The Cardinals Way: Maysn Winn

The Cardinals Way: Maysn Winn

Maysn Winn earned his first Gold Glove in 2025, and that wasn’t handed to him. It was earned inning by inning, play by play. Few shortstops in the game defend at his level. His range, arm strength, and instincts have already established him as one of the elite defenders at the position.

With the arrival of top prospect J.J. Wetherholt in camp — expected to open the season at second base — there is no real threat to Winn’s job at shortstop. The glove secures that.

The question isn’t defense.

It’s the bat.

Winn finished 2025 hitting .253 with nine home runs, 53 RBI and nine stolen bases in 491 at-bats. For a defense-first shortstop, those numbers are workable on the surface.

But a deeper look tells a more complicated story.

His .310 on-base percentage sits below the league average of roughly .320. An everyday shortstop doesn’t have to carry the offense, but consistent on-base production matters — particularly in a lineup still searching for rhythm.

His .363 slugging percentage is more concerning, nearly 60 points below the league average of around .420. That lack of extra-base impact limits his offensive value and keeps pressure on the hitters around him.

The result was a .673 OPS in 2025, below the .700 mark that typically represents league-average production. It’s not catastrophic — but it’s not where you want a full-time player to settle.

Winn enters 2026 at 24 years old. That’s an age where growth should still be expected. But growth requires adjustment.

At times, Winn appeared pull-conscious at the plate, producing routine fly balls instead of line drives. If he can stay through the baseball, use the middle of the field, and refine his approach, there is room for offensive improvement.

This is where The Cardinal Way matters. The St. Louis Cardinals have long believed in development over reaction. They do not discard players at the first sign of struggle. They refine them. Winn has already proven he can defend at a championship level. The next step is plate discipline, situational awareness, and incremental growth.

The Cardinals do not need him to become a middle-of-the-order slugger.

They need him to become a complete shortstop.

The glove is already there.

The bat is the next test.

Photo Credit - The Sporting News