Yes, lovelies, it’s that time of the month again. No, not that time; it’s time to check in on the eight active minor league teams in the St. Louis farm system. We’ve seen a lot of shuffling over the past few weeks, as many names you’ve been reading in these updates have found themselves getting a chance at the Major League level due to injuries and general crappiness from the parent club’s bullpen. Hop on our backs and let us fly around the nation in hopes of examining the developing youngsters the Cardinals hope will one day bolster their real roster.
Memphis Redbirds (35-60)
So I know it’s minor league baseball and all, but the Memphis Redbirds are terrible. Despite their inability to win at baseball, there are still certainly a few names worth discussing on the roster. Former first-round selection Zack Cox continues to get better results, although his overall season line is still very ugly. Cox has raised the ol’ OPS from .674 to .699 (.253/.292/.407) since we last check on him. He’s flashed a little more power, which is encouraging since that’s been such a weak area of his game. Matt Adams is back down in Memphis and will just keep crushing every pitch he sees at the level until he finds his way at the Major League level. Ryan Jackson has slipped a bit, and over a large enough sample size it’s looking like his bat is doubtful to provide enough punch for him to be a big league starter despite his plus glove. Triple-A starter and non-prospect Barret Browning is now with the serious team, while Maikel Cleto finds himself back in horrible Memphis after flashing hard fastballs and an extreme desire to allow extra-base hits while in St. Louis. John Gast is getting hit hard, while Shelby Miller has started to regain some of that lost velocity. Miller, whose name has been mentioned in trade rumors, has been a little better of late and may be on his way to righting the ship.
That leg kick leads to runs every time!
Springfield Cardinals (51-41)
Oscar Taveras showed what he’s capable of on a national stage by smashing baseballs in every direction during the Futures Game, and we believe that violent swing is going to lead to a productive career. Taveras is now hitting .332/.381/.593 with 18 home runs. He can’t be stopped and may be a danger to any baseballs you happen to know. Kolten Wong has been moving right along with solid second base defense and on-base skills. He’s hitting .298 with a .372 OBP, but he still hasn’t added much power. This could be a skill he develops with age, but he could still be plenty valuable down the line without a whole lot of extra base hits. Carlos Martinez has been limited in his innings, but the skinny flamethrower has been good for a 2.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his six brief starts. He seems to be adjusting well, though it’s still difficult to tell if he can make it as a starter. Aside from the walk rate, Trevor Rosenthal has truly been excellent all season. His strikeout rate looks good and he’s really limited the hits. He’s been rewarded for his efforts with a trip to St. Louis to try and help fix a bleeding bullpen.
Palm Beach Cardinals (43-49)
There isn’t much to talk about when it comes to Palm Beach. During a rehab stint earlier this season, Allen Craig was able to mash a home run at the level. You can say that about anywhere, though. He’d homer on Venus if you gave him the chance. Let’s not give him that chance, though; he’d die because of the elements or whatever. Science!
Quad Cities River Bandits (48-45)
Stephen Piscotty has been just fine in his brief 73 PA appearance for the water criminals so far this season. The recent draft pick is hitting .292/.370/.477 with his first professional home run. Hopefully everything will be ironed out with his swing and he’ll have a bright future ahead of him. Since we feel obligated to discuss his ridiculous season, it’s time for me to tell you that Colin Walsh is still hitting. He’s now at .314/.423/.572 with 16 home runs. Whoever he is, if he’s real, he loves A-ball. Tyrell Jenkins is still floundering a bit, but we still like his stuff and feel like some refinement will make him a valuable commodity.
Batavia Muckdogs (17-11)
The Muckdog space in these updates is currently largely reserved for telling you how Patrick Wisdom is doing. Wisdom, who like Piscotty was drafted just over a month ago, is hitting .260/.367/.455 in 90 PA. He’s walked quite frequently (11 BB) and flashed a little bit of power (3 HR, 4 2B), so we’re hoping the outside chance that he becomes a masher becomes more of an inside chance. Why isn’t inside chance a thing you can say? Whatever, I’m saying it from now on. StanGraphs coins phrases when it wants to!
Johnson City Cardinals (13-12)
It’s been a rough time for the 2012 draft picks playing for Johnson City. Perhaps they are just averse to the surname Johnson. Catcher Steve Bean is hitting a vomit-y .137/.290/.176 in 62 PA, while Carson Kelly is not doing much better at .207/.226/.329. Both players are extremely young, these sample sizes are tiny, and there is plenty of development left to be done. Hey, we have to keep you updated, though! For now the updates are just a little nasty.
GCL Cardinals (17-8)
Max Foody, a 12th-round pick from this June, has a really cool name and has been perfect with two strikeouts in his first two innings of work. I’m pretty sure that’s all I have to say about the GCL Cardinals.
DSL Cardinals (19-17)
Spencer claims this team is the Dominican Cardinals, but I know my acronyms; these are obviously the internet Cardinals. Luis Perdomo is still cruising, striking out 39 and walking six in 37 1/3 IP. Dewen Perez has been even more dominant, whiffing 29 and walking seven in 23 innings. What a dynamic sub-20 duo! Luis Cruz has homered twice and is getting on base at a .399 clip for the offense.
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