The Victor Scott II tour needs a trip to Memphis

I'm a fan of him, but not of a guy who can't put up a .300 OPS. It's time.

MLB.com

Sometimes, you eat your words. Sometimes, they don’t taste that bad. A week or so ago, I told my 15,000+ X followers that Victor Scott II couldn’t go down to Memphis, at least not yet. He was a speed demon who disturbed pitchers, and his work in centerfield was raw yet impressive. There was enough there to get a longer look, but that time has expired.

Wednesday’s game against Philadelphia is one Scott II would like back in a folded envelope, so he could burn it. Along with a crucial error in center to spark a Philly rally, he was thrown out at second after collecting a single. It was his first hit in eight days, and just his fourth hit of the season.

Scott II has struck out 12 times to go with two walks. He’s slashing .091/.163/.136. At this point, first base coach Stubby Clapp may fare better. It’s not a huge problem to fix. The 23-year-old needs time in the minors, especially at the plate. Instead of taking integral at-bats to a fringe team like the Cardinals, he can build up confidence and add some AAA experience to his baseball ledger.

It is Memphis Redbirds play and great Nashville cooking that Mr. Scott II is missing. A few weeks, or more, down there can fix the holes in his swing. Pitchers have a huge advantage over him right now, presenting him with heat that travels and breaking stuff that weaves around like those roads on Route 109. He’s a land of pop-ups, weak grounders, and lazy flies. Scott II can even muster a dying quail, as Crash Davis once imagined a just-barely-enough single.

At the moment, Scott II is an offensive liability, the guy you pinch-hit for with a slower guy who can hit late in games. While the urge to soak up his defensive skills and speed flair on the bases is enticing, the Cardinals need to let his peacock fly down south. The timing couldn’t be better with Lars Nootbaar coming back. He doesn’t have Scott II’s speed and outfield coverage, but he can hit the ball well. The team needs a bridge between the two outputs.

Just like the Austrian in Terminator, Scott II will be back. It may take a little while, because you need to confirm he is MLB ready before bringing him back. Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson were hurt, so the need was there. Now, the need is for Scott II to work on those at-bats without the pressure and find a way to sting the baseball with authority.

It’s important to remember a few things with Scott II. He’s very young and only has 163 games logged in the minors. A small batch of players make the jump from AA to the Major Leagues and stay, so there’s plenty of time. He only debuted in the minors back in… 2022. Exciting things can happen to take someone from Springfield to Jupiter to Los Angeles, and home to St. Louis for a home opener.

While I’m happy Scott II got to experience a great day in St. Louis and get a taste of the big leagues, the team can’t afford to carry a guy who currently holds a .299 OPS. There are players scolded for having one double that amount, so the time is now.

John Rabe, or someone wise, said it on Twitter. Victor Scott II is a threat on the bases, but he has to get to first before he can unleash any damage.

Here’s the thing. He has time because guys like Nootbaar and Carlson have less of a leash and have been around longer. Their stock hasn’t dramatically risen or fallen, but their exposure is piling up. One is an injury prone yet impressive player, and the other is a disappointment who can’t be traded for the time being. Tommy Edman enters that mix down the road, but the message is clear: Scott II just got here, and can come right back.

That is after he listens to some great tunes before a great meal and game at AutoZone Park. Thanks for reading and have a better day than Victor.