Jesse Rogersmar 27, 2025, 10:40 PM ET
Closejesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB on ESPN.com.
st. Louis – Nolan Arenado’s eighth explosions did not give the St. Louis Cardinals the lead – they were already in front – that didn’t complete a big day for him at the plate for him.
But there was a lot of extra meaning to it, and the crowd knew it. That’s why they received curtain calls from a 12-year veteran who was on the trade bloc all winter.
“I wasn’t expecting a curtain call,” Arenado said he won the Minnesota twins on the first day after a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. “I’m surprised I actually got it. I don’t think I got it last year.”
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Arenado took twin right-handed Griffin Jacks to the left and left, padded the Cardinals’ lead and gave them two hits, but began to feel the afternoon emotion before the game. Arenado received a huge applause from the sold-out crowd during the player’s introduction, giving him a more reason to photograph things than usual.
“I’m not normally, but I did that today, and the way they cheered me on, that meant a lot for me, I motivated, and I was fortunate to give them something to cheer again,” Arenado said. “Usually, if you hit one homer, they don’t do curtain calls, but that was a big homer.”
The sentiment from Arenado’s explosion and subsequent curtain calls stems from the uncertainty that loomed over his future in the Cardinals uniform after the unproductive 2024 season in which he hit 16 home runs. Over the winter he called his no-trade clause and turned down a deal with Houston, but many observers thought he would eventually move.
Another deal never happened, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen this summer. Arenado said he understands that.
“I don’t know,” he said. “You just have to think about all the uncertainties because it’s different to passing through your head. I don’t know if this will be my last time.”
His teammates also realized the meaning of the moment.
Nolan Arenado receives the curtain call following his eighth home run in a 5-3 victory over the twins on Thursday. Jerry Curry-imagn Images
“It’s important to him,” outfielder Lars Nothbahl said. “It’s important to us. It’s cool for fans to take him out like that.”
The Cardinals are making the transition as longtime executive John Mozeliac has already announced it will be his final season. Unless the team is in playoff races, it is expected to move veterans later this summer.
But that wasn’t the story of Thursday when St. Louis played a solid opening game led by veterans like Arenado and starter Sony Gray. Gray could also eventually move along with Ryan Healthley, who locked up a save against the twins.
However, these discussions are for later. Now it’s about getting fan favorites after roughly 2024.
“It was a pretty good bow,” coach Oliver Malmol said of the home run. “This is the guy who worked really hard to come back this offseason and show him he can do. It’s a big homer. It probably means more than people think.”
