In the spring of 2020 — before it became the spring of 2020 — Cardinals prospect Dylan Carlson wore No. 68. It wasn’t lost on long-timers around the club. This was the uniform number worn in the spring of 2001 by Albert Pujols.
Carlson was considered one of the top hitting prospects the Cardinals had since Pujols famously made the club out of camp.
It is now the spring of 2023. Carlson, 24, is on the St. Louis Cardinals. Yet he’s likely not starting on Thursday’s opening day.