Player Outlook
Just a few short years ago, Dylan Carlson was regarded as a promising, up-and-coming big leaguer, but his shine has taken a considerable hit on account of his .230/.316/.364 batting line over the past two seasons (743 plate appearances). He injured his left ankle in mid-May of last year and battled the ankle throughout the campaign before ultimately undergoing surgery in September. The outfielder was cleared for running and baseball activities in December, but he will still be brought along slowly in spring training. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol once considered Carlson his leadoff hitter of the future, and his optimism was justified after a 2021 season in which Carlson had 53 extra-base hits and a .343 OBP at the age of 22. Now 25, Carlson figures to bounce back with better luck on the health front, though he is not assured a regular role out of camp and may in fact open the year as the Cardinals' fourth outfielder.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
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Fantasy Points per Game
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Runs
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Home Runs
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Runs Batted In
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Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 141.51.9 27 5 27 26 3 .219
2022 2752.1 56 8 42 45 5 .236
3y Avg. 2632.2 54 10 45 43 3 .246
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Fantasy News

  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Could be Opening Day center fielder

    Carlson would be in line to start in center field for the Cardinals on Opening Day if Tommy Edman (wrist) isn't ready, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. It's looking increasingly likely that Edman will need a stint on the injured list, and the Cards prefer to keep Lars Nootbaar in left field rather than shifting him over to center. Carlson would be atop the center field depth chart in that scenario, at least initially. The 25-year-old is coming back from surgery himself, having had his ankle operated on in September. He's been full-go since the start of the Grapefruit League schedule, though. Carlson is expected to be the team's fourth outfielder once everyone is healthy.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Starts in center field

    Carlson (ankle) started in center field in Saturday's split-squad Grapefruit League game versus the Marlins, hitting leadoff and going 0-for-2. It's an encouraging sign that Carlson is ready to go at full speed for the start of the spring slate after he underwent ankle surgery in September. The 25-year-old outfielder doesn't have a projected starting role yet, but he should get plenty of time in center early in the spring due to Tommy Edman (wrist) not yet being cleared to play the field. A switch hitter, Carlson should be able to carve out a sizable role this season even if he begins as a fourth outfielder.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Running bases Wednesday

    Carlson (ankle) will run the bases Wednesday in addition to taking live batting practice and shagging flyballs, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol noted that running the bases is the final box Carlson needs to check before being fully cleared following last September's left ankle surgery. It's not clear when Carlson might play in his first Grapefruit League contest, but he would appear to be only slightly behind a normal spring training routine.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Running will be limited

    Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Carlson's running will be limited initially this spring following September left ankle surgery, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carlson was cleared back in December to do some running, but the Cardinals are seemingly planning on a slow ramp-up process for the outfielder in spring training. The 25-year-old shouldn't have trouble being ready to go for Opening Day in late March, though. He projects to begin the season as St. Louis' fourth outfielder.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Settles with Cards at $2.35 million

    The Cardinals and Carlson (ankle) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carlson was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 25-year-old had a second straight injury-shortened, disappointing season in 2023 which ended with ankle surgery. Carlson should be at or close to 100 percent for spring training and is slated to operate as a fourth outfielder in St. Louis.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Cleared for running, activities

    Carlson (ankle) has been cleared for running and baseball activities, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carlson underwent left ankle surgery in September and is currently rehabbing in the Phoenix area. In addition to ramping up his baseball activities, the switch-hitter is also working on his swing with a coach from Driveline. Carlson is currently projected as the Cardinals' fourth outfielder but has been mentioned as a possible trade chip.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Pushed to 60-day IL

    Carlson (ankle) was transferred Friday from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. This is just a procedural move, as Carlson had already been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair his troublesome left ankle. The 24-year-old outfielder is expected to be ready for the start of spring training next February.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Undergoes ankle surgery

    Carlson underwent successful surgery Wednesday on his left ankle, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. The surgeons cleaned out bone spurs from Carlson's troublesome ankle and also performed an arthroscopic repair. The 24-year-old outfielder is expected to be fully recovered by the beginning of spring training in 2024.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Headed for ankle surgery

    Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Wednesday that Carlson will undergo season-ending surgery on his left ankle, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carlson has been bothered by left ankle discomfort since mid-May and will go ahead and address the issue here in mid-September with the goal of being 100 percent healthy for the beginning of spring training next February. The 24-year-old outfielder posted a rough .219/.318/.333 batting line with five homers, 27 RBI, three steals and 27 runs in 76 games (255 plate appearances) this season for St. Louis.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Taking light batting practice

    Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Carlson (oblique/ankle) is taking light batting practice and doing defensive work, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carlson has been sidelined since mid-August due to both a left oblique strain and a lingering left ankle injury, but he seems to have a good shot at returning to the active roster in the closing weeks of the regular season. He's posted a disappointing .219/.318/.333 batting line with five homers and three steals across 76 games this year for St. Louis.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Ramping up activities

    Carlson has upped his activity level recently after receiving a cortisone injection in his injured left ankle last week, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Carlson is also coming back from an oblique strain, but a sprained ankle which he originally suffered back in May is the bigger concern at this point. Surgery on the ankle has not been ruled out, but the outfielder is still holding out hope for a late-season return. "We've been ramping up activity a little bit as far as just being able to do some basic movements, general activity, some squatting, different things like that, put some more strain on the body and see how it reacts," Carlson said.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Hopes to return this season

    Carlson (ankle/oblique) said Tuesday that he's hoping to play again this season, John Denton of MLB.com reports. Carlson is working back from both a Grade 2 left oblique strain and a lingering left ankle injury, the latter of which could eventually require surgery. He'll receive an injection for the ankle this week and is aiming to pick up the intensity of his side work over the next 10 days. If he does return to the Cardinals' active roster before the end of the year, it probably won't be until at least mid-September.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Could require ankle surgery

    Carlson, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Aug. 12 with a left oblique strain, could undergo surgery on his left ankle, John Denton of MLB.com reports. The ankle has bothered Carlson since mid-May and remains an issue, and he's set to receive an opinion from a different specialist than he had visited with previously. If the specialist determines that Carlson needs surgery to address the ankle injury, it would almost certainly spell an end to his 2023 season.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Has renewed ankle soreness

    Carlson (oblique) is experiencing renewed soreness in the ankle he sprained in May and there is no timetable for his return from the injured list, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Carlson was placed on the 10-day IL this past Saturday because of an oblique strain, but his left ankle might be even more of a concern given that he sprained it three months ago and is not fully recovered as of mid-August. He can probably be ruled out until at least early September as he rehabs both injuries.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Out multiple weeks

    Carlson is expected to be out for "at least a couple of weeks" with a strained left oblique, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Carlson said he felt something after taking a swing during Wednesday's win over the Rays, and he has been out of action since then as a result. It appears Carlson will require longer than a minimum stint on the injured list, but a return in September is still possible.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Added to lineup Wednesday

    Carlson was added to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. Carlson had been set to ride the pine versus the Rays and left-hander Jalen Beeks, but he will now start in center field and bat eighth after Tyler O'Neill (knee) was again scratched. Alec Burleson is in left field, Jordan Walker is in right and Lars Nootbaar will serve as the Cardinals' designated hitter.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Heads back to bench

    Carlson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. Carlson stayed put at the trade deadline and ended up starting in center field in Tuesday's 3-2 loss, but because the Cardinals didn't deal away any of their other outfielders, his outlook for playing time over the rest of the season hasn't dramatically changed. Brendan Donovan's (elbow) season-ending injury might indirectly help Carlson, though the opening that St. Louis now has in its lineup could end up being filled by Alec Burleson, who is serving as the Cardinals' designated hitter Wednesday. Carlson should at least continue to play regularly against left-handed pitching.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: In lineup Tuesday

    Carlson is starting in center field and batting ninth Tuesday versus the Twins. Carlson has been drawing trade interest, most notably from the Yankees, but it looks like he will remain with the Cardinals through Tuesday's 6 p.m. ET deadline. The 24-year-old former top prospect has posted a disappointing .230/.328/.345 batting line with five homers and three steals through 69 games this season.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Accounts for offense Sunday

    Carlson went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Cubs. Carlson has been in the lineup twice in four games since Tyler O'Neill returned from a back injury, so it appears he could still carve out decent playing time despite being in a fourth outfielder role. Carlson snapped an 0-for-8 skid at the plate with his two-hit game, and his pair of RBI accounted for all of the Cardinals' runs. He's at a .238/.343/.362 slash line with five home runs, 23 RBI, 25 runs scored and three stolen bases over 216 plate appearances. If Lars Nootbaar (heel) misses any time after exiting Sunday's game, Carlson would be the logical replacement in center field.
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  • Cardinals' Dylan Carlson: Heads to bench

    Carlson is not in the starting lineup Thursday versus the Cubs. As anticipated, Carlson has been pushed into a fourth-outfielder role with Tyler O'Neill (back) returning from the 60-day injured list. O'Neill is in left field Thursday and hitting seventh as the Cardinals open a four-game set at Wrigley Field.
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