photo: Luken Baker (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
This article details the selection of The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Month. Considered were offensive results during April across the entire St. Louis Cardinals system. The winner as well as a group of ten runners up are highlighted.
Starting with the usual 60 plate appearances requirement, a total of 29 hitters in the system qualified. Ten further separated themselves with OPSes above .850, including just one over 1.000 (well over that mark) and three above .900.
In other words, unlike some months, this was not a difficult decision. Memphis first baseman Luken Baker is our winner.
Demographics
Double-A Springfield led the way with four finalists while Palm Beach and Memphis had three apiece. High-A Peoria was most notable in its absence.
As an aside, the Midwest League club could use some offensive help from below (or even above), as the Chiefs are at or near the bottom of their circuit in most key hitting stats. Peoria’s team OPS is just .630.
Reminder
Please remember, this is NOT the “Player of the Month Among Top Prospects”. Every player in the system has an equal chance, with only their performance during the month used to differentiate the best of the best. Age and level, which are key prospect considerations, are not factors here, either.
We will take two views of the data. The first look will be basic stats, followed by rate stats. Names are listed in the same sequence in both tables, in descending OPS order.
Basic stats
| Hitter | Tm | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| Luken Baker | Mem | 26 | 109 | 88 | 24 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 27 | 0.318 | 0.450 | 0.716 | 1.165 |
| Chandler Redmond | Spr | 19 | 85 | 71 | 14 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 25 | 0.268 | 0.374 | 0.620 | 0.993 |
| Michael Curialle | PB | 20 | 85 | 67 | 16 | 22 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 0.328 | 0.459 | 0.522 | 0.981 |
| R.J. Yeager | PB | 20 | 85 | 76 | 13 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0.316 | 0.365 | 0.540 | 0.904 |
| Arquimedes Gamboa | Spr | 21 | 95 | 81 | 23 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 19 | 0.309 | 0.390 | 0.506 | 0.896 |
| Juniel Querecuto | Mem | 21 | 84 | 72 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 23 | 0.278 | 0.381 | 0.514 | 0.895 |
| Chris Rotondo | PB | 16 | 68 | 52 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 0.289 | 0.427 | 0.462 | 0.888 |
| Oscar Mercado | Mem | 22 | 91 | 84 | 15 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 18 | 0.333 | 0.385 | 0.488 | 0.873 |
| Matt Koperniak | Spr | 20 | 95 | 84 | 16 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 0.333 | 0.411 | 0.452 | 0.863 |
| Jose Alvarez | Spr | 15 | 62 | 55 | 15 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0.364 | 0.436 | 0.418 | 0.854 |
Yes, Baker had two dozen more plate appearances than any other finalist. But 10 home runs in a month is impressive in any context. The 26-year-old topped the finalists in runs scored and hits (tied) and was one off a share of the RBI lead.
Baker was fourth in batting average and second in on-base percentage. But his overwhelming advantage in slugging carried over to his large OPS edge, as well.
In most other months, Springfield first sacker Chandler Redmond could have taken this award with a system-high 23 RBI (in just 19 games!) and slugging (.620) and OPS (.993) marks that led all others not named Baker. Though Redmond’s eight home runs are second to Luken, they top the entire Texas League.
In OPS, Palm Beach infielder Michael Curialle was not far behind Redmond, with his forte reaching base, which he did at a finalist-best .459 mark in April.
A pair of switch-hitting infielders new to the organization in 2023, one with Memphis and the other with Springfield, logged almost identical OPSes of .896 and .895. Springfield’s Arquimedes Gamboa excelled at batting average (.309), while Memphis Juniel Querecuto made up the gap in slugging (.514).
April OPSes from non-finalist qualifiers of note include a trio of catchers – Leonardo Bernal with Palm Beach at .942, Memphis’ Tres Barrera at .908 and Peoria’s Aaron McKeithan at .834.
First month offensive strugglers among prospects include Memphis shortstop Masyn Winn at .610, teammate Moises Gomez (.592 with just one home run!) and Peoria shortstop Jeremy Rivas (.546).
Advanced stats
| Hitter | Tm | PA | BB% | K% | ISO | BABIP | wRC+ |
| Luken Baker | Mem | 109 | 19.3% | 24.8% | 0.398 | 0.353 | 190 |
| Chandler Redmond | Spr | 85 | 12.9% | 29.4% | 0.352 | 0.289 | 151 |
| Michael Curialle | PB | 85 | 14.1% | 22.4% | 0.194 | 0.438 | 175 |
| R.J. Yeager | PB | 85 | 5.9% | 15.3% | 0.224 | 0.339 | 146 |
| Arquimedes Gamboa | Spr | 95 | 10.5% | 20.0% | 0.198 | 0.350 | 134 |
| Juniel Querecuto | Mem | 84 | 11.9% | 27.4% | 0.236 | 0.356 | 129 |
| Chris Rotondo | PB | 68 | 13.2% | 22.1% | 0.173 | 0.368 | 151 |
| Oscar Mercado | Mem | 91 | 5.5% | 19.8% | 0.155 | 0.415 | 125 |
| Matt Koperniak | Spr | 95 | 11.6% | 20.0% | 0.119 | 0.403 | 133 |
| Jose Alvarez | Spr | 62 | 11.3% | 12.9% | 0.055 | 0.426 | 135 |
(thanks to Fangraphs for the stats)
As we get into additional data, we see that good fortune in the guise of a high BABIP benefited nine of the finalists, with the exception Redmond (at .289). Baker’s .353 BABIP was actually fourth lowest in this group of 10.
Baker had the top walk rate by over five percent compared to any other finalist, a continued strength of his over the years.
Springfield’s Jose Alvarez, a singles-hitting catcher playing right field, has the lowest strikeout rate at 12.9% with Palm Beach’s R.J. Yeager next at 15.3%. Alvarez and Baker also stand out for a walk rate that approaches their strikeout rate.
Baker, followed by Redmond, stands far above the others in isolated power (ISO). In weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), Baker is tops with an exceptional 190, 90% above his league average, with Curialle next at 175.
When all is said and done, Baker’s exceptional month in almost all major statistical categories gives him the honors as The Cardinal Nation’s April Player of the Month.
About the winner
The Cardinals selected Baker 75th overall in the 2018 draft from TCU, as the organization’s compensation pick awarded for the loss of free agent Lance Lynn. The right-handed hitter progressed through the system reasonably quickly, hitting 26 long balls for Springfield in 2021 despite missing time due to COVID.
After a so-so 2022 season with Memphis, during which he hit 21 home runs, but posted a mediocre 78 wRC+, Baker slid to his lowest-ever position in the Cardinal Nation’s Top Prospect List at no. 34 heading into 2023. But he is back with a vengeance to open his second season at Triple-A.
Whether it be with St. Louis or elsewhere, Baker will eventually receive a chance in the big leagues. As a first base-only player, his path to St. Louis appears to be blocked by Paul Goldschmidt. The Cardinals have a wealth of other hitters on the big league roster to keep engaged, making them reluctant to tie up the designated hitter spot on a single player.
In the meantime, Baker serves as a rock in the center of the Redbirds’ solid offense, dependably reaching base, hitting timely home runs and driving in teammates.
Baker is a (very) big reason why the first-place Memphis club is off to a scorching 18-9 start.
What is next?
The Cardinals organization should also name their own selections of April Player and Pitcher of the Month this week.
Related article
The Cardinal Nation’s April 2023 Pitcher of the Month – Max Rajcic
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