WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Juan Yepez, who at last check is still the most recent Cardinals hitter to sock a home run in a postseason game, is no longer a Cardinal.
You knew this.
The corner infielder and corner outfielder who was unable to and/or not given much of a chance to follow up a notable 2022 rookie season was non-tendered as part of a big roster churn following a 91-loss, last-place finish.
What you may have lost track of, at least before he started socking the Cardinals this spring, is where Juan Yepez is now.
He's on a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, battling for a new chance with a new team just a short drive from his old spring training stomping grounds.
It's common to see ex-Cards pop up at spring training with new teams. It's rare to see one thumping the Cardinals like this.
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The chances of Yepez making the Nationals opening-day roster are minimal. There's not a clear lane for him to pull it off. He's pretty much blocked, like he was for big chunks of time with the Cardinals.
But if he keeps hitting like he has this spring, he will have helped himself in camp. And if he keeps hitting against other teams like he has against the Cardinals this spring, well, somebody will make room for him, whether it's the Nationals or another club.
“I’m not going to lie; I take it personal, the history behind,” Yepez told Mark Zuckerman, who does a great job covering the Nats for . “But it’s still spring training. It’s like any other team. I’m trying to do the best I can.”
Hmm. Doesn't sound like any other team, does it?
Yepez is 10-for-27 with two homers so far in Grapefruit League action.
Six of those 10 hits have come against the Cardinals. Both of his two homers have come against the Cardinals. Seven of his eight RBIs have come against . . . you guessed it . . . the Cardinals.
During Saturday's 8-5 Cardinals win here at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Yepez was at it again, going 3-for-4 with a whopper of a two-run homer against reliever Ryan Fernandez in the eighth inning. His other Grapefruit League longball came last Friday against Zack Thompson.
"I've been here for all of them," Cardinals manager Oli Marmol deadpanned when asked if he knew Yepez's stout numbers against his old team.
Well, actually, Marmol was ejected during one of the games, but you get the point.
"He's swinging it well," Marmol continued. "He's always been able to hit. He played some really good defense today, too."
The Nationals have only used Yepez at first base. He's blocked there by both Joey Gallo and Joey Meneses. Nationals manager Davey Martinez told Zuckerman that Yepez could see some time at third base and left field in coming days.
Time will tell if the list of Cardinals killers, or the list of ones that got away, needs to be updated again. First Yepez has to find a way to stick in the major leagues. He can't hit against the Cardinals every time, as much as he may like.