ST. LOUIS -- If Charles Hamelin ever needs a body double, Matt Carpenter could be his guy.
At least Matt Carpenter seems to think so.
The St. Louis Cardinals' third baseman posted a photo on Instagram on Tuesday morning of his "twin" -- Hamelin, the Canadian short-track speedskater. The photo was accompanied by the words: "Not sure when I became an Olympic skater.... #twins #mylook".
Carpenter's doppelganger is off to a strong start in Sochi and could leave Russia as one of the most celebrated athletes of the Winter Games. Hamelin, 29, won the gold medal in the men's 1,500 meters Monday and will have a chance to add to his medal count soon enough.
He has now won medals in three consecutive Winter Olympics. He was on Canada's 5,000-meter relay squad that took home silver in the 2006 Games in Turin, and he captured gold in the 500 meters and 5,000 relay in Vancouver in 2010.
Carpenter, 28, is already in Jupiter, Fla., for the start of spring training and his fourth major league season.
It will be difficult for Carpenter to top his breakout 2013 season, which included being selected for the All-Star Game, winning the Silver Slugger award for second basemen and finishing fourth in the National League MVP voting.
But Carpenter will be looking to do that this season after moving back to third base on a full-time basis following the trade of hometown hero David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
You can follow Nate Latsch on Twitter (@natelatsch) or email him at natelatsch@gmail.com.
