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鈥淥nce I got that up to date, that鈥檚 when I realized I could come back with two weeks left,鈥� Arenado said Monday.

The return was later than he expected but always in his sights.

鈥淟ike I said, it鈥檚 better to come back with two weeks left than to never come back,鈥� Arenado said before playing in his first game since July 30.

Following more than five weeks spent on the injured list for the shoulder injury, Arenado returned to the Cardinals lineup Monday with a start at third base in their series opener against the Reds. Now back from the IL with 12 games remaining in the regular season, Arenado said playing in each game left on the schedule would be ideal.

Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said he would look to play Arenado 鈥渁s much as his body allows him to鈥� over the final two weeks of the season.

鈥淗e鈥檚 ready to go. .. We鈥檝e missed his presence, just in general,鈥� Marmol said on what he鈥檚 looking to see from Arenado. 鈥淲hen you look at his year, he鈥檚 had stretches of good and stretches where it doesn鈥檛 go his way offensively, but defensively, he鈥檚 been incredible. Shoring up that side of the field is going to be helpful, especially with (shortstop) Masyn (Winn) down. I look forward, if anything, just seeing him compete again, which I enjoy.鈥�

Arenado said the IL stay, which forced him to miss 40 games, made him feel 鈥済uilty鈥� for being sidelined, but it was necessary for him to regain strength in his right shoulder. Arenado spent time rebuilding at the Cardinals training complex in Jupiter, Florida, before going on a rehab assignment this past week with Class AA Springfield (Missouri).

His return coincides with the start of the Cardinals鈥� final homestand of the regular season, which he said he鈥檚 recognized could be the final homestand with the Cardinals, as he anticipates a similar offseason to 2024, with a trade remaining a possibility as the Cardinals continue to shift toward prioritizing their youth in the years to come.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 best just for me is probably to come back healthy and show that I鈥檓 healthy and hitting the ball hard and all those things,鈥� said Arenado, who was batting .235 with 10 homers and a .660 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 96 games when he landed on the IL. 鈥淏ut I think what this organization is heading towards is young players and letting them go. That just comes with the territory, and I see it.鈥�

Donovan named Clemente award nominee

A first-time All-Star this year and a Gold Glove Award winner in 2022 following his rookie year, Brendan Donovan was selected as the Cardinals鈥� nominee for one of Major League Baseball鈥檚 most prestigious awards.

Donovan, 28, was named a nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award, it was announced Monday on MLB鈥檚 annual Clemente Day celebration.

The award, named after baseball Hall of Famer, is bestowed annually to the player across the majors who best represents the game of baseball on and off the field with their character, involvement in the community, philanthropy and positive contributions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something he takes pride in, not to receive the award, just to carry himself in a way where he would be considered for something like this,鈥� Marmol said of Donovan. 鈥淗e鈥檚 an extreme competitor. He cares about the organization, cares about winning and has a routine that allows for consistency, but that also applies off the field. He is very consistent with who he is and in wanting to make people around him better. He鈥檚 deserving of this. I mean, the guy cares and does a lot on and off.鈥�

Honored with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award in 2024 for his support for service members and veterans, Donovan has continued to support veterans through the Veterans Community Project and through Team Red, White and Blue. He has supported Cardinals Care, the club鈥檚 charitable foundation dedicated to caring for kids, and backed Big League Impact, Make-A-Wish and joined campaigns to raise awareness and funds for mental health organizations like those that help veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Donovan was one of two Cardinals who wore No. 21 in Monday鈥檚 game in celebration of Roberto Clemente Day. Lars Nootbaar, who uses 21 as his usual game number, also wore No. 21 on Monday in honor of Clemente.

The league-wide winner of the Clemente award is selected by a blue-ribbon panel that includes representatives from the commissioner’s office, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemente’s children, , MLB-affiliated networks, a fan vote and Capital One, as the award’s sponsor. Fan voting runs through Sept. 28.

Extra bases

After resting during Sunday鈥檚 series finale in Milwaukee and visiting with team doctors, Willson Contreras returned to the Cardinals lineup with a start at first base Monday vs. Cincinnati. Contreras has dealt with discomfort in his right bicep. Evaluations on his bicep came back clean.

• Masyn Winn, whose season ended with an IL placement Saturday because of a torn meniscus in his right knee, was set to meet with team doctors Monday.
• With a shutout win Sunday over San Antonio, the Padres鈥� Class AA affiliate, Class AA Springfield wrapped its record-setting regular season with an 88-50 record.