JUPITER, Fla. -- After weeks of shagging fly balls to familiarize himself with the outfield, Matt Adams took the experiment into live action on Wednesday during the Cardinals' 6-1 victory over the Nationals.
After coming in as a pinch-hitter, Adams replaced Randal Grichuk in left field to begin the sixth. He played four innings there, but hardly got involved. After fielding a leadoff single, Adams didn't have another ball hit his way. It was his first time playing the outfield in any game since he was a Little Leaguer.
"It's just going to take time getting used to seeing the ball coming that way," Adams said. "I'm up for the challenge."
The Cardinals are likely to get Adams back in left field again before Grapefruit League play ends. If he can show the club that he is able to handle the position capably, it could open up more playing opportunities. As it is now, he's stuck behind Matt Carpenter on the first-base depth chart.
"He made some really nice catches today [in batting practice], just working on those first steps and jumps," manager Mike Matheny said. "He's doing fine. He's feeling comfortable out there."
Roster trimming
Sam Tuivailala is no longer in the mix for an Opening Day bullpen spot after the Cardinals optioned the right-handed reliever to Triple-A Memphis following Wednesday's win. The move leaves the Cardinals with 42 players remaining in big league camp.
Tuivailala, who has made 28 appearances for the Cardinals over the last three seasons, posted a 5.40 ERA over 6 2/3 spring innings. He struck out 12.
Zeid finds new home
Right-hander Josh Zeid parlayed a strong showing in the World Baseball Classic into a Minor League deal with the Cardinals. Zeid signed with St. Louis this week, underwent a physical on Tuesday and joined Minor League camp on Wednesday.
Pitching for Team Israel, Zeid allowed five hits over 10 scoreless innings. He struck out 10 and walked six.
Zeid, a 10th-round pick by the Phillies in 2009, hasn't pitched in the Majors since 2014, when he made 23 relief appearances for the Astros. He has a career 5.21 ERA over 48 1/3 big league innings.
New ticket option
The Cardinals are introducing a new ticket subscription service called the Ballpark Pass, in which fans can attend as many home games as they want for a monthly fee of $29.99. The pass covers all Cardinals home games except Opening Day. Fans will receive a standing-room ticket delivered digitally to their phone through MLB.com's Ballpark mobile app.
With this ticket, fans are eligible to receive promotional giveaway items at the gate and can view the game from a variety of areas within the ballpark. For more information about the subscription service, visit cardinals.com/pass.
Odds and ends
The Cardinals do not intend to make any changes to their current rotation order for the rest of spring, which means that Lance Lynn will start the club's March 30 exhibition game in Memphis and Mike Leake will start a day later in Springfield, Mo.