JUPITER, Fla. — Between the coronavirus pandemic, Major League Baseball’s stringent health and safety protocols and the MLB owners locking out players last winter, the Cardinals haven’t had a “normal” spring training setting since the early stages of 2020 prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.
A return to normalcy in Cardinals camp means legendary infielder and National Baseball Hall of Fame member Ozzie Smith, “The Wizard of Oz,” will have his largest presence and be more involved in spring training this year than any time since before the pandemic.
For the first time in the Cardinals careers of players such as star third baseman Nolan Arenado and highly touted shortstop prospect Masyn Winn, they’ll interact with Smith regularly during spring training.