10-Day IL
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 6/9/2026
2026 Stats
AVG
.247
HR
5
RBI
18
R
17
SB
4
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
He isn't a buzzy prospect, but Church should get a chance sooner than later to show what he can do as a regular outfielder for the Cardinals. The 25-year-old lefty hitter is a plus defensive outfielder with a cannon for an arm and plus speed, which means he can help the team in several ways, even if his bat is a little light on impact. He slashed .329/.386/.524 with 13 home runs, 18 steals, an 8.6 percent walk rate and a 9.6 percent strikeout rate in 86 games at Triple-A, good for a 144 wRC+. Church got a taste of the majors over the final six weeks of the season and struggled to a .179/.254/.250 slash line with one home run, one steal, a 4.6 percent walk rate and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate in 65 plate appearances. Church, who had a 108 mph maxEV and 38.3 percent Statcast hard-hit rate at Triple-A, lacks significant short- and long-term upside, but he is a great late-round pick in draft-and-hold leagues and NL-only leagues due to the lack of established options ahead of him on the depth chart and his potential to help with stolen bases while making consistent contact. Read Past Outlooks
Cleared for strengthening program
Church (shoulder) received clearance from a specialist Tuesday to start a plyometric and strengthening program, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
It's a necessary first step in Church's rehab, but he's still in the early stages of recovery and there remains no timetable for his return from a left shoulder strain. Lars Nootbaar (heels) appears poised to beat Church back from the injured list, which will likely lead to a dip in playing time for Church after he returns.
It's a necessary first step in Church's rehab, but he's still in the early stages of recovery and there remains no timetable for his return from a left shoulder strain. Lars Nootbaar (heels) appears poised to beat Church back from the injured list, which will likely lead to a dip in playing time for Church after he returns.
Batting Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
2026
2025
Minor League Game Log
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Batting Order Slot Breakdown
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
2
29
2
1
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
3
2
Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2024
+23%
OPS vs LHP
2026
+1%
OPS vs RHP
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .734 | 48 | 0 | 7 | .341 | ||||
| Since 2024vs Right | .596 | 173 | 6 | 19 | .196 | ||||
| 2026vs Left | .667 | 34 | 0 | 3 | .313 | ||||
| 2026vs Right | .674 | 122 | 5 | 15 | .228 | ||||
| 2025vs Left | .917 | 14 | 0 | 4 | .417 | ||||
| 2025vs Right | .398 | 51 | 1 | 4 | .114 | ||||
| 2024vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
| Minor League Splits→ | View Minor League Split Stats | ||||||||
Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2024
+39%
OPS at Home
2026
+39%
OPS at Home
| OPS | PA | HR | RBI | AVG | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | .737 | 102 | 3 | 11 | .280 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | .530 | 119 | 3 | 15 | .183 | ||||
| 2026Home | .784 | 77 | 3 | 10 | .292 | ||||
| 2026Away | .564 | 79 | 2 | 8 | .203 | ||||
| 2025Home | .577 | 25 | 0 | 1 | .238 | ||||
| 2025Away | .459 | 40 | 1 | 7 | .143 | ||||
| 2024Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2024Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Nathan Church compare to other hitters?
This section compares his stats with all batting seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 400 plate appearances)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity and Barrels/PA % are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 400 PA) and Hard Hit Rate is benchmarked against last season's data (min 400 PA). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
BB/K
0.18BB Rate
3.8%K Rate
21.2%BABIP
.282ISO
.144AVG
.247OBP
.282SLG
.390OPS
.672wOBA
.295Exit Velocity
86.1 mphHard Hit Rate
30.4%Barrels/PA
7.1%Expected BA
.247Expected SLG
.404Sprint Speed
24.6 ft/secGround Ball %
46.4%Line Drive %
17.0%Fly Ball %
36.6%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Batting Stats
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Additional Stats
Games By Position
Defensive Stats
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Batted Ball Stats
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Stats Vs Upcoming Pitchers
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More Fantasy News
Lands on IL with shoulder strain
The Cardinals placed Church on the 10-day injured list Friday with a left shoulder strain.
Analysis
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Could be headed for IL
Church (lower body) is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis
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Nursing general soreness
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Church was scratched from Thursday's lineup versus the Pirates because he's "just a little beat up," Brenden Schaeffer of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
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Scratched from lineup
Church (undisclosed) was scratched from the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis
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Listed in Thursday's lineup
Church (leg) will start in left field and bat seventh against the Padres on Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis
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