Cardinals Third Spring Cuts Claim Four

photo: Randy Arozarena (Reinhold Matay/Imagn)

Hunter Cervenka (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

St. Louis Cardinals press release

The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon (Saturday, March 16) that they have re-assigned four non-roster players to the team’s minor league camp, reducing the number of players in Major League Spring Training camp to 45, including 33 roster players.

The team today re-assigned left-handed pitcher Hunter Cervenka, catcher Jeremy Martinez, infielder Max Schrock and outfielder Randy Arozarena to minor league camp.


Max Schrock (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Brian Walton’s take

No surprises here as the quartet were clearly not in the mix to make St. Louis’ roster out of camp.

Of the Cardinals hitters with more than seven spring at-bats, Arozarena led the way with his .346 average (9-of-26). Eight strikeouts indicate his major work area, selectivity at the plate, but still, the Cuban native showed well in camp.

Jeremy Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In his second Cardinals camp, Schrock remained healthy, unlike in 2018, but batted just .200 (9-of-45). He was given a long look, as that at-bat count was tied for tops on the team with another non-roster invitee, Rangel Ravelo.

Martinez was buried behind other backstops, going 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI this spring.

Former Major Leaguer Cervenka was ostensibly in the left-handed relief derby and did not pitch poorly. The 29-year old was charged with three runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. He fanned seven, but walked four.

All except Martinez seem likely to start the regular season with Memphis. While Martinez may be ready, the number of more experienced catchers ahead of him limit his immediate ability for promotion.

With an off-day coming Tuesday, I would not be surprised if more significant cuts follow Monday’s game.


For more

To track the remaining players in camp, the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.


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