Jon Jay is eyeing a regular season return. (Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports)
Back in the St. Louis Cardinals’ plans after a bounce-back 2014 which saw him reclaim the center field job, Jon Jay is now being treated with the caution a starter gets after an offseason surgical procedure.
Jay, who underwent surgery on his wrist, didn’t start the exhibition opener Thursday against Miami in Jupiter, Fla., but the Cardinals could care less about that. Their concern is making sure Jay is out there for Opening Night on April 5 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
“He’s getting stronger and everything is measuring out well,” manager Mike Matheny told Cardinals.com. “He’s taking gradual steps. Everything we’ve heard is positive.”
Jay, who will turn 30 on March 15, batted .303 with three homers and 46 RBIs last year, gaining 27 points on his batting average and leading the majors with 20 hit-by-pitches. Jay also enjoyed the best postseason of his career, batting .467 in 30 at-bats while reaching base at a .571 clip.
That production won Jay a two-year contract from the team for nearly $11 million, which is now protecting an investment many thought it wouldn’t make at this time last March.
“We’re working to where I get 100 percent comfortable and then go from there,” Jay said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Once I feel good about my swing in the (batting) cage, I can take it anywhere.”
Jay said he needs 40 at-bats to get ready for the season, and that he can squeeze those into the last two weeks of spring training if needed.
Meanwhile, right-hander Carlos Martinez made a positive first impression Thursday in a start against Miami, striking out three in two perfect innings. Martinez threw 21 of his 28 pitches for strikes, displaying the command which has eluded him at times during the last two years. The club wants him to be the No. 5 starter.
