Cardinals activate outfielder Lars Nootbaar from 10-day IL; option Jose Fermin

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A key Cardinals bat is coming back into the lineup as the Cardinals officially activated outfielder Lars Nootbaar off the 10-day IL Monday right before the series finale against the Washington Nationals.

To make room for Nootbaar, the Cardinals optioned infielder Jose Fermin down to Triple-A Memphis.

Nootbaar was placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain following the Cardinals series victory against the Cincinnati Red in May.

The oblique strain was the latest injury blow to Nootbaar, who already had to begin the 2024 season on the injured list after suffering a rib contusion injury during Spring Training. Nootbaar missed the first 13 games of the regular season.

Before his injury Nootbaar was starting to become a key bat in the Cardinals lineup, hitting a quality .275/.375/.475 slash line with four home runs and 12 RBIs in the month of May before his injury. Nootbaar's 146 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) and .875 OPS was second-best on the Cardinals in the month, with only Nolan Gorman being better.

Nootbaar went on rehab in Double-A Springfield, where he posted a .940 OPS in the eight games he appeared for the Cardinals and mashed two home runs.

Nootbaar's return is the first of many expected returns to the Cardinals lineup this month that has been rather inconsistent this 2024 campaign. Catcher Ivan Herrera is expected to return right before the All-Star Break, while Tommy Edman will return after the All-Star Break, likely more closer to the end of July or early August.