JUPITER, Fla. — Everyone remembers how Cardinals fifth-starter candidate Jake Woodford’s 2021 season began. What deserves more attention is how it ended. But first, let's start at the start.
Woodford, then a reliever, was on the wrong end of a viral moment in Cincinnati. In the Cardinals’ second game of the season-opening series, after replacing starter Adam Wainwright, Woodford accidentally beaned Reds slugger Nick Castellanos. Things got worse, fast. A single by Joey Votto followed and put Castellanos on third. A wild pitch to Eugenio Suarez sent Castellanos barreling home headfirst. Safe. Castellanos popped to his feet and flexed over the young pitcher for all of the world to see.