Nathan Church Steps In as Cardinals Eye Marlins Sweep
The St. Louis Cardinals are on the verge of something sweet in Miami — a three-game sweep of the Marlins — and the spotlight is shining on rookie prospect, outfielder Nathan Church.
With Victor Scott II sidelined by a left ankle sprain, the door swung wide open for the 25-year-old to grab his first real taste of major league action. Church, a left-handed hitter known for blazing speed (graded 70 on the scouting scale) and a strong glove, was called up from Triple-A Memphis and dropped right into the center field mix.
Manager Oli Marmol isn’t shy about what Church brings to the table: “He’s a good defender. He has no fear.”
And the numbers back it up. Before his promotion, Church rocketed through three levels of the Cardinals’ farm system this season, hitting a combined .329 with 19 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. That kind of offensive production, paired with his defensive chops, made him a fast-rising prospect in the organization.
Church is Still Finding his Way at the Plate
So far in the majors, it hasn’t been easy — Church started his career 0-for-10. But he still found a way to make an impact in Tuesday night’s 7-4 win, laying down a sacrifice bunt that brought home his first RBI in the big leagues. It wasn’t flashy, but it was the kind of team-first play that gets noticed in a clubhouse fighting for momentum.
Church also flashed some serious skill in center with this catch:
The Cardinals have been grinding out wins in this series. On Tuesday, Thomas Saggese came alive with a 3-for-4 night that included two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. Pair that with steady hitting from Alec Burleson and timely defense, and St. Louis has been able to take the first two games against Miami.
Meanwhile, Church continues to draw praise for his approach, even if the hits haven’t started falling yet. “He understands the game,” Marmol said. “I like his at-bats and overall approach. I have a high level of interest in seeing him up here.”
Going for the Sweep of the Marlins
Looking ahead, the Cardinals will hand the ball to Andre Pallante in Wednesday’s finale to try to get that sweep of the Marlins, setting up a UC Irvine reunion as he faces former Anteater teammate Nathan Church now in the outfield. Pallante (6-10, 5.04 ERA) has been tough on the Marlins before, boasting a 1.40 ERA across six career outings against Miami. His last start versus them? A seven-inning, one-hit gem back on July 28.
The Marlins counter with Sandy Alcantara, who has struggled to regain his Cy Young form since Tommy John surgery but still owns a stingy 1.71 ERA against St. Louis in his career.
As the Cardinals look to complete the sweep, all eyes will be on how Church settles into his role. The rookie’s speed, glove, and all-around hustle make him one of the most intriguing players to watch as St. Louis continues testing its young core. With Scott, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado all sidelined, these are the opportunities that can shape the future of the franchise.
If Church can start getting on base, the Cardinals might have a home grown producer from their farm system. If he can’t, Cardinals fans wouldn’t mind if top prospect JJ Wetherholt took his spot in the lineup. Although JJ might not see action in the big show until 2026.
