Grichuk can still be ‘big piece’ for Cardinals

HOUSTON — Already willing to lean on a pair of rookie pitchers during a pennant race, the Cardinals also appear ready to recommit to another young player who hopes a flourish at the finish can salvage some positive from an uneven season.

An Opening Day center fielder and twice-demoted free-swinger, Randal Grichuk returned to the Majors on Thursday without an obvious fit. Circumstances quickly changed that, however, as an injury to Matt Holliday left a vacancy in the outfield.

And while the Cardinals have explored the trade market and waiver wire for a replacement option, they appear more interested in giving those at-bats to someone who might still fit into their long-term plans. The unknown is whether Grichuk, who turned 25 on Saturday, is ready to seize that opportunity in a way he couldn’t earlier this year.

“I like him in center field, and I like the prospect of what he can do on a consistent basis,” manager Mike Matheny said. “What that looks like? How consistent? That’s yet to be determined with what everything else looks like. But all in all, I really want to let him get in there and figure some things out. I want …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com