Matt Carpenter is a Cardinals Hall of Famer: A Thread

Matt Carpenter has struggled the past couple years, which has caused many Cardinals fans and other MLB fans to completely turn their backs on his legacy. Here is why Matt Carpenter is a Cardinals Hall of Famer

Matt Carpenter’s career numbers from 2012-2020:

4957 PA
.267/.371/.458
.830 OPS
152 HR
.358 wOBA
128 wRC+
.191 ISO
30.3 fWAR

Among players with over 2000 PA with the Cardinals, Marp’s rankings are:

OPS - 24th
HR - 13th
wOBA - 41st
wRC+ - 20th
2B - 13th
ISO - 15th

In his prime, Matt Carpenter was one of the best infielders in baseball. From 2012 to 2018:

.275/.377/.471
.849 OPS
.366 wOBA
133 wRC+
133 HR
.196 ISO
28.8 fWAR

Marp established himself early as a solid power threat, maybe not with homeruns, but with his ability to go to the gaps. Marp accumulated 263 doubles from 2012 to 2018, an average of 37.6 a season.

Most notably, Matt Carpenter’s plate discipline was up there with some of the best during his prime. Among players with 2500 Cardinal plate appearances, Marp’s walk rate of 13.3% ranks 3rd all time behind Joe Cunningham and Jim Edmonds. His career O-Swing rate also sits at 21.0%.

Matt Carpenter had two of the best individual seasons by a Cardinal last decade: 2013...

717 PA
.318/.392/.481
.873 OPS
.381 wOBA
146 wRC+
10.0 BB%
13.7 K%
11 HR
55 2B
7.2 fWAR

and 2018

677 PA
.257/.374/.523
.897 OPS
.375 wOBA
140 wRC+
.388 xwOBA
36 HR
42 2B
5.0 fWAR

It’s clear that Matt Carpenter has been one of the most consistently good hitters in franchise history. To say he hasn’t been an integral part of this team over the last 10+ years would be so, SO wrong. He is a Cardinals Hall of Famer and should get a red jacket.