Tyler O’Neill is one of 17 players on the St. Louis Cardinals roster who are competing in the World Baseball Classic this spring.
On Sunday, O’Neill had a big day for Team Canada against Great Britain, going 4-for-4 with a double, four RBI, four runs scored, and two walks.
He is one of many stars that the Cardinals are hoping enjoys a bounce-back campaign in 2023.
His 2022 season was plagued by three trips to the injured list as he struggled to find the same consistency that he had in 2021.
On Twitter, Cardinals analyst Joshua Jacobs responded to a tweet featuring a video of O’Neill, and predicted that a bounce-back season was in the cards.
Bro’Neill comeback szn #STLCards https://t.co/0FwFK1Zmiv
— Joshua Jacobs (@joshjacoMLB) March 13, 2023
O’Neill hit 34 home runs in 2021 and even found himself in the conversation for the NL MVP Award.
He took several steps back in 2022 thanks to injuries and missed significant time.
However, the Cardinals have banked heavily on him returning to his 2021 form, and they have to like what they saw on Sunday from their slugger.
He helped carry Team Canada to an 18-8 win over Great Britain, giving them some momentum ahead of their matchup with Team USA.
A healthy O’Neill would be a major boost for the Cardinals.
With Albert Pujols gone, St. Louis will need him to show his 2021 form and become a force in their lineup again.
His bat appears to be hot again and he looks poised to prove that 2022 was a fluke and that 2021 was a better indication of the kind of player he truly is.
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Adam Wainwright Comments On Pitching In The WBC