Wong may end up in platoon at second base

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals spent the winter reaffirming their commitment to Kolten Wong, whose skill set lined up with the team's stated goals of increasing athleticism and improving the defense.
But as spring winds down, Wong is still trying to heat up. And manager Mike Matheny did not rule out the possibility that the season opens with Wong as part of a second-base platoon.
"I think that's something we are going to have to consider," Matheny said. "We can't expect these guys to play sharp if they never play. Greg Garcia is going to be a part of this team. [The] guy has had an unbelievable spring. How do we keep him sharp so when we need him he's ready to go? You say the same things about a Matt Adams, about a Jedd Gyorko, and then everybody else is already in spots in those other positions."
Wong's Grapefruit League results have been underwhelming. He entered Saturday with a .190/.277/.262 slash line and 11 total bases in 15 games and then went 0-for-2 off the bench in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Marlins. Spring Training numbers oftentimes mean little once April arrives, but his struggles, coupled with strong spring results by other infielders, might cost Wong playing time.
Gyorko could serve as a right-handed complement to Wong. And then there's Garcia, who ranks second on the team with 15 hits this spring. Though Garcia, like Wong, hits from the left side, the Cardinals do want to be intentional about finding opportunities to get him in the lineup in hopes that he can sustain some of his momentum from spring.

"Kolten, I do think, gives you the most sure hands defensively and range," general manager John Mozeliak said. "But you also have to balance that with how things are going offensively. There are a few other players in this camp who have swung the bat very well, notably Gyorko and Greg Garcia."
This isn't to say that the Cardinals have given up on Wong. He's still expected to get plenty of starts at second early in the season. But in order to ensure that exposure continues throughout the year, Wong is also going to have to make the most of each appearance.
"Sometimes, with Kolten you sometimes feel he takes his at-bats with him out there to the field. Then you have the problem," Mozeliak said. "In essence, what we are hoping to see is that he gets off to a good start and he can keep pushing forward. If he takes hold of that job, then it's his. I do feel like what you've seen from other players in this camp gives you reason for confidence that there are other alternatives."