After a challenging offseason that required double heel surgeries, Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is nearing a major milestone in his recovery—returning to Minor League game action. The high-energy, fan-favorite slugger is approximately 10 days away from stepping back onto the field, with the Cardinals organization targeting a return to the big leagues by the end of May.

Nootbaar underwent surgery in October to remove Haglund's deformities from both heels—a painful bony bump that severely limited his mobility and plagued him throughout the 2025 season. His recovery journey has been nothing short of remarkable, progressing from a wheelchair, to crutches, and finally to walking boots before Spring Training even began.

Knowing Nootbaar's excitable personality and growing anxiety about missing the start of the 2026 season, the Cardinals took an unconventional approach. They recently brought him up from Florida to St. Louis so he could rehab alongside his MLB teammates for a few days, giving his spirits a much-needed boost.

"We brought him up here for a little bit just to keep him sane," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol explained. "Him being with us for a little bit kind of toned that anxiety down a little bit and maybe we got ahead of it."

After passing all his running tests and spending weeks rehabbing at the club's Spring Training headquarters in Jupiter, Florida, Nootbaar has been cleared to begin game action. He's scheduled to start appearing in Minor League games on May 12, with the team planning to take a cautious, methodical approach to his return.

"He'll have some game activity the week of the 10th, and we'll kind of create a Spring Training for him, basically," Marmol said. The plan is to ease Nootbaar back slowly, starting as a designated hitter before gradually building up his innings in the field and eventually playing in consecutive games.

For Cardinals fans eagerly awaiting the return of their sweet-swinging lefty, this news provides a clear timeline and reason for optimism. Nootbaar's energy and bat have been sorely missed, but the organization is ensuring that when he does return, he'll be fully ready to make an impact for the stretch run.