JUPITER, Fla. — His gear bag slung over his shoulder, Cardinals prospect Dylan Carlson walked into the team’s spring clubhouse for the first time this month and looked to his right, where minor-leaguers usually locker. Carlson didn’t see his jersey until he turned to his left — to find his locker had beat him to where he wants to go, the major-league side.
Carlson’s No. 68 jersey, the same number Albert Pujols wore before he broke camp with the big-league club in 2001, hung near outfielders with big-league service time and right beside veteran catcher Matt Wieters’ locker.