Cardinals Outfielder Dominates At WBC; Impresses Manager

St. Louis Cardinals' manager Oliver Marmol commended Tyler O'Neill's exceptional performance for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, attributing it to the dedication he displayed during the offseason.

#STLCards manager Oli Marmol said outfielder Tyler O’Neill is scheduled to report back to camp in Jupiter later today. O’Neill’s WBC Canadian team didn’t advance out of pool play.

Marmol said O’Neill’s stellar play in the WBC is a reflection of the work he put in all offseason.

— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 16, 2023

O'Neill emerged as one of the top players during pool play, boasting a .615 batting average (8-for-13) with two doubles, four RBI, and five runs scored.

Although there are four players vying for three starting outfield positions on the Cardinals, Marmol's remarks imply that O'Neill is likely to secure an everyday role from the beginning.  

It is still uncertain whether he will primarily play in left or center field, as he is expected to see time in both positions.

Tyler O’Neill today

4-for-4
5 Total bases
4 RBI
4 Runs scored
2 Walks pic.twitter.com/cUYX1Dhp4H

— Jacob (@CardinalsReek) March 12, 2023

This flexibility is further supported by the versatility of fellow outfielders Lars Nootbaar and Dylan Carlson, who can also cover multiple positions. 

The 27-year-old is entering his sixth MLB season, holding a .251/.320/.468 triple-slash line, with 69 home runs, 196 RBIs, 35 stolen bases and 212 runs scored over 405 games played, all with the Cardinals.
Photo Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports