The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned center fielder Victor Scott II to Triple-A Memphis ahead of their next game in New York after a season-long slump at the plate and a dip in overall impact.
STL Sports anchor Tamar Sher reported that Scott did not travel with the team after the Cardinals confirmed the move. This comes after a poor run of form where Scott failed to meet expectations both offensively and defensively, despite opening the season with strong production on the basepaths.
The 25-year-old went 0-for-2 with two walks and stole his ninth base of the season in Sunday’s 5–3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. That performance briefly showed his potential, but his season numbers told a different story.
Scott finished his stint in St. Louis with a .194 batting average, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and a .534 OPS, which placed him near the bottom of qualified hitters. He ranked 189th among 191 players in OPS with at least 180 plate appearances.
Scott opened the year in good form as he stole two bases on opening day and showed early aggressiveness on the bases after finishing 2025 with 34 steals in 38 attempts. He set a goal of 70 steals for 2026, but through 60 games, he stole only eight bases.
In 2025, Scott posted 17 outs above average in center field. In 2026, that number dropped to 3, showing a clear dip in impact in the outfield. Scott showed a brief late push at the plate before his demotion. Over his final few games, he went 4-for-13 with two walks, a double and a stolen base.
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However, the Cardinals already planned roster adjustments due to returning outfield depth. Lars Nootbaar returned Friday, and Nathan Church is close to activation from the injured list. That leaves the Cardinals with a roster crunch in the outfield.
The Cardinals chose Scott as the odd man out and kept Bryan Torres for his defensive versatility. The move also gives manager Oli Marmol additional flexibility as St. Louis looks to improve its outfield production.
