Nolan Gorman has long been a tantalizing project for the St. Louis Cardinals—a player with undeniable raw power that can turn a game around in a single swing. When he connects, it's the kind of majestic blast that would look good on a statue. But as the calendar turns to mid-May, the question remains: how much longer can the Cardinals afford to wait for that breakout?

Right now, Gorman is producing in a very "Nolan Gorman way"—which is to say, it's a mixed bag. His wRC+ sits at 89, meaning he's been 11% below league average offensively. That's not what you hope for from a player with his pedigree. However, there's a silver lining that might surprise even the most skeptical fans: his defense has taken a noticeable leap forward. At third base, he's showing flashes of instinct and range that almost evoke memories of a certain Gold Glove legend. Currently ranking in the 84th percentile in defensive value among all big leaguers, Gorman is proving he can contribute even when the bat isn't firing on all cylinders.

But here's the rub: can the Cardinals really build around a below-average offensive third baseman if they're serious about contending for championships? Gorman has accumulated 0.4 fWAR so far this season, which projects to a passable 1.6 over a full year. That's playable, but it's also disappointing given the expectations. Meanwhile, the team's offensive future seems to be taking shape around younger building blocks like Walker, Herrera, Wetherholt, and Burleson, with Winn solidifying the middle infield with his glove.

The core issue remains the same as it's always been for Gorman: he's striking out too much, and the power isn't compensating for the whiffs. His swing-and-miss tendencies are well-documented, but without the game-changing home runs to offset them, his value plateaus. For a player once viewed as a cornerstone, the Cardinals are facing a tough decision. Do they continue to invest in his development, hoping the power surge finally arrives? Or do they pivot toward a lineup built on more consistent contributors?

For now, Gorman is holding his own—but "holding his own" isn't what anyone envisioned when they dreamed of his potential. The clock is ticking, and the Cardinals' patience may soon have a limit.