JUPITER, Fla. – If all goes well, Marcell Ozuna could be back in left field for the Cardinals as early as Monday.

The two-time NL All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award winner took normal fielding practice with the team on Saturday and threw to bases before the Cardinals took on the Astros. All appeared to go well in terms of accuracy and velocity. Ozuna cut loose on several throws to the plate, showing no ill effects.

The hope is that the shoulder responds well and still feels good Sunday. If so, Ozuna would be in the Cardinals' lineup within days.

“Based on how he recovers tomorrow [the plan is for him to] play in the game on Monday,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said.

Up to this point, Ozuna has seen playing time only as a designated hitter. He’s been on a throwing program since the start of camp after undergoing right shoulder surgery in late October.

Ozuna broke a 0-for-14 slump Saturday with a single through the left side of the infield to lead off the second inning. In the same inning he scored the game’s first run, sliding home head first ahead of the tag on Harrison Bader’s single.

For the game, Ozuna went 1-for-3 in the game as the Cardinals lost to the Astros, 9-3.

Edman’s big innings

Likely to start the season in the minor leagues, Cardinals non-roster invitee second baseman Tommy Edman flashed the skills both offensively and defensively over the course of the second inning that suggest a bright future.

In the field, Edman made the defensive play of the game. Already shaded behind second base for Astros third baseman Tyler White, Edman moved quickly to his right on a hard hit grounder. Backhanding the ball from his knees close to where the shortstop is normally stationed, Edman snagged the liner, got to his feet and made a strong throw to retire White.

In the bottom half of the inning, Edman exhibited his strength, flicking his wrists and sending a Colin McHugh pitch over the right field fence for a two-run homer.

He displayed his baseball sense in the fifth inning. Drifting into shallow center field to catch a blooper, Edman spun and threw to second base to double off Houston first baseman A.J. Reed and take reliever Alex Reyes, who walked the first two batters of the inning, off the hook.

As he did in the second inning, Edman came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and delivered a hit - sharp grounder through the infield for a single. Edman finished the day 2-for-3.

The 23-year-old sixth-round pick of the Cardinals in the 2016 MLB Draft hit .301 last season splitting time with Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis.

Cecil bullpen goes well

Brett Cecil is closer to returning to the mound after a successful bullpen on Friday. The veteran left-hander hasn’t pitched since Wednesday, as he paused his spring program to work on mechanics.

“It went well,” Shildt said of Friday’s workout. “He’s slated to get into competition in the next day or two. He’s in a great spot across the board. We look forward to getting him out there.”

Cecil went back to the drawing board after his Feb. 27 spring debut didn’t go as he had hoped. It wasn’t an injury situation, but rather an uncomfortable feeling during his outing. Identifying the mechanical problems, Cecil set out to correct the situation and now appears ready to get back out on the mound.

Gregerson plays catch off mound

Luke Gregerson is likely to start the 2019 season on the injured list. Signed by the Cardinals to be their closer, Gregerson has dealt with shoulder issues, limiting the righty to only 12 2/3 innings last season, none of which resulted in a save.

He played catch off the mound on Friday, but a bullpen session is still some time ahead of him.

“We’ll see how he plays catch today, how we recovers,” Shildt said.

So what’s next for the veteran who saved 31 games for the Astros in 2015?

“More of the same, rest and more catch off the mound,” Shildt said. “Then based on how that goes, we’ll set up a live batting practice.”

Up next

The Cardinals travel to Port St. Lucie on Sunday to take on the Mets in a 12:10 p.m. CT start. Left-hander Austin Gomber will make his third spring start. So far this spring, Gomber has thrown 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two and walking one. He will be opposed by left-hander Steven Matz.