Nolan Arenado, long the subject of trade rumors all offseason, homered in the eighth inning to get a roaring ovation and a curtain call from the crowd. Arenado, who turned down a trade to the Astros to return to St. Louis, not only obliged the curtain call, but he playfully cupped his hand to his ear to ask the crowd for more noise.
Nootbaar, who mistakenly rode around Busch Stadium in a vehicle that was supposed to feature Phil Maton, playfully jumped out of his vehicle and into the one that the newest Cardinals reliever had ridden in before his name was announced. The sweet-swinging outfielder, who is hoping for an injury-free season after five stints on the injured list in the previous two years, showed off his massive potential with the first two balls he hit on the day.