Nolan Gorman was the Cardinals’ top pick in the 2018 Draft, and the slugging infielder entered the 2022 season as MLB Pipeline’s No. 29 prospect. On Thursday, the Cardinals announced they had called Gorman up to the Majors after Tyler O'Neill went on the injured list -- Gorman is expected to be in the lineup to make his MLB debut Friday against the Pirates at PNC Park. But who is Nolan Gorman? Here’s what you need to know:

FAST FACTS
MLB organization: Cardinals
Birthdate: May 10, 2000 (Age 22 in 2022)
Primary position: 2B/3B
Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 210 lbs.
Bats/throws: Left/right
Hometown: Phoenix
School(s): Sandra Day O’Connor (Ariz.) HS
Drafted: 19th overall, 2018 (by STL)

He absolutely crushed the baseball at Triple-A in 2022

Gorman smashed 15 home runs in 34 games for Triple-A Memphis before getting the call to the Majors. He also hit .308/.367/.677. In 341 career Minor League games, he hit .273/.343/.502 with 72 home runs.

He’s sought some Gold Glove-caliber advice

Gorman was drafted as a third baseman and played that position exclusively in the Minors in 2018 and ‘19. But then, before the ‘21 season, the Cardinals traded for another Nolan (Arenado), who also has been known to play the hot corner a bit. So with third base at Busch Stadium potentially filled for the next several years, Gorman took it upon himself to learn second base, even going so far as to connect with Dustin Pedroia, who was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner at that spot with the Red Sox. Gorman was exclusively at second base in the 27 games he played in the field for Memphis in 2022.

His pro power showed up right away

Gorman’s power was a big part of what made him a first-round pick in 2018, but there’s always doubt about whether a prospect will be able to translate that to games when faced with professional pitching. For Gorman, the answer was emphatic. Soon after the Draft -- and about six weeks after his 18th birthday -- he headed to the Rookie-level Appalachian League and homered in his first pro game. Despite being one of the youngest players in that league, and playing in only 38 of his team’s 68 games, Gorman tied for fourth with 11 home runs. Gorman also hit six more big flies for Low-A Peoria, finishing the season with 17 in 63 total games.

His childhood friend is a fellow Cardinals top prospect

When the Cardinals made a trade with the Rays in January 2020, few were more excited than Gorman. The deal, which sent Randy Arozarena to Tampa Bay, also brought pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore to St. Louis. Gorman wasn’t just excited because Liberatore, the 16th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, is a talented left-hander. The two also grew up together in the Phoenix area, becoming close friends and playing both with and against each other at different levels. Now they’re together again, and both were called up to the Majors at the same time.

His hand-eye coordination is … eye-popping

Maybe that goes without saying for someone who can hit a baseball like Gorman can. But, well, just look at this neat little trick he pulled off, with an assist from his buddy Liberatore.

He made some Draft history

When the Cardinals selected Gorman 19th overall in 2018 out of Phoenix’s Sandra Day O’Connor High School, he became the first player born in the 2000s to be selected in an MLB Draft. Gorman, who was born on May 10, 2000, narrowly beat out Triston Casas, who went 26th overall to Boston.

He was part of a star-studded gold medal-winning team

In 2017, Gorman played for the U.S. 18-and-under national team when it made an undefeated championship run through the World Baseball Softball Federation U-18 Baseball World Cup. Gorman went 2-for-3 with an RBI in an 8-0 gold-medal game win over Korea. His teammates included his buddy Liberatore, as well as Casas, the Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic, the Padres’ Ryan Weathers and Kumar Rocker, the No. 31 Draft prospect for 2022.

He’s a Home Run Derby veteran

If Gorman ever gets a shot at the Home Run Derby, he’ll be prepared. In the summer of 2017, he first won the High School Home Run Derby, held alongside the big league Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game at Marlins Park. A couple of weeks later, he won the Under Armour High School All-American Game B45 HR Derby, held at Wrigley Field. Gorman couldn’t quite make it 3-for-3, getting knocked out in the Derby at the Perfect Game All-American Classic at San Diego’s Petco Park the following month. But he made up for it by crushing a homer, driving in four and taking MVP honors in the actual game.