Nolan Gorman has a significant opportunity to rebuild his reputation with the St. Louis Cardinals after enduring a disappointing 2026 season, and a new training video is giving fans a reason to believe that the power-hitting infielder could be preparing for a much-needed turnaround. Although his latest workout does not guarantee that he will rediscover his best form, the footage offers an encouraging glimpse into the adjustments he is making as he prepares for the 2027 campaign.
After struggling to produce consistently at the major-league level, Gorman appears focused on addressing the mechanical and contact-related problems that affected his performance throughout the season. The Cardinals need greater offensive consistency from their young players, and Gorman’s ability to regain his confidence could become an important storyline as the organization evaluates its roster for next year. His latest training session has therefore generated renewed optimism among supporters who have not forgotten the power potential he displayed earlier in his career.
The video, shared by Driveline Baseball, shows Gorman taking swings inside an indoor batting facility while working with hitting coordinator Jacob Hirsh. The session incorporates technology, including HitTrax, to track the results of his swings and provide immediate feedback on his performance. Several recorded swings produced exit velocities above 90 mph, highlighting the raw power that remains an important part of Gorman’s offensive profile. More importantly, the workout appears designed to help him improve the consistency of his contact rather than simply focus on hitting the ball harder.
For a hitter like Gorman, maintaining power is only one part of the challenge. His ability to make reliable contact, recognize pitches and repeat his swing mechanics will be equally important if he hopes to become a more dependable contributor in St. Louis. The drills featured in the video suggest that his offseason preparation is centered on making adjustments, identifying weaknesses and building a more repeatable approach at the plate. While a short clip cannot establish whether those changes will translate into better results against major-league pitching, the work provides a positive early indication that he is addressing areas that need improvement.
Gorman’s disappointing 2026 campaign explains why Cardinals fans are paying close attention to his progress. The 26-year-old struggled to establish himself offensively, finishing with a .184 batting average and nine home runs in 85 major-league games. Those numbers fell well short of what the organization would have hoped for from a player with his power potential. His inability to produce consistent results put additional pressure on his place in the team’s plans and raised questions about whether he could regain the form that once made him an intriguing offensive prospect.
The Cardinals eventually sent Gorman to Triple-A Memphis in June after his struggles continued. He spent nearly 11 weeks in the minor leagues before returning to the major-league roster in August, giving him an opportunity to work on his swing and rebuild his confidence away from the pressure of regular major-league competition. However, the demotion did not immediately produce the dramatic improvement the organization needed. Gorman hit just .182 with 13 home runs in 46 games at Memphis, demonstrating that his power remained present even as his contact difficulties continued to limit his overall offensive production.
That combination of power and inconsistency has become a defining feature of Gorman’s career. He can generate impressive exit velocities and drive the ball out of the ballpark, but those strengths become less valuable when he struggles to put the bat on the ball regularly. For the Cardinals, finding a way to unlock his offensive potential will require more than occasional power displays. He must demonstrate that he can maintain a consistent approach, avoid prolonged slumps and contribute offensively even when he is not hitting home runs.
There is, however, a reason the organization and its supporters have not completely abandoned hope. Gorman recorded 27 home runs during the 2023 season, his second year in the major leagues, demonstrating the kind of power production that can make him a valuable middle-of-the-order threat. That performance remains an important reminder of what he can accomplish when his swing is working effectively. His challenge now is to rediscover that ability while developing the consistency necessary to remain productive over a full season.
The upcoming offseason could prove particularly important for Gorman because the Cardinals must determine how he fits into their longer-term plans. The organization is evaluating its young talent while attempting to build a roster capable of competing more consistently. Players who can combine power with dependable production will be valuable, but continued struggles could force the front office to reconsider certain roles and opportunities. Gorman’s offseason progress may therefore influence how much confidence the team places in him heading into spring training.
His work with Driveline Baseball could become one component of that recovery process. Modern hitting development increasingly emphasizes measurable feedback, swing adjustments and repeatable mechanics, allowing hitters to identify patterns that may be contributing to poor results. By studying his swing and making targeted changes, Gorman has an opportunity to address some of the issues that undermined his 2026 season. Still, the ultimate test will come when he faces live pitching and must apply those adjustments against major-league competition.
For Cardinals fans, the new footage represents encouragement rather than proof of a completed comeback. A few promising swings cannot erase an entire season of offensive struggles, and Gorman will need to show meaningful improvement before the optimism surrounding him becomes justified. Nevertheless, his history of power production gives supporters a reason to believe that a stronger campaign remains possible.
As the Cardinals look toward 2027, Gorman’s development could become an important part of the team’s offensive outlook. If he improves his contact rate, makes better swing decisions and begins converting his raw power into consistent production, he could reestablish himself as a useful contributor. If the same problems persist, however, the organization may face increasingly difficult decisions about his future role.
For now, the message from Gorman’s latest training session is straightforward: he is working to improve, and the power that once made him an exciting young hitter has not disappeared. Whether those efforts produce the bounce-back season Cardinals fans are dreaming of remains uncertain, but his offseason preparation has given supporters a fresh reason to watch his progress closely.
Leave a Reply