Think again, Nolan Arenado has very high standards and despite a more than respectable season in 2021, he is not satisfied.
The star third baseman was in his first campaign with the Cardinals last year and he’s hungry for a better season in 2022.
Very happy to be back in charge after 99 days of uncertainty and frustration due to the dragging labor dispute, Arenado went into overdrive this winter in order to surpass impressive statistics.
The man who spent the first eight years of his career in Colorado batted for .255, collecting 34 home runs and 105 RBIs in his Missouri debut. His 81 runs scored and 151 hits are below his average, however, suggesting that Cards fans and management can still expect a better performance from No. 28.
Nolan Arenado feels this season will be different. He feels comfortable & he feels adjusted. But above all, he feels he needs to be better.
“What I did last year just wasn’t good enough. I expect to be a better baseball player.”@TheAthletic exclusive: https://t.co/yTX5p4fXfY
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) March 11, 2022
Arenado will be in a second training camp at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. He admits that the transition he had to make last spring was not necessarily easy for him.
Like all professional athletes, baseball players are usually buggers and Arenado is no exception. Having to tame a new environment, discover new faces and instantly become the player on whom much of the club’s success is based, this gives a good idea of the challenges he will no longer have to overcome this season.
He says he is in great shape mentally and physically to undertake another long season strewn with pitfalls. He also mentions working to improve all facets of his game, both defensively and offensively.
It’s hard to believe that the Majors’ best defensive third baseman is critical of his game knowing that he is the reference in this chapter.
The Newport Beach, Calif. native won’t say, but his .255 batting average (career-worst aside from .253 in the shortened 2020 season) is the biggest factor pushing him to get high in 2022. His pride has certainly taken a hit and opposing pitchers just have to watch out for the next campaign.
One thing to remember about Nolan Arenado’s off-season: certainly he worked hard, but above all he worked intelligently.
Looking forward to seeing the results!
