Dylan Carlson Transitions from St. Louis Cardinals to Tampa Bay Rays
A Journey of Growth and Change
ST. LOUIS — Yes, it’s going to be bizarre. And a bit ironic, too. While Missouri-raised Rays Pete Fairbanks and Kameron Misner are excited to dwell out childhood goals of enjoying in St. Louis for the primary time, outfielder Dylan Carlson, acquired final week from the Cardinals, sees the three-game collection that begins Tuesday as a marker of the place he was and a measure of the thrill for the place he’s now.
“It’ll in all probability be a bit unusual being on the opposite aspect and all that,” Carlson stated, “however positively wanting ahead to it.”
A Rise to Prominence
Busch Stadium was supposed to be the scene of Carlson’s prime. He was a first-round decide in 2016, earned high prospect standing by 2019, debuted as a 21-year-old in 2020 and completed third within the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year voting (after hitting .266 with 18 homers with 65 RBIs and a .780 OPS). He impressed sufficient that the Cardinals traded a number of different outfielders through the years, together with one named Randy Arozarena to the Rays.
But then a collection of accidents (together with one this spring) and stretches of inconsistency modified Carlson’s trajectory, and by the center of this season the 25-year-old switch-hitter was on the outs.
The Trade and New Beginnings
After the Cardinals made a deadline deal to reacquire outfielder Tommy Pham (who they’d traded to Tampa Bay in July 2018), Carlson was on the transfer, headed to the Rays in change for reliever Shawn Armstrong. Both groups, and particularly Carlson, cited the potential payoff in a change of surroundings.
“That’s positively one thing I’d like,” Carlson stated. “I do assume simply being uncovered to other ways of pondering and completely different types of play and sort of perhaps some, I don’t know what the time period can be, however some extra freedom right here, I assume. It looks like this group actually will get alongside. There’s a whole lot of cohesiveness. And it’s encouraging.”
Embracing New Opportunities
Carlson has stated repeatedly he’s excited by his new alternative, and never simply due to his preliminary outcomes, which embody a homer and a double in his first three video games. Part of it’s the detailed knowledge and knowledge the Rays present and the way they ship it, usually framed in a constructive method, focusing first on what a participant does nicely, then working to what modifications may assist.
“When issues aren’t going nice, you don’t hear these issues that you just do nicely as typically as perhaps it is best to,” Carlson stated. “Coming right here, among the conversations have been actually encouraging and could also be that increase, or jolt, that hopefully helps push us in the precise path.”
Another issue is the Rays’ observe document of taking gamers who struggled elsewhere and turning them into, or again into, productive and at occasions affect gamers.
“That made all of it that rather more encouraging when a workforce just like the Rays who’re recognized for doing (that) … " Carlson stated. “It sort of offers you that confidence, or that form of increase perhaps to actually purchase in and discover a manner to assist contribute right here.”
The Transition and Gratitude
In discussing what he known as a “bittersweet” commerce, Cardinals baseball operations chief John Mozeliak advised St. Louis media, “in all honesty, it simply wasn’t working right here.” Carlson, who signed with the Cardinals as a 17-year-old, stated he prefers to look again at his time there as a studying expertise.
“There had been good occasions, and occasions that weren’t pretty much as good,” he stated. “So, it was simply a possibility to study and proceed to evolve and develop as a participant. It doesn’t all the time work out the way you need or anticipate, so to be given one other alternative (in Tampa Bay) is one thing I’m actual grateful for.
“Overall, I imply, 25 years outdated, I really feel like I’ve received a whole lot of baseball forward of me. And I really feel like I’m in a extremely great spot right here with this group. I simply assume it’s a superb match.”
The Rays’ Dylan Carlson scores on a double by Brandon Lowe throughout Sunday’s recreation towards the Astros in Houston.
Image Source: [KEVIN M. COX | AP]
Conclusion
Dylan Carlson’s transition from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays signifies a interval of progress, change, and new alternative for the proficient outfielder. While his time in St. Louis had its highs and lows, Carlson’s transfer to Tampa Bay presents a recent begin and an opportunity to showcase his abilities in a brand new setting. With the help of the Rays’ group and their confirmed observe document of participant growth, Carlson is poised to make a major affect and contribute to his new workforce’s success.
FAQs
1. Why did Dylan Carlson transition from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tampa Bay Rays?
After dealing with challenges and an absence of consistency in St. Louis, Carlson embraced the chance for a recent begin with the Rays, who supplied a supportive setting and a confirmed observe document of growing gamers.
2. What are Carlson’s preliminary impressions of his new workforce, the Tampa Bay Rays?
Carlson is worked up concerning the detailed knowledge and knowledge offered by the Rays, in addition to their constructive method to highlighting gamers’ strengths and dealing on areas for enchancment. He additionally values the workforce’s cohesion and optimism.
3. How does Carlson replicate on his time with the St. Louis Cardinals?
Despite experiencing each successes and setbacks with the Cardinals, Carlson views his time in St. Louis as a invaluable studying expertise that has ready him for the subsequent chapter of his profession with the Tampa Bay Rays.
