The St. Louis Cardinals are eagerly awaiting the return of outfielder Lars Nootbaar, but fans will have to hold on a bit longer.

Nootbaar, who was eligible to come off the 60-Day Injured List this Sunday, won’t be making his return just yet. According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Nootbaar is set to continue his rehab assignment rather than rejoin the big league club immediately.

Nootbaar began his rehab stint on May 15, starting with Class-A Palm Beach before moving up to Triple-A Memphis on May 19. His time in the minors has been promising, highlighted by a powerful home run for Memphis on Saturday night, his second since returning to game action. While the Cardinals are doing well this season, the addition of a healthy Nootbaar could provide a significant boost.

There’s no rush to bring him back prematurely. The Cardinals have until the end of his 20-day rehab assignment to make a decision about his roster spot, giving Nootbaar ample time to regain his form. His performance in the minors suggests he’s on the right track, and his return could be a game-changer for the Cardinals.

Looking back at his career, Nootbaar has shown flashes of potential. Last season, he posted a .234/.325/.361 slash line with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs over 135 games.

While those numbers are solid, his offseason heel surgery is expected to enhance his speed and agility on the base paths. Over the past few seasons, his stolen base numbers have fluctuated, but a fully healthy Nootbaar could bring more dynamism to the Cardinals’ lineup.

As he continues to work his way back, the Cardinals and their fans can look forward to the impact Nootbaar will have once he’s back in the fold. With his rehab progressing well, it’s only a matter of time before he’s ready to make his mark in St. Louis again.