate has been one of his strongest qualities. Fermin has posted a 21.9% chase rate, a 13.9% whiff rate and a 12.9% strikeout rate. Those numbers demonstrate his ability to make consistent contact and avoid chasing pitches outside the strike zone.
The problem is that Fermin does not provide enough impact with his bat. His bat speed, hard-hit percentage and expected slugging percentage are all below league average. That makes him much more attractive as a utility option than as a permanent solution at third base.
The Cardinals also have several other players who could theoretically fill the position, but none appears to be an obvious answer.
JJ Wetherholt should remain at second base. His defensive ability and overall impact up the middle make him much more valuable at the position than he would be at a corner spot. The Cardinals should allow him to continue developing at second and potentially become one of the better players at the position.
Bryan Torres does not appear to have the arm strength or quality of contact needed to become an everyday third baseman. Cesar Prieto is also more naturally suited to second base defensively and has struggled to make an impact offensively, recording no hits in 26 plate appearances during 2026.
Ramon Urias could eventually return from his injury and provide another option. A strong defensive third baseman capable of handling a weaker side of a platoon can be valuable, but that type of player may not provide the offensive production the Cardinals desperately need.
That brings the discussion back to Gorman.
After being optioned, Gorman spent more than a week at the Cardinals’ revamped spring-training facility in Jupiter, Florida. During that period, the organization worked with him on changes to his swing, approach and attack angle. The development plan reportedly resembled the work previously done with Joshua Baez before Baez experienced a breakout.
Gorman then moved to Triple-A Memphis, where the adjustments initially produced ugly results. In his first 18 games, he hit just .113/.304/.274 while striking out 41% of the time. His wRC+ during that period was only 61.
However, his performance changed dramatically beginning July 18.
Over his next 17 games, Gorman posted a .230/.347/.590 batting line. That translated to a .937 OPS, a massive .361 ISO and a 133 wRC+. His strikeout rate remained high at 30.6%, but he also produced an impressive 15.3% walk rate.
The .361 ISO is particularly important because it highlights the type of power Gorman can bring to a Cardinals offense that has struggled to generate consistent impact.
Since Gorman was demoted on June 11, only Alec Burleson and Jimmy Crooks have posted an ISO above the league average of .140 among Cardinals hitters. Likewise, only Burleson and Wetherholt have produced an above-average wRC+ during that period.
That suggests Gorman still possesses something the Cardinals currently lack: legitimate middle-of-the-order power.
His return may not be imminent, but the organization’s decision to invest significant time and resources into rebuilding his swing suggests that it has not given up on him.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has emphasized the importance of turning the organization into a place where struggling players can be developed and corrected rather than watching them leave and thrive elsewhere. Several players, including Jordan Walker and Andre Pallante, have benefited from renewed opportunities, while others such as George Soriano and Riley O’Brien have also received opportunities to improve.
Gorman could be the next player to benefit from that philosophy.
Eventually, the Cardinals will have to make another important decision. If Gorman returns and proves that the changes made in the minors have worked, the organization will need to determine whether he belongs in its long-term plans. If he struggles again, however, the Cardinals could finally have enough evidence to move on.
Another factor is the emergence of Jesus Baez in Double-A. Baez has been one of the organization’s most productive minor leaguers this season, and some evaluators now believe he could eventually become the better Baez in the Cardinals’ system. That is notable because Joshua Baez also has considerable potential, although questions remain about his plate discipline and overall approach.
If Jesus Baez continues developing, Gorman’s long-term future at third base could become less certain. However, that does not necessarily mean the Cardinals would have no use for him. If the organization can rebuild his value and eventually trade him for a meaningful return, it could potentially benefit from his development while creating room for a younger player whose timeline better matches the club’s competitive window.
For now, though, the Cardinals need offense, and a productive Gorman could provide it.
A potential lineup featuring an improved Gorman could look considerably more dangerous. Wetherholt could remain at second base, while Ivan Herrera handles catcher and designated-hitter responsibilities. Burleson could occupy first base, Walker could remain in right field, and Gorman could take third base. Baez could then provide another source of power in left field.
The bottom portion of the lineup could feature Crooks or Bernal behind the plate, Masyn Winn at shortstop and Church in center field.
That configuration would give the Cardinals more balance and, perhaps most importantly, more power throughout the lineup.
The key phrase is “an improved Nolan Gorman.” The Cardinals do not need him to become a completely different player overnight. They need the version of Gorman who can consistently make strong contact, control the strike zone and provide the type of power that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
His Triple-A performance since July 18 suggests that progress may be happening.
The Cardinals now have a difficult but potentially rewarding decision ahead. Gorman’s first-half struggles were serious enough to warrant a demotion, but his recent improvements show why the organization was unwilling to simply give up on him.
Whether he becomes the Cardinals’ long-term third baseman, a valuable trade asset or eventually moves on to another organization remains uncertain. What is clear is that his bat still has the potential to significantly change the complexion of the Cardinals’ lineup.
For a team searching for more offensive production, that potential may be too valuable to ignore.
