Nathan Church is making a strong case for a regular role in the St. Louis Cardinals' outfield. Church's diving catch of a Bobby Witt Jr. line drive, which left his bat at 100.7 mph according to Statcast, robbed the Royals' All-Star of at least extra bases -- if not a potential inside-the-park home run -- in the top of the third inning of the Cardinals' 2-0 loss to Kansas City. Church's defensive prowess is his calling card. He can play all three outfield positions and was awarded the National League Play of the Week for a game-saving catch to take away a walk-off homer from Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales on April 29. It was his third over-the-wall catch of the season. Church's strong glove and Lars Nootbaar’s heel surgeries created an opportunity, and he has seized it. The left-handed hitter is batting .246 with five home runs and 18 RBIs this season. Church's latest defensive gem occurred in the right-field corner, directly below a section of shirtless rowdy fans that have been the talk of the league over the weekend. Pallante (4-4) recorded a season high in innings (6 2/3) with seven strikeouts. Only one of his two runs was earned, and he didn’t walk anyone while scattering eight hits. Royals starter Stephen Kolek (2-0) spoiled Pallante’s effort, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just four hits, struck out three and walked one. The Cardinals sit eight games over .500 as they prepare to start a string of 12 straight against Central Division foes on Tuesday night, kicking off a three-game series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Personally, I think Church's defensive skills are a game-changer. His ability to make spectacular catches and play all three outfield positions is impressive. What makes this particularly fascinating is that Church wasn't even guaranteed a spot on the Cardinals roster in Spring Training. In my opinion, Church's performance this season is a testament to his hard work and dedication. If you take a step back and think about it, Church's success is not just about his defensive skills, but also his ability to adapt to different roles and contribute to the team's success. This raises a deeper question: How do teams evaluate and develop players like Church who have the potential to be versatile and impactful? A detail that I find especially interesting is that Church's performance has been consistent despite the presence of Lars Nootbaar, who is also an excellent outfielder. What this really suggests is that the Cardinals' management has made a smart decision in giving Church a chance to shine. Church's performance this season has been a highlight for the Cardinals, and it will be interesting to see how his role evolves as the season progresses. With Nootbaar’s return drawing near, after homering in his first at-bat of his rehab with Single-A Palm Beach on Friday night, Church’s role in the outfield seems to be on solid ground. Church's performance this season has been a breath of fresh air for the Cardinals, and it will be interesting to see how he continues to contribute to the team's success.
