In an unfortunate turn of events for the St. Louis Cardinals, center fielder Dylan Carlson has been diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. The injury occurred during a collision with right fielder Jordan Walker in a Grapefruit League game yesterday.

The team's president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, confirmed the diagnosis to reporters on Tuesday. As a result, Carlson will start the season on the injured list, opening up an opportunity for outfield prospect Victor Scott.

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Carlson's absence is expected to be measured in weeks rather than months. Although the Cardinals will have to make room for Scott by opening a 40-man roster spot, placing Carlson on the 60-day injured list does not appear to be a consideration.

This setback comes at a challenging time for both Carlson and the Cardinals. The team had planned for a starting outfield consisting of Walker in right field, Tommy Edman in center field, and Lars Nootbaar in left field. However, both Edman and Nootbaar will begin the season on the injured list.

Edman is dealing with lingering soreness in his wrist following last year's arthroscopic surgery, while Nootbaar suffered rib fractures while attempting a catch. This created an opportunity for Carlson, who has had his fair share of injury setbacks in the past.

After an impressive breakout season in 2021, Carlson was limited to 128 games last year due to a left hamstring strain and left ankle sprain. He underwent surgery on his ankle and played just 76 games. Despite these challenges, Carlson showcased his skills this spring with a batting line of .271/.340/.521.

Unfortunately, the collision with Walker has once again left Carlson on the injured list. The Cardinals hope to see him fully recover and rejoin the team in a few weeks, but it is also possible that Edman and/or Nootbaar will be back in action by then.

While Carlson's misfortune is a blow to the team, it presents an opportunity for Victor Scott. Drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round of 2022, Scott has shown promise in the minors. With strong grades for his speed and defense, he has worked on improving his batting. Last year, he played 132 games between High-A and Double-A, impressing with a combined batting line of .303/.369/.425 and stole an impressive 94 bases in 108 attempts.

Scott's performances have earned him recognition among top prospects, with Baseball America and FanGraphs ranking him at #83 on their respective top 100 lists for this year. Keith Law of The Athletic even placed him at #55. Scott has continued to shine this spring, hitting .316/.409/.368 and stealing four bases.

While the Cardinals did not anticipate Scott's quick ascent to the big leagues, injuries to other outfielders have forced their hand. Scott's performance will determine if he remains a part of the team or if he is merely a temporary replacement until the injured players return.

Despite the prospect hype surrounding Scott, he will not qualify for the prospect promotion incentive of the current collective bargaining agreement. This incentive only applies to players who appear on two of the three top 100 lists at Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline. As Scott only made the Baseball America list, he does not meet the criteria for the incentive.

As the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming season, they will adjust their outfield lineup with the addition of prospect Victor Scott. The team remains hopeful that Carlson, Edman, and Nootbaar will all make a speedy recovery and contribute to their success on the field.