Victor Scott II, the Cardinals’ 22-year-old speedster, took a moment to reflect on his remarkable journey. After an impressive season in the Minor League, bagging 94 stolen bases and a Gold Glove Award, followed by a stellar performance in the Arizona Fall League, Scott found himself on a beach in Cancun, Mexico, pondering his meteoric rise.
“After the Fall League, I took a trip to Cancun, which was awesome because the water was super blue, I had a great time and ate some good food,” Scott shared at the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up FanFest. “I kind of sat there and reflected, and it was really awesome.”
Now, with Spring Training approaching, Scott stands as the Cardinals’ No. 4 prospect, surging 20 spots on MLB Pipeline’s rankings. His journey from the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft to the cusp of the big leagues has been fueled by his incredible speed, defensive prowess, and surprising power.
Cardinals rookie shortstop Masyn Winn, eager to witness Scott’s skills in action, expressed, “He’s a very interesting cat. He’s different, for sure, but super exciting, and watching that dude run and make plays, the highlights are the best part.”
Even younger teammate Jordan Walker, drawing parallels to Mookie Betts, remarked, “He’s kind of like the Mookie Betts of the St. Louis Cardinals.”
Scott, however, wasted no time basking in the sun of his Cancun reflection. Eager to capitalize on his outstanding 2023 season, he returned to work, focusing on the intricacies of energy transfer through the body’s kinetic chain to enhance his bat speed. Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up FanFest revealed the anticipation within the team, with players like Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, and Walker gearing up to share the outfield with Scott.
Scott, a kinesiology degree holder from West Virginia University, not only wrapped up his studies but also dedicated himself to daily workouts with former Minor Leaguer Michael Butler. His goal? To increase bat speed and “run into some more home runs.”
Despite his tremendous progress, Scott recognizes that the leap from the Minors to the Majors is monumental. Confident in his preparation, he stated, “In college, I liked to think of myself as a sprinter who played baseball. Now, I’m more of a baseball player who can run.”
As Scott heads into Spring Training, his journey, marked by stolen bases and defensive prowess, positions him as one of the most captivating prospects to watch, poised on the brink of making his mark in the big leagues.loui