When Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak walked into Busch Stadium on Thursday morning, he couldn’t help but recognize the personal significance the day would hold as it marked his final opening day in his current role with the Cardinals.
“I was reminding myself, though, that there’s still a lot of baseball to be played,†Mozeliak said. “A lot of things that’ll happen throughout the year, but it is a special place and one that, as I was walking up to my office, it’s something I want to make sure I don’t ever forget because I’ve been really lucky and really fortunate to be a part of this.
“(There are) a lot of things about this game I’m going to miss, but there’s certainly some things I won’t. These types of days are special.â€
Mozeliak, who first joined the Cardinals in 1995 as an assistant in scouting operations, moved into a role as the club’s president of baseball operations during the 2017 season after having served as senior vice president and general manager since October 2017.
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Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, center, is welcomed by team Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr., right, and President Bill DeWitt III before playing the club’s opening day game against the Twins on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
This year marks the final year of his contract before special adviser Chaim Bloom takes over as the club’s president of baseball operations ahead of the 2026 season.
Before his final opening day in Year 30 as a member of the Cardinals front office, Mozeliak, 56, said he took his morning a “little slower than probably normal†and was “making sure I’m saying as many hellos as possible†while making his way through Busch to his office.
Mozeliak said he tried to look more toward the future than reflect on the past.
“I’m trying not to be reflective, but it’s hard not to when you walk that hallway that you’ve done forever knowing that this is just an experience I’ll probably never have again,†Mozeliak said.
During Thursday’s opening day ceremonies, a “thank you†video for Mozeliak was played and highlighted some the club’s accomplishments during his time leading the front office. When he was introduced to the home crowd at Busch Stadium, Mozeliak was met with some boos. He joked prior to Thursday’s game that he hoped the reception would be “not too bad.â€
Mozeliak’s club comes into the regular season after ranking 29th in batting average (.228) and 26th in on-base plus slugging percentage (.713) among major league teams. The Cardinals pitching staff combined for a team ERA (4.16) that ranked fourth-best in the majors.
“I think the biggest thing for me is just, obviously, from an offensive standpoint, we didn’t pound the ball early, but that last week and a half, things started to look up,†said Mozeliak, whose club batted .265 with a .787 on-base plus slugging percentage in their final 11 Grapefruit League games. “I really feel the new voice with (hitting coach Brant Brown) is going to be helpful. I think the bullpen was coming together.
“I think the best thing that came out of camp was we came out of that relatively healthy. We only placed one guy on the (injured list), and that was good news.â€
Opening day starters
Nolan Arenado’s opening day start at third bases was the 12th of his career, leading all active third basemen and tying him for 21st in MLB history.
Jordan Walker’s start in right field made him the sixth player in MLB history to make three or more opening day starts in right field before turning 23 years old.
Victor Scott II’s start in center field made him the first Cardinal since Harrison Bader to make consecutive opening day starts in center field for St. Louis.
Now with the Twins, Bader started in left field and batted ninth for Minnesota in the opener. Bader, a Gold Glove Award winner in 2021 as the Cardinals’ center fielder, made opening day starts in center field for the Cardinals in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
Leahy looks to carry spring momentum
Right-hander Kyle Leahy’s inclusion on the Cardinals opening day roster made him one of four Cardinals to make an opening day roster for the first time. Before Thursday’s opener, Leahy described the milestone “the start†to what he hopes to provide his team this season.
Leahy, 27, enters the regular season after completing 11 scoreless innings and striking out 13 batters in seven relief appearances during Grapefruit League play. Leahy completed at least two innings in four of his seven outings and held opposing hitters to a .179 batting average while maintaining 0.73 walks and hits per inning pitched.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot, and that’s the goal,†Leahy said. “To be able to see some positive results on the field, that’s always a plus.â€
This season marks the third in the majors for Leahy, who entered professional baseball as a 17th round (513th overall) pick from the 2018 MLB draft. He sports a 4.07 ERA across 48â…” innings in the majors. He comes into the regular season in a relief role in which he will be used to cover multiple innings.
He said the strong spring offers a steppingstone for him ahead of 2025.
“That’s huge,†Leahy said. “Comfort and confidence are a huge part of performing well in the field. The more you can get both of those things, the better off (you are).â€
Photos and Video: Cardinals baseball fans flock to 2025 opening day festivities, despite rain delay
Seamus Conlin, 10, of Weldon Springs stands alongside his parents during the national anthem at the St. Louis Cardinals' season opener against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins stand for the national anthem for the season opener on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
All-Star St. Louis Cardinals' third baseman Nolan Arenado waves to fans during player introductions during opening day ceremonies on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame inductees stand for a photo during opening day ceremonies before the game against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages makes a video as the Budweiser Clydesdales roll along the warning track before a rain-delayed opening day game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The Budweiser Clydesdales roll along the warning track during a rain-delayed opening day game as the St. Louis Cardinals host the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
“I’m gonna get my money's worth,†said Jeniffer Johnson, left, as she sits in the rain beside Brittany Kingsley awaiting the St. Louis Cardinals season opener against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
St. Louis Cardinals fans Ryan Dalton, left, jokes with Tyler King as they await the season opener against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025. King wears an outfit to pay homage to Elton John and the costume he wore at his final Dodger Stadium concert.
Janet and Robert Milligan of Idaho, huddle with their grandson Kamren Arbaugh, 13, under the stands as they wait out the rain delay at the Cardinals' season opener against the Minnesota Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Mike and Suzie Hobbs of Edwardsville, Illinois, make their way into Busch Stadium on Thursday, March 27, 2025, for the Cardinals' season opener against the Minnesota Twins.
Fans crowd to get a glimpse of the Clydesdales who circle the track before the Cardinals' season opener against the Minnesota Twins went into a rain delay on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
"I didn't know it would rain," said Kelsy Roig, who uses her mother's Mike Shannon jersey, to shelter from the rain, as she walks flanked by her sisters, Kaylie, left, and Bailey, into Busch Satdium on Thursday, March 27, 2025, for the Cardinals' season opener against the Minnesota Twins.
"It's my first opening day," said Steve Baldridge, right, as girlfriend Julia Holmes leans in for a kiss as they soak in the rain and the excitement of opening day on Thursday, March 27, 2025, before the Cardinals' game against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium. The couple is from Arkansas and have been dating seven years.
"It's my first opening day," said Steve Baldridge, who literally wanted to soak in all the excitement, including the rain showers, with his girlfriend Julia Holmes on Thursday, March 27, 2025, before the Cardinals' game against the Minnesota Twins at Busch Stadium. The couple are from Arkansas and have been dating seven years.
Bonita Brown, right, cheers during a Cardinals’ pep rally before rain temporarily dampened the opening day festivities on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium. For more on opening day, please see our coverage in ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ, Page B1.
Fredbird beaks Cardinals' fan Mary Beth Webb at a rally during opening day festivities on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium.
Debuting their recently purchased bird suits, Troy Reider, left, dances with his father-in-law Matt Fingerhut at a Cardinals' rally during opening day festivities on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium.
Sisters of St. Joseph Pat Dunphy, left, and Marianne Keena wait for the gates to open on Cardinals' opening day on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
Tammy Mann of St. Peters dons her Cardinals' headband on opening day on Thursday, March 27, 2025, as she looks for the Clydesdales outside Busch Stadium.
Jason McAfee Cardinals' suit and red shoes stand out during opening day festivities on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Balllpark Village outside Busch Stadium.
Jude Potts, 15, and AJ Christlieb, 15, cheer as th St. Louis Cardinals' score the first run of the season in the first inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Busch Stadium.
In today’s 10 AM “Ten Hochman†video, Ben Hochman discusses Cardinals’ opening day and five exciting topics. Plus a happy birthday shoutout to Fergie! And as always, Hochman picks a random Cards card out of the hat!
