photo: Curtis Taylor (Memphis Redbirds)
The Cardinals Triple-A affiliate forged a winning record in both halves on the way to an 80-68 record. It is the Redbirds’ most wins since their last playoff appearance in 2018. Catcher Jimmy Crooks is the RBI leader while Curtis Taylor paced the mound staff.
Historic moment
On Wednesday, May 21st at Jacksonville, Ben Johnson won his 368th game, becoming the all-time winningest manager in the history of the Memphis Redbirds. The local product surpassed Chris Maloney, who led the Redbirds from 2007 to 2011.
Johnson finished the season with 423 wins and the 44-year-old may continue with the Redbirds for years to come.
Hitting standouts
Among the top hitters during 2025 was catcher Jimmy Crooks, with 14 home runs, 79 RBI (first on the Redbirds and second in the Cardinals system), and a slugging percentage of .441.
Right fielder Matt Koperniak also hit 14 home runs, drove in 65 and slugged .382.
In just 47 games with Memphis, shortstop JJ Wetherholt hit 10 home runs, had 25 RBIs, and a team best SLG of .562.
Outfielder-second baseman Bryan Torres missed winning the league batting title by just six points, finishing third at .328. His .441 on-base percentage was highest in the IL.
Infielder Cesar Prieto tied for the IL lead in doubles with 35 and hit an even .300 for the season prior to his promotion to St. Louis.
Pitching standouts
Among the top pitchers was Curtis Taylor, who struck out a team best 118, won a team-high 10 games and logged a starters-best ERA of 3.21.
Quinn Mathews struck out 107 in 94 innings, allowed only six home runs, and had an ERA of 3.93.
In 75 innings before joining St. Louis for good, Michael McGreevy had 78 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.72.
Reliever Andre Granillo went 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA and saved both his opportunities.
Struggling hitters
In 76 games, catcher-corner infielder Gavin Collins hit only two home runs, drove in 29, and a batting average of .221.
Playing in 59 contests, catcher Andy Yerzy hit six home runs, plated 17, and a batting average of .203.
After moving up from Springfield, in 60 games, shortstop Brody Moore hit two home runs, had 27 RBIs, and a batting average of .239.
Struggling starting pitchers
Zach Plesac allowed 54 runs in 58 2/3 innings for an ERA of 7.67 and a 1-8 record.
After his promotion from Springfield, Max Rajcic was charged with 36 runs in 45 innings for an ERA of 6.40. He went winless with four losses in 11 starts.
Ian Bedell allowed 46 runs in 52 innings for an ERA of 7.96. The right-hander went 0-5 in 14 starts.
Award winners
During the same week in mid-June, the Redbirds swept the IL Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. Infielder Jose Fermin and lefty Quinn Mathews were honored. Mathews was chosen a second time for the period of August 4-10.
For the period of July 21-27, Curtis Taylor was the league’s Pitcher of the Week.
In his first month at Triple-A, shortstop JJ Wetherholt was the Cardinals system’s July Player of the Month.
IL All-Stars
The Redbirds featured two International League All-Stars, Jose Fermin and Andre Granillo. Both also spent considerable time with St. Louis during the season.
Hitting stats (among 20 teams in the International League)
The offense led the way for the 2025 Redbirds.
- 16th in home runs with 143
- 2nd in runs scored with 816
- 1st in hits with 1,323
- 2nd in RBI with 757
- 9th in walks issued with 616
- 1st in batting average with .267
- 4th in OBP with .352
- 5th in SLG with .420
- 4th in OPS with .772
Team pitching stats
Redbirds pitching was around the middle of the pack in the 20-team circuit. Considering the rash of starting pitching injuries, this is not terrible.
Among the arms to miss all of most of the season include Sem Robberse, Drew Rom, Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby. Quinn Mathews and Ian Bedell also missed considerable time.
Brought in from outside the organization, veterans Curtis Taylor (age 30) and Aaron Wilkerson (age 36) combined for 35 starts and 195 important innings with a strong 3.28 ERA.
- 11th in ERA with 4.69
- 9th in hits allowed with 1,230
- 10th in runs allowed with 734
- 8th in errors allowed with 669
- 9th in home runs allowed with 164
- 10th in walks allowed with 618
- 14th in strikeouts with 1,268
- 10th in WHIP with 1.44
- 12th in average against at .252
Overall, the team had strong and consistent hitting throughout the season, though they could use pitching improvement for 2026. It looks like it is coming from the 2025 Texas League Champions at Springfield.
2025 was certainly not a bad season for the Redbirds, but the statistics suggest a better than fourth-place finish in the International League Western Division might have been possible with some additional mound reinforcements.
What is next?
In the coming days, we will reveal the best hitters, starting pitchers and relievers from every team in the Cardinals farm system.
Next, the 2025 Dominican Summer League Cardinals Relief Pitcher of the Year will be published, so be on the lookout for it.
The full schedule for The Cardinal Nation’s annual article series highlighting team results and top hitters and pitchers across the St. Louis Cardinals system can be found in the following article, with daily content running through the current month and into November.
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