photo: Chandler Redmond (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)
On Wednesday night, Springfield Cardinals first baseman Chandler Redmond hit for the home run cycle. You already knew that, though, because I’m pretty sure the entire world knows about it by now. He started with a two-run shot in the 5th inning, then followed with a grand slam in the 6th, a solo home run in the 7th, and a three-run home run in the 8th.
Yes, that also means he completed the home run cycle in consecutive innings. It doesn’t get more poetic than that.
HISTORY. MADE. AGAIN‼️
With that 8th inning blast, Chandler Redmond now holds the Springfield Cardinals RECORD for most HRs (4) and RBIs (11) in a single game in team history‼️ pic.twitter.com/sBOGoybPBT
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 11, 2022
After such a historic game, what better occasion could there be to highlight Chandler Redmond and discuss some baseball history? I can’t think of one. So, let’s dive into an unexpected celebrity and some minor league lore
In all of baseball history, the only other player to hit for the home run cycle was Tyrone Horne, and the parallels between the two players are amazing.
Tyrone Horne also accomplished the feat in the Cardinals organization. He did it while playing for the Arkansas Travelers, who, at the time, were the Double-A affiliate of the Cardinals, and played in the Texas League.
So not only did Horne hit for the home run cycle, but he did it in the same organization, at the same level, and even in the same league as Redmond. Baseball just has a way of making extraordinary moments even better.
(As an aside, I will say there’s something special about the Texas League. At least, there is if you like offense. In fact, the single game home run record may have even occurred in the Texas League in 1903 when Jay Clarke may or may not have gone 8-for-8 with 8 home runs. That record is disputed but SABR still holds it to be the record)
I’m sure Redmond would like the parallels to continue because Horne had a monster season when he accomplished the feat. In 1998, the 27-year-old played 123 games at the Double-A level and slashed .312/.402/.605, giving him an OPS over 1.000.
The home run cycle may have been the highlight of the season, but it came in a year in which he clubbed a whopping 37 long balls for Arkansas. Somehow, that was only good enough for him to earn a 3 game cameo in Triple-A Memphis before departing the organization in the offseason.
That was the second and last time Horne ever played Triple-A ball. His affiliated career was over two years later, though he did find success in Korea and Indy ball before retiring after the 2001 season at age 30.
Though Horne never reached the Major Leagues, he will forever have a place in the Hall of Fame.
Baseball is a game with a long history. For something to be accomplished for the first time ever in 1998 is incredible. Horne stood alone for almost 24 years before Chandler Redmond nudged him aside and claimed his share of the spotlight.
If you’re a regular reader of this site or a follower of the Cardinals system, you probably already know some things about Redmond, but since he now has a place in the extensive baseball history books, he deserves a feature article.
Redmond’s parallel with Horne goes even further than what I mentioned above. Both players were late draft picks. And not 15th round late. Horne was taken in the 44th round while Redmond was taken in the 32nd round.
Those are not rounds from which major league contributors are typically found, or even solid prospects for that matter. Horne never became an MLB player, but Redmond definitely has a chance to do what his predecessor couldn’t.
That’s largely because Redmond is simply a hitter. He began his professional career as a utility player but he has only played two positions this year – first base and designated hitter. That puts a lot of pressure on his bat to be his carrying tool, but that’s not a problem for Redmond.
He takes walks and hits for power, which gives him the kind of offensive profile that fits in the corners. His strikeout rate is a bit high, consistently registering above 30%, but he’s managed to be effective despite it. In fact, he’s even made improvements in that regard, dropping his strikeout rate nearly 4% from last season (34.8% in 2021, 31.3% in 2022).
The 25-year-old hasn’t been as successful this season but that four home run game really turned things around for him. His wRC+ rose from somewhere in the 80s (I don’t remember exactly) to 101 after the game, meaning that he went from being a well below league average hitter to a league average one, or even a tick above league average.
This is only the first time Redmond has really struggled at the minor league level.
He has been nothing but a productive hitter in his career, registering wRC+s of 151 in rookie ball, 120 in High-A, and 129 in Double-A in 2021. His home run totals are also impressive for a minor league prospect, and especially one who was drafted so late.
In 2019, Redmond clubbed 12 home runs in 54 games at the rookie ball level en route to being named The Cardinal Nation’s system-wide Rookie Player of the Year.
The missed 2020 season wasn’t ideal for a player who was drafted following his senior year, but he made up for it in 2021, reaching Double-A for the first time. He hit 18 long balls that year in 95 games.
Now this season, after the four homer game, Redmond’s home run total sits at 17 home runs in 75 games.
That’s a lot of power! You would be hard pressed to find a more productive 32nd round draft pick in recent years.
(As an aside, there have indeed been MLB players to come out of the 32nd round. The most famous examples are Kevin Pillar, Robb Nen, and Eric Rasmussen. MLB players came every round of the draft. It’s just up to scouts to find them, coaches to develop them, and players themselves to make it happen.)
He has been a productive hitter his entire career and his blend of plate discipline and power gives him a strong offensive skill set. So, now you know who he is as a player, but that’s not all there is to Chandler Redmond.
Redmond is also known throughout the organization as someone who helps other players with their swings.
Here’s an article from Daniel Guerrero, which details how Redmond helped top Cardinals prospects Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker tweak their swings when they were struggling a bit.
Redmond is not just an asset on the field, but he’s an asset in the clubhouse too. It’s not uncommon for teams to keep “glue guys” in the organization for their leadership abilities, locker room presence, and willingness to help the younger guys.
Those “glue guys” aren’t always good players, though. Redmond is.
So we know Redmond is a slugger and swing doctor, but how about a smart guy too? He finished his senior year at Gardner-Webb on the Presidential Honor Roll while clubbing 18 home runs and finishing with a 1.072 OPS.
Redmond is just the second player to hit for the home run cycle and the first to do it in consecutive innings. That made him known to a wider audience, but he should be appreciated for more than that.
He is a slugger, a swing doctor, a smart guy, a promising prospect, and perhaps one of the best 32nd round draft selections in the past few years. He has a legitimate chance to make an MLB debut. That’s why he opened the season as TCN’s 25th ranked prospect. His status has dropped down to 40th in the most recent re-ranking, but his promise remains.
It’s always cool when a member of the Cardinals organization makes history, but it’s even better when he is more than just a good player on the field. That description fits Chandler Redmond perfectly.
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