St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar has two nondisplaced rib fractures from falling into a wall when trying to make a twisting, turning catch in a spring training game, and it's unclear whether he will be ready for the season opener March 28.

John Mozeliak, the team's president of baseball operations, said Friday that scans revealed the fractures.

Nootbaar, the expected starting left fielder, has been sidelined since getting hurt last Saturday.

"The concern is basically he has to get to a point where he's pain free. Then he also has to get to the point where, which could take anywhere from 10 to 14 days, to where he can't have any traumatic injury to that area," Mozeliak said. "Over the course of 10 to 14 days, we'll just monitor and see where he's out. At that point, we'll know if it's more of a concern for opening day or not."

Mozeliak said Nootbaar can swing as tolerable, but won't be in the field for the next two weeks "because you don't want him diving."

Nootbaar played in 117 games for St. Louis last season, his third with the major league team. He hit .261 with 14 home runs, 46 RBIs and 74 runs scored.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.