photo: Mike Antico (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
On Saturday, March 18, the St. Louis Cardinals scheduled a Minor League Camp Day during which the organization’s Triple-A and Double-A squads faced each other and the two Class-A teams opposed each other.
Remember that at this phase of camp, the Cardinals are labeling their teams “Working Groups”, which is an important reminder that these rosters are written in pencil and change daily. About two dozen players are yet to be sent down from big-league camp over the next 10 days or so.
Thanks to Cardinals Player Development and Media Relations, the following are selected stats from Saturday. Notes and Players of the Day come from me.
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Memphis Redbirds Working Group (1): vs. Springfield Cardinals Working Group (3) – 4 innings
Springfield
- RHP Alex Cornwell – 2.0 IP – 4 H – 1 R – 0 BB – 0 SO (Innings 1-2)
- OF Mike Antico – 2-2, RBI, R, 2 SB, CS
- INF Ramon Mendoza – 1-1, RBI 2B
Note: Mendoza first signed in 2018. Last season, the 22-year-old played for Palm Beach and Peoria, slashing .202/.317/.287/.604 in 299 plate appearances.
Memphis
- RHP Max Rajcic – 2.0 IP – 2 H – 1 R – 1 BB – 4 SO (Innings 1-2)
- INF Errol Robinson – 1-1, R, SB
- INF Jacob Buchberger – 1-1, RBI
Note: Rajcic was drafted by St. Louis in the sixth round in 2022 from UCLA and despite not yet having made his professional debut, the right-hander is The Cardinal Nation’s 39th-ranked prospect.
Peoria Chiefs Working Group (1): vs. Palm Beach Working Group (0) – 4 innings
Peoria
- RHP Cade Winquest – 1.1 IP – 2 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 2 SO (Inning 1)
- INF Lizandro Espinoza – 1-1, Long leadoff solo HR, BB
- OF Alex Iadisernia – 1-1, 2B
- OF Darlin Moquete – 1-1, 2B
Note: Espinoza, 20, opened in the 2021 DSL and moved to the US for his age 19 year after one solid season at the academy.
After a month in the 2022 Florida Complex League, Espinoza was slashing a respectable .270/.360/.444/.804. He was then promoted to Palm Beach, where he spent most of the month of July. For August, he was returned to the FCL before finishing September with the Beach Birds.
The going was tough for Espinoza in Class-A. In 73 plate appearances over 19 games, he slashed .159/.194/.246/.440, which hasted his return to the FCL.
On the field in 2022, he played slightly more shortstop than second base.
Palm Beach
- RHP Hunter Hayes – 2.0 IP – 4 H – 1 R – 0 BB – 1 SO (Innings 1-2)
- C Jose Zapata – 1-1, 3B
Zapata, 22, has split the last two seasons between Palm Beach and the FCL. Last season, the right-handed hitter appeared in just 20 games in total and slashed .216/.237.297/.534.
TCN’s Saturday Player of the Day
On Saturday, Springfield’s Mike Antico had two hits, stole two bases in three tries, scored a run and drove in one. The center fielder, The Cardinal Nation’s 31st-ranked prospect, led the system with 63 steals in 2022 between Peoria and Springfield.
Brought over to big-league games this spring, the 25-year-old appeared in five games, and in 12 plate appearances, singled three times, scored a run and fanned five times.
Next games
On Sunday, March 18, the Cardinals face the Mets with the Triple-A and Double-A games held in Port St. Lucie and the two Class-A games held on the George Kissell Quad in Jupiter. Game time is 1:00 p.m., but always watch the weather.
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