Nolan Arenado gets standing ovation before first at-bat as a St. Louis Cardinal (Video)

St. Louis Cardinals fans were eager to greet Nolan Arenado to the team on Sunday.

Officially, Arenado has a few at-bats under his belt as a Cardinal. The major winter acquisition is expected to make a major impact for a team that was already favored to win the NL Central. While most teams in the Central either treaded water or got marginally worse, the Cardinals actually went for it this offseason, bringing back familiar faces and taking on Arenado’s contract to seal the deal in a trade with the Rockies.

Arenado has plenty to prove in his first year in St. Louis, mostly that he can overcome the usual challenges that come when a hitter leaves Coors Field. It’s an unfair reputation that long precedes Arenado, but one he’ll have to shake off with an All-Star season at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals fans were thrilled to watch Nolan Arenado in action

Arenado’s first at-bat didn’t go according to plan. With the bases loaded, Arenado struck out, failing to provide a good first impression in spring training.

One strikeout shouldn’t be taken as a sign of things to come, especially for such a gifted hitter like Arenado. Even should he struggle at the dish to start his campaign in St. Louis, he’s still arguably the best defensive third baseman in the game.

As an eight-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Platinum Glove winner, expect Arenado to find a way to contribute to the Cardinals winning ways one way or another.