STL Cardinals injury news: The latest on Lars Nootbaar’s thumb injury

DENVER — Another day, another step closer for Lars Nootbaar to rejoining the St. Louis Cardinals lineup.

With the Cardinals kicking off a three-game series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Nootbaar made more strides toward a return to the lineup after suffering a left thumb contusion on Opening Day against the Toronto Blue Jays. On Monday, Nootbaar recorded 40 to 50 swings, some work off the tee, as well as some other batting drills, all things that the 25-year-old outfielder called a “positive” development.

“I’m pretty happy with how it went today,” Nootbaar told reporters inside the visitor’s clubhouse at Coors Field. “I just talked to some of the trainers, and we’re marking it down as a positive day, so we’re happy with that.”

St. Louis Cardinals: No timetable for Lars Nootbaar return from injury yet

Nootbaar was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list on Monday, but manager Oliver Marmol said that that would not happen with Nootbaar still going through progression checks with how his thumb handles swinging a bat and other baseball-related activities, including catching a ball, something he still hasn’t done since the injury.

“I don’t know until he gets done swinging because it could be where he feels really good, and that can be very favorable, or he says it feels about the same and now we’re looking at a much different timetable,” Marmol said. “Today will be an important day to evaluate how he feels after he swings.”

Nootbaar called the start to the season, where he has registered just four at-bats, “frustrating,” but he has been traveling with the Cardinals on this road trip through Milwaukee and Denver to receive treatment and still be a part of the team as he recovers.

“I think we have our eyes on a date but I don’t want to say anything and be premature or anything like that,” Nootbaar said about his potential return. “I’m happy with today and how today has gone so far.”