ST. LOUIS – In between signing a few autographs, posing for pictures and even fulfilling one college fan’s request for a free wooden bat, Masyn Winn had a bold declaration he wanted to make inside the joyous Cardinals clubhouse on Saturday.

After the Cardinals beat the Royals 4-2 to earn yet another series victory, manager Oliver Marmol invited Stephen F. Austin’s club baseball team into the team’s clubhouse for a meet-and-greet. By going “Tarps Off” and waiving their shirts above their heads while chanting incessantly throughout the past two games, Marmol and the Cards credited the young baseball players with bringing an infectious energy to Busch Stadium.

Pairing the energy of the bare-chested fans with the gritty style of play for the Cardinals has been a perfect marriage, Winn said. Then, the 24-year-old shortstop detailed just how much fun he is having in a season where the young and surprising Cards improved to 27-18 and a season-best nine games above .500.

“This is the most fun I’ve ever had, for sure, at the big-league level and probably my entire career,” said Winn, after the Cardinals won for the 13th time in the past 18 games after whipping the rival Royals twice. “The energy that we’ve had in here all year has been great and (the Stephen F. Austin team) has just ignited it even more. It’s been a blast all year.

“I just love this team because we’re finding a different way to win every night with a different person every night. Everybody is pulling for each other, and this is the least selfish team I’ve ever been a part of. I went 0 for 3 today and I’m pumped we got the win. When we get a win, it feels like we all win – rather than the past few years … This team is different, man. I’m just glad that we’re going to get to play together for a long time.”

Despite having just one player older than 30 years old – reliever Ryne Stanek – the Cardinals have consistently performed like a veteran-laden team with a hustling, plucky style of offense and a pitching staff that continues to get stellar starts from Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy, Matthew Liberatore and a strong closing crew in the bullpen.

Mix in a breakout season from 6-foot-6, 250-pound slugger Jordan Walker (13 home runs) and a stellar rookie start by JJ Wetherholt and it’s easy to see why the Cardinals have outplayed expectations of what was thought to be possible in a rebuilding season after the franchise traded away Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan over the winter.

Despite their youth, the Cardinals have battled their way to 14 come-from-behind wins, an MLB-most 10 one-run victories and six extra-inning victories. Manager Oliver Marmol, who invited the Stephen F. Austin team into the clubhouse on Saturday to thank them for their vocal support over the past two games, is sensing the Cardinals have something special in the works with the mix of talent they have assembled.

“It dates back to Spring Training and us having conversations around what we wanted this (season) to look like,” Marmol said. “Whether things are going well or not, how were we going to show up every day? (Talking about) what we were in control of and how we wanted to come together as a group. That clubhouse has done a really nice job with all of that, and it lends itself to someone making that style of comment (like Winn’s).

“I can speak for myself – I’m having a blast managing this group. It’s just a bunch of young dudes getting after it and they’re all in similar spots in their career, and they understand what it could look like doing this together moving forward. There are going to be ups and downs, but we’re building toward something. So, even when you take a little bit of a gut shot, it’s serving a purpose. That part of it has been fun.”

Cards manager Oliver Marmol buys free tickets for "Tarps Off" crowd

The Cardinals’ fairytale-like start seemed to be crumbling three weeks earlier when the playoff-tested Mariners edged them out in three straight games for a sweep at Busch Stadium. All the Cardinals did in response was sweep four straight games in Pittsburgh and push their winning streak to a season-best six even though they were facing the back-to-back champion Dodgers. Since the three-game Seattle sweep, the Cards have gone 4-0-2 over their past six series and 13 wins in 18 games.

“I think I can confidently say that this is the best team I have been a part of since I’ve been in the big leagues,” said Liberatore, who has pitched for the Cardinals since making his MLB debut in 2022. “It’s also the most fun I’ve had while playing in the big leagues. And to do it with not just a good group of guys, but a group that I have played with for awhile through the Minor Leagues. Now, getting to do this at the big-league level, it’s very special and I’m enjoying it.”

Added closer Riley O’Brien, who has racked up 13 saves: “It’s a ton of fun because there’s a lot of young guys, there are no expectations or pressure, and guys are just being themselves. I’d agree that it’s been one of the most fun years that I’ve had.”       

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