St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is expected to undergo offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee, according to multiple reports. The 23-year-old was a late scratch from Tuesday’s matchup against the Seattle Mariners after battling knee pain for several weeks. Following the game, it was revealed that surgery will be necessary this winter.
Winn has played through discomfort for much of the year, showcasing his durability at one of baseball’s most demanding defensive positions. Despite the injury, his defense has been stellar. Earlier this summer, Winn admitted his knee was “jacked up” but made it clear he didn’t want to land on the injured list, especially with other teammates like Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, and Lars Nootbaar also sidelined at the time.
The grind has eventually taken a toll on his bat. Before the All-Star break, Winn slashed .255/.317/.378 with seven home runs, five stolen bases, and solid plate discipline. Since then, his numbers have dipped across the board, hitting just .247/.298/.331 with two homers in the second half. His offensive production has slipped from slightly above league average to 8% below average for the season.
Defensively, though, Winn hasn’t missed a step. He continues to flash highlight-reel plays at shortstop and is building a strong case to win the Gold Glove—and perhaps even the Platinum Glove—this year.
Speaking with reporters after Tuesday’s game, Winn acknowledged surgery is the best long-term solution but said he intends to finish the season on the field. “Some stuff is going to have to be done this offseason to help me out. I want to finish the year as strong as possible,” Winn said. “I was told I probably can’t do too much worse to it. If I can’t hurt myself any further, then I want to be out there.”
The Cardinals expect Winn to rest on occasion over the final 16 games, but he’ll continue to play when he’s able. The surgery should not impact his offseason program, leaving him on track to be ready for 2026.
