All posts by Brian Walton

Brian Walton runs The Cardinal Nation, covering the St. Louis Cardinals and minor league system.

Fray Peniche Named 2025 Cardinals George Kissell Award Winner

photo: Fray Peniche (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

In a player orientation session on the first day of Minor League Spring Training Camp, the St. Louis Cardinals announced Fray Peniche as the recipient of the 2025 George Kissell Award for player development excellence. The long-time manager of the Dominican Summer League Cardinals is the 32nd winner of the honors since 1995 and first academy employee ever selected.

The George Kissell Award

George Kissell (Associated Press)

The Kissell Award is the top recognition any member of the player development organization could receive and remains an annual reminder of the importance of George Kissell to generations of Cardinals.

Through his teaching, Kissell essentially wrote the book that was later labeled “The Cardinal Way” as a player, manager and teaching leader of the organization from 1940 until he passed away in the fall of 2008 due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

The Cardinals recognized Kissell’s importance long before his untimely passing, first establishing the Award in 1995 to recognize a member of the organizational staff for excellence in player development. In the most appropriate nod, Kissell himself received the first Award.

The winner is chosen through voting by the Cardinals minor league field staff, with the peer recognition making it especially meaningful.

More about George

Among Kissell’s many other honors is a plaque outside the Cardinals Jupiter clubhouse highlighting his numerous accomplishments as well as the naming of the team’s minor league quad in his honor.

The inscription on the plaque says it all.

“Every player in the Cardinal organization since 1940 has had contact with George Kissell and they all have been better for it. One of the most respected people in the game of baseball at any level, George has worked in all areas of the Cardinals’ baseball operations. He was a scout, minor league manager, major league coach, and, as senior field coordinator for player development, he has coordinated the team’s minor league affiliates.

“Well known for his emphasis on fundamentals, George taught several generations of Redbirds how to play baseball. In recognition of his teaching excellence and personal example, the George Kissell Award is presented annually to the Cardinals outstanding player development staff person.

“George Kissell is one of the true foundations of the Cardinals tradition.”

Though Kissell was not eligible in the fan voting for Modern Era players to the Cardinals Hall of Fame, he was chosen as an “owner’s selection” and entered the Hall in 2015.

In ongoing honor of his teaching impact of generations of players, the Cardinals dedicated their four primary minor league fields in Jupiter as the George Kissell Quad.

George Kissell Award winners

Two-time Kissell Award honorees include Steve Turco, Chris Maloney and Mark DeJohn, none of whom remain in the organization.

Turco is now retired but was a long-time manager and scout. Maloney was formerly St. Louis’ third-base coach and DeJohn retired six years ago as the organization’s minor league field coordinator.

Six members of the current Cardinals staff are prior Kissell Award winners.

The six are Fundamentals Coordinator Jose Oquendo, FCL bench coach Gary Kendall (2024 winner), St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol, Cardinals first base coach Stubby Clapp, Cards third base coach Ron “Pop” Warner and Minor League Equipment Coordinator Dave Vonderhaar.

Kissell winners
2025 Fray Peniche DSL manager 2010 Mike Shildt Johnson City mgr.
2024 Gary Kendall PB manager 2009 Chris Maloney Memphis manager
2023 Dave Vonderhaar Minors Equip. Mgr. 2008 Mark DeJohn Batavia manager
2022 Jose Oquendo Fundamentals Coord 2007 Dan Radison Minors hitting instr.
2021 Tim Leveque Pitching Coord 2006 Chris Maloney Springfield manager
Robert Butler Dir of Performance 2005 Ron “Pop” Warner Palm Beach mgr.
2020 no season 2004 Blaise Ilsley Tenn. pitching coach
2019 Tony Ferreira Player Dev. mgr. 2003 Mark DeJohn Tenn. manager
2018 Gary LaRocque Player Dev. director 2002 Danny Sheaffer Peoria manager
2017 Stubby Clapp Memphis manager 2001 Dyar Miller Mem. pitching coach
2016 Steve Turco Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. 2000 Gaylen Pitts Memphis manager
2015 Randy Niemann PB pitching coach 1999 Mark Riggins Minors pitching coord.
2014 Derrick May Minors hitting coord. 1998 Joe Pettini Minors field coord.
2013 Oliver Marmol State College mgr. 1997 Mark O’Neal Mem. athletic trainer
2012 Bryan Eversgerd Sgf. pitching coach 1996 Bo Milliken Minors pitching instr.
2011 Steve Turco Gulf Coast Lg. mgr. 1995 George Kissell Senior field coord.
Bold: currently in org.

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

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How Six Top 86 Draft Picks are Different for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2026

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© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Trim 11 Players from Spring Roster in First Cuts

photo: Jurrangelo Cijntje (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

In their first cuts of the spring from 2026 big league camp, the St. Louis Cardinals reduced their roster to 57 players. The 11 include five prospect pitchers as Minor League camp swelled to 154 players.

St. Louis Cardinals release

The St. Louis Cardinals announced the team has reduced its Spring Training roster to 57 players today (Monday, March 2), with 11 players moving to minor league camp.

The team optioned right-handed pitcher Tekoah Roby to the Memphis (AAA) roster, and re-assigned non-roster pitchers Jurrangelo Cijntje, Pete Hansen, Ixan Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón, Sem Robberse, Jared Shuster and Zack Thompson, catcher Graysen Tarlow and outfielder Mike Antico to minor league camp.

The Cardinals currently have 39 major league roster players and 18 non-roster invitees in camp.

Brian Walton’s quick take

There are no surprises here. Roby, Henderson, Robberse and Thompson are coming back from injuries.

The others, with the exceptions of Shuster and Antico, finished 2025 at Double-A. Antico will return to Memphis, while Shuster, a free agent signing in December, pitched for two different Triple-A teams last season.

On The Cardinal Nation’ Top 50 Prospect List, Cijntje is ranked no. 5a. Roby is 11th, Henderson is 12th, Rincon is 23rd and Hansen is 32nd.’

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

How Six Top 86 Draft Picks are Different for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2026

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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix – 2026 Spring Training

NOTE: As of 4/3/26, this version of the roster matrix is no longer current. It reflects changes during 2026 spring training. It should now be considered a historical reference document. For the active roster matrix during the 2026 regular season, click here.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ full system view by position and level is updated to reflect rosters and transactions for 2026 spring training.

This newest Roster Matrix covers the St. Louis Cardinals and the entire minor league system, including the MLB club and their four full-season affiliates plus two rookie level teams – during 2026 spring training.

As a reminder, the previous matrix outlined all organizational transactions during the 2025-2026 off-season.

A refresher

If you are new to The Cardinal Nation and not familiar with the Cardinals organization roster matrix, here is a quick summary:

As 2026 spring camps opened, the St. Louis Cardinals had 245 players under contract from top to bottom, including a full 40-man roster. The 40-man members are called out in bold.

The matrix places each of the 245 at his assigned level in the system as well as by position.

This version is a bit different from prior ones, however. There are three major groupings. 68 players began in St. Louis’ camp. They are listed first and oriented by the levels at which they finished 2025. The 28 spring camp non-roster invitees are denoted by (NRI).

The next group is the 143 players who began in Minor League Camp. They, too, are listed by their 2025 team. This includes 14 new arrivals from the Dominican Republic academy. As a result, the DSL team roster is split into those in US Minor League league camp and those who are not.

The final grouping of the three are the players remaining in the Dominican academy.

The matrix is updated whenever transactions occur.

Nowhere else will you find this current and comprehensive single-page view of the entire Cardinals organization plus a decade of history.

(Do not be concerned about the order of the players’ names within position. It has no relative significance.)

Looking ahead and back

Now that you’ve found this page once, remember one of three ways to get back here. Bookmark the page, type “Roster Matrix” in the dark blue search box at the upper right (click on the magnifying glass icon) or use the menu at the left of the page: “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” > “TRANSACTIONS/ROSTER MATRIX”.

While you are using that menu, note TCN’s full rosters and player pages for every level and every player in the Cardinals system. These rosters remain in sync with the Roster Matrix and carry biographical information on all players.

St. Louis Cardinals
Memphis Redbirds
Springfield Cardinals
Peoria Chiefs
Palm Beach Cardinals
Florida Complex League Cardinals
Dominican Summer League Cardinals

For details behind prior years’ rosters and transactions (back to 2009), check out the earlier versions of the Cardinals organization Roster Matrix, via the following link.

Link to previous matrices

Transactions

2/24: New organization total: 245 players. 40-man roster full.

2/24: FCL C Alejandro Loaiza, 3B Yancel Guerrero to P.

2/26: RHR Zak Kent claimed off waivers by MIN. New organization total: 244 players.

3/2: 11 cuts from StL Camp. RHP Tekoah Roby optioned out. 10 NRIs reassigned to minors camp: P Jurrangelo Cijntje, Pete Hansen, Ixan Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón, Sem Robberse, Jared Shuster and Zack Thompson, C Graysen Tarlow, OF Mike Antico. All are Spr except Robberse, Shuster, Thompson and Antico, who are with Mem. StL camp at 57 players. Minors camp at 154.

3/7: Six cuts from StL Camp. One NRI reassigned to minors camp: RHR Skylar Hales. Five optioned out: RHP Tink Hence, C Leonardo Bernal, C Jimmy Crooks, 2B/OF Bryan Torres, 2B/3B Cesar Prieto. StL camp at 51 players. Minor league camp at 160.

3/9: Five cuts from StL Camp. One NRI reassigned to minors camp: LHS Quinn Mathews. Four optioned out: RHR Nick Raquet, LHS Brycen Mautz, LHS Cooper Hjerpe and OF Joshua Baez. StL camp at 46 players. Minor league camp at 165.

3/10: Three cuts from StL Camp, all NRIs reassigned to minors camp: OF Chase Davis, RHP Bruce Zimmermann and RHP Max Rajcic. StL camp at 43 players, including 30 40-man roster players. Minor league camp at 168.

3/10: FCL RHP Alec Willis released. New organization total: 243 players.

3/15: Seven cuts from StL Camp. Six NRIs reassigned to minors camp: pitchers Luis Gastelum, Gerson Moreno and Packy Naughton, 1B Blaze Jordan, SS Jeremy Rivas, OF Matt Koperniak. Optioned out: RHR Ryan Fernandez. StL camp at 36 players. Minor league camp at 175.

3/18: RHS Richard Fitts optioned to Memphis. StL camp at 35 players.

3/19: Eight pitchers to 60-day IL. Frank Elissalt (Peo), Joseph King (Peo), Brandon Clarke (Peo), Andrew Dutkanych IV (PB), Sem Robberse (Mem), Victor Santos (Mem), Zack Thompson (Mem) and Jefferson Moran (FCL). Reiner Lopez to DSL full-season IL.

3/21: RHR Gordon Graceffo optioned to Mem. StL camp at 34 players.

3/22: 40-man RHS Tekoah Roby to Mem 60-day IL.

3/25: 2B JJ Wetherholt added to 40-man roster, promoted from Mem to StL. StL OF Lars Nootbaar to 60-day IL. STL SP Hunter Dobbins to 15-day IL. Both IL moves are effective 3/22. 40-man roster remains full.

3/25: 3 FCL players released. OF Romtres Cabrera, SS Yoerny Junco and P Yancel Guerrero. Peo OF Andrew Sojka released. PB RHR Charles Harrison released. New organization total: 238 players.

3/27: LHR Alex Cornwell to Mem 7-day IL. RHR Ian Bedell, OF Mike Antico to Mem Development List. Nine players promoted to Mem from Spr: RHR Luis Gastelum, RHR Tink Hence, LHS Brycen Mautz, C Leonardo Bernal, IF Ramon Mendoza, OF Joshua Baez, OF Colton Ledbetter, LHP Pete Hansen (7-day IL) and LHS Ixan Henderson (60-day IL).

3/31: RHR Matt Pushard to StL 15-day IL. RHR Gordon Graceffo from Mem to StL. RHR Ian Bedell off Mem Development List. StL RHS Hunter Dobbins on rehab to Mem.

The St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix (effective 3/31/26)

St. Louis (26+3) 40-man (40+1)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Liberatore (L) Svanson I Herrera Burleson Saggese Winn Gorman Nootbaar (60 IL)
May Soriano Pages  Fermin  Urias Scott
McGreevy Romero (L) Pozo  Wetherholt Walker
Pallante Pushard (15 IL) Church
Leahy Stanek
Dobbins (15 IL) Roycroft
O’Brien
Bruihl (L)
Graceffo
Memphis (28+8)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Fitts Naughton (L) Yerzy Jordan Torres  Moore Prieto Antico (Dev List)
Zimmermann (L) V Santos (60 IL) Bernal R Mendoza Jo Baez
Mautz (L) Bedell Crooks Koperniak
Mathews (L) Moreno Velazquez
Shuster (L) Raquet (L) Madris
Robberse (60 IL) Cornwell (L 7 IL) Ledbetter
Roby (60 IL) Hales
Hansen (L 7 IL) Z Thompson (L 60 IL)
Henderson (L 60 IL) Blewett
Ry Fernandez
Hence
Rajcic
Gastelum
Springfield (25)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Rincon Hayes Linarez Harris J Rivas C Davis
Doyle (L) E Nunez Tarlow Paige Gazdar Ugueto
Lin Watson (L) Adkison Levenson
Cijntje (L/R) Murphy Mendlinger
Hjerpe (L) Saladin
Clemente
Love
Bradt
Burns
Peoria (33+4)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Franklin G Salas Campos Kross Richardson Villarroel Ortiz Petrutz
Davila A Holiday S Hernandez A Encarnacion Martin Jesus Baez Peete
B Davis (L) Showalter Ra Rodriguez Cho
Molina Picone Honeyman
Dohm Findlay (L) Jo Cordoba
Elissalt (60 IL) Savacool
B Thompson J Ramirez
Clarke (60 IL) Carpenter
Aita Jos King (60 IL)
Wood (RL)
Worley
Militello
Freeberger
Palm Beach (32+1)
SP RP C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Sequera Reyes Caraballo Gurevitch J Mejia Weingartner McGee Miura
Odle Mack (L) Birge Flores Dattalo J Suarez
Sparks B Lopez Heath Haskins Pino
Ynfante Y Herrera (L) Y Pena
Dutkanych (60 IL) Olsen Nickens
Y Batista (L) Kublick
Van Dyke Brodersen
Fajardo Watts
Galvez
Breckheimer
FL Complex Lg (30+1)
P P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Menes Moran (60 IL) C Lopez Salazar B Taveras Lebron D Rojas Velasquez
B Holiday Paulino Asprilla Guribe Padilla Lucena
G Vargas A Bolivar Arthur
Shelagowski Rice (L) Mitchell
Young Driessen
Graham Jack Martinez
Echeman Knowles
K Ramirez Loaiza
Cuello Best
Crossland
DSL 2025 to US ST (13+1)
P P C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Zulueta X Cruz Rujano Dos Santos Hunter
Franco Ja Baez JP Cabrera Mi Hernandez Strop
Chinchilla R Lopez (FSIL)
J Garcia JE Cabrera
DSL (32+1)
P (first year 2024) P (1st year 2023) C 1B 2B SS 3B OF
Ry Rodriguez (first year 2024) (first year 2024)
Saez Amoroso
P (first year 2025) P (first year 2025) (first year 2025) (first year 2025) (first year 2025) (first year 2025) (first year 2025) (first year 2025)
Alvarez B Rodriguez Chaparro J Perez Portolatin Cordero Takahashi
K Peralta H Cabrera
JC Garcia B Reyes (RL)
D Gomez D Mejia
Cana (L) Ri Fernandez
P (first year 2026) P (first year 2026) (first year 2026) (first year 2026) (first year 2026) (first year 2026)
Santillan (L) Figuereo S Rojas Castillo Carrion Luna
Beltran Moronta Estrella
Martinez Jimenez (L) Franganten
Garrido (L) Sanchez
C Vargas

Codes

(NRI): non-roster invitee to MLB camp
(NRI): non-roster invitee to MLB camp reassigned to minor league camp
(opt): 40-man player optioned to minor league camp
(DFA): designated for assignment
(TI): temporarily inactive list
(PL): paternity leave
(RL): restricted list
(L): left-handed pitcher
bold: on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster
(#+#): for teams, the number of active players on the roster plus number of inactive/not under contract (IL+TI+PL+RL) players

For more information

Join The Cardinal Nation and check out my in-depth analysis of the Camp roster, exclusively for subscribers. Also catch my daily photos and commentary from the back fields of Jupiter, offering more depth on the Cardinals minor leagues than any other media source!

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book copy today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2026 Cardinals Minor League Spring Game Schedules

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Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp – February 28, 2026

Day 4 of the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp was held on Saturday, February 28. A lot was going on, with nine players assigned to St. Louis, 13 pitchers threw bullpens, 14 threw live pens and 18 hitters faced them. Liam Doyle was scheduled for three innings and Cade McGee plated two for the Cardinals.

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Cardinals Sign Infielder Ramón Urías

photo: Ramón Urías (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals were close to signing free agent infielder Ramón Urías, reported Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat on Friday evening.

On Saturday, the team confirmed the transaction, which is a contract for 2026 and a mutual option for 2027. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports the contract is for $1.5 million plus a $500,000 buyout for 2027. Urías also can earn $2 million in plate appearance incentives.

Urías, 31, was originally acquired by the Cardinals from a Mexican League team in January 2018. He progressed through the system, ranking as our 33rd prospect in 2019 and 26th heading into 2020. Urías reached St. Louis in September 2019, but with Tommy Edman and Edmundo Sosa ahead of him, his stay was short. The Baltimore Orioles claimed Urías off waivers in February 2020.

Ramón Urías

In December 2019, I wrote the following. “I see Urías’ best being somewhere between an up and down MLB player and a spot starter.”

In six calendar years in the majors, the right-handed hitter made 1,856 plate appearances, roughly three full seasons of time. Urías’ career slash line of .257/.321/.403/.724 translates to a 104 wRC+, 4% above average offensively.

However, his 2026 was a down year, as he moved from Baltimore to Houston at the July deadline. Urías’ .676 OPS translated to an 87 wRC+. Rather than pay Urías via arbitration, the Astros non-tendered him last fall.

Urías is a strong defender, with the 2022 AL Gold Glove Award at third base in his trophy case. He is also proficient at shortstop, second base and can even back up at first.

The Cardinals had been looking for a right-handed outfielder and may still get one if he becomes available. In the meantime, current infield reserves Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese may see more time in left field helping to cover for injured Lars Nootbaar.

Urías and his brother Luis, also an infielder, are committed to play for Team Mexico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

2/24 update

Zak Kent

St. Louis’ 40-man roster is full, so a player needed to be removed to accommodate Urías’ addition. That was right-hander Zak Kent, who just rejoined the Cardinals five days ago. He was placed on outright waivers.

For roster and player information

The team rosters here at The Cardinal Nation are kept up to date daily. To access them, click on “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” located on the red menu bar on the left of the page beneath The Cardinal Nation site logo.

To see the Cardinals’ entire system by level and position on one page along with every player transaction for every club all year long, check out the always current Roster Matrix at The Cardinal Nation. It is kept updated daily and is accessible from the same menu as team rosters.

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals Minor League Depth Camp – February 20, 2026

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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Pitching Prospect Brandon Clarke Sidelined

photo: Brandon Clarke (Greenville Drive)

Acquired from Boston in the Sonny Gray trade, minor league left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke is expected to be out until June. It is the continuation of a concerning injury history for the 22-year-old top prospect. Free article!

Introduction

I will start with a commercial about subscribing to The Cardinal Nation.

The following news about Clarke was provided to TCN members in my daily camp report last Friday and discussed on TCN’s Members Forum. (TCN also shared the Ixan Henderson injury news with subscribers several days before others reported it.)

In fact, everything in this entire article was previously available to TCN members.

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Clarke out until June

Of the many Top 50 prospects the St. Louis Cardinals acquired during their very busy 2025-2026 off-season, former Red Sox farmhand Brandon Clarke is the second-highest-ranked, at no. 6 on The Cardinal Nation’s List for 2026. (Jurrangelo Cijntje is just ahead at no. 5a.)

Brandon Clarke

We will not see the talented left-handed Clarke in game action until June. Prior to Minor League Depth Camp, the 22-year-old was diagnosed with an aneurism in his throwing arm that required a surgical procedure to correct. It was successful and there is no ongoing, long-term impact expected.

But Clarke’s first half-season in the Cardinals organization will be lost as a result.

Clarke’s checkered injury history

A review of Clarke’s injury record while still an amateur illustrates the inherent risk he carries and explains why he was a fifth rounder, not a first rounder, in the 2024 draft. Long before he signed with Boston, Clarke was well-traveled, and not just to see doctors.

He had Tommy John surgery in 2019 and was not drafted as a high schooler in Virginia. Clarke was originally recruited by the University of Alabama but was unable to pitch his freshman year of 2022 after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. TOS has been career-ending for some. It is caused by compression of nerves/vessels between the collarbone and first rib, leading to arm pain, numbness, weakness and tingling.

From there, Clarke backtracked, transferring to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota and pitched just 3 2/3 innings in 2023. Clarke missed the remainder of his first season at the junior college due to a stress fracture in his shoulder.

In 2024, his only full-ish season to date, Clarke threw 74 2/3 innings over 14 starts. Both were Manatees team highs. He logged a 4.36 ERA, fanned an impressive 13 batters per nine innings and had a walk rate of 4.2 per nine. That was enough to gain the attention of the University of South Carolina, where Clarke committed to transfer prior to the draft.

Clarke did not make his professional debut in 2024.

Brandon Clarke (Salem Red Sox)

Though Clarke officially opened his career in April 2025 at Low-A Salem, he wasn’t there long. On April 29, he was promoted to High-A Greenville after three dominant, but short starts. In 9 2/3 innings, he fanned 17, walked just two, gave up just two hits and one run.

With Greenville, Clarke made 11 starts but was unable to stretch out, averaging a Tink Hence-like 2 2/3 innings per outing. His 43 strikeouts in 28 1/3 frames drew attention, but so did his 25 walks and 11 hit batters, the latter two for the wrong reason. As a result, Clarke yielded more runs, 20 total (of which 16 were earned), than hits allowed, 15.

Due to nagging blister problems, Clarke sat out a full month from late May to late June. After August 8, he did not pitch again and he was officially placed on the injured list a week later.

Overall, Clarke made 14 starts in 2025 between the two Class-A stops with a 4.03 ERA, likely aided by a .227 BABIP. He struck out 60 over his 38 innings pitched, but he also put 39 runners on base due to walks and hit-by-pitches. Due to his short outings, he has yet to receive his first professional win. Of further note, Clarke’s ground ball to fly ball ratio was an exceptional 2.4 to 1.

Based on his new problems, Clarke will again be unable to put in a full season’s workload. In fact, duplicating his 38 innings pitched in 2025 is probably a more realistic hope for 2026.

For more

Kyle Reis and Brian Walton discuss this and other Cardinals pitching injury news in their current podcast, “Wednesday With Walton and Reis”.

Wednesday With Walton and Reis – Season 9, Episode 7

Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Quantifying The St. Louis Cardinals’ Focus on Adding Pitching

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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Re-Claim Right-Hander Zak Kent

photo: Zak Kent (USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed right-handed relief pitcher Zak Kent off waivers for the second time in three months. Another recent waiver addition, third baseman Bryan Ramos, has been designated for assignment.

St. Louis Cardinals release

The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (February 16) that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Zak Kent off waivers from the Texas Rangers and added him to their 40-player roster.  Infielder Bryan Ramos has been designated for assignment to make room for Kent’s addition to the team’s Major League roster.

Zak Kent

Kent, 27, re-joins the Cardinals organization after first having been acquired by St. Louis on December 5, 2025 in a waiver claim from Cleveland.  Texas had claimed Kent off waivers from the Cardinals on January 9.

The 6-3, 205-pound Kent debuted with the Guardians in 2025 and posted a 1-0 record with a 4.58 ERA and 16 strikeouts over his 17.2 innings pitched in 12 appearances.

Originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft out of Virginia Military Institute, Kent has made 117 career minor league appearances (63 starts) while posting a 13-16 mark with a 4.13 ERA.

After pitching the entire 2024 Spring Training season with the Rangers, Kent was traded to Cleveland on March 28 and sent to Triple-A Columbus. He was moved to a relief role for the entirety of the 2025 season with 34 appearances in Columbus, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.84 ERA and two saves.

Kent made his Major League debut with Cleveland vs. the New York Yankees on April 23, 2025, pitching a career-high 3.0 innings. His first Major League win came in his final appearance of the season, pitching 2.0 innings in a 9-8 win over his original drafting team, the Texas Rangers, at Progressive Field.

The Henrico, Va. native has allowed just one home run to 76 total batters faced in the Major Leagues, that coming in his final appearance of 2025. He held opposing right-handed batters to a .552 OPS.

Brian Walton’s take

All the waiver claims are just the tip of the iceberg. Kent’s transaction log at MiLB.com indicates that the 27-year-old was optioned to Triple-A at least six times during the 2025 season.

Even so, the Virginia native appeared in just 12 games for the Guardians, posting a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. Kent struck out 16 but walked eight (4.1 BB per nine innings pitched).

The rest of 2025, the slider specialist was with Triple-A Columbus, posting a 2.84 ERA in 38 innings over 34 games. He fanned 50 but issued 21 free passes, a rate of 5.0 walks per nine innings.

Kent was originally Texas’ ninth-round pick in the 2019 draft from Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He moved up through the Rangers system and first reached Triple-A in 2022, but he then missed most of 2023 due to an oblique strain.

At the end of spring training 2024, the Rangers traded Kent to the Cleveland Guardians in return for international bonus pool space. After pitching in Triple-A, Kent was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and was released in early July 2024. He re-signed with the same organization a few days later and finished the season in Triple-A.

Kent pitched in the Arizona Fall League twice, for the Rangers in 2023 and the Guardians in 2024.

To open 2025, Kent came to camp as a non-roster invitee. On April 21, he received his 40-man spot back and joined the Guardians for the first time. The right-hander made his MLB debut two days later.

However, Kent will not be riding the Triple-A shuttle for the Cardinals unless he is later removed from the 40-man and clears waivers. The reason is that he first joined the Rangers’ 40-man roster in late 2022 to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft. In the meantime, he has exhausted all three of his minor league options.

So, either Kent will make St. Louis’ 26-man roster out of 2026 spring camp or it is not guaranteed that he will be around much longer.

Bryan Ramos

Just 10 days ago, on Friday, February, 6, the Cardinals claimed Ramos off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.

The 23-year-old was an Oriole for just five days, as his contract was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on February 1 for cash considerations. Ramos had been designated for assignment by the Pale Hose, with the cash deal likely done because Baltimore feared that Ramos would have been first claimed by another club with higher priority in the waiver process.

Especially given Ramos’ short time with them, the Orioles likely acquired him with the hope they could sneak him though waivers and stash him in Triple-A, reusing the 40-man roster spot on another player. Now, the Cardinals appear to be trying the same.

Ramos, a Havana, Cuba native, was a July 2nd signing by the White Sox in 2018. After reaching Double-A in 2022, he was selected to the 40-man roster that November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. He spent all of 2023 at Double-A and also performed in the Arizona Fall League.

To open 2024, Ramos returned to Double-A, and in early May, made the unusual move from there straight to MLB. For the remainder of that season and all of 2025, he toggled back and forth multiple times between Chicago and Triple-A. In the process, Ramos used up all three of his minor league options. This is a crucial fact that limits flexibility of any team that employs him – unless they can get him off their 40-man roster.

In 169 career games at the Triple-A level, Ramos has slashed .235/.321/.404/.725 with 24 home runs. His K rate is 21.8% and walk rate is just 9.4%.

The Cardinals have seven days to trade or release Ramos. He will leave the organization if claimed off waivers or if he clears, he could be assigned to Triple-A Memphis.

St. Louis’ 40-man roster remains full.

For roster and player information

The team rosters here at The Cardinal Nation are kept up to date daily. To access them, click on “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” located on the red menu bar on the left of the page beneath The Cardinal Nation site logo.

To see the Cardinals’ entire system by level and position on one page along with every player transaction for every club all year long, check out the always current Roster Matrix at The Cardinal Nation. It is kept updated daily and is accessible from the same menu as team rosters.

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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian and The Cardinal Nation on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

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