During 2026, catcher Rainiel Rodriguez racked up the stats and the honors, the most recent of which is The Cardinal Nation’s selection as the top player on the Double-A Springfield Cardinals.
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All posts by Jamie Santner
Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 25, 2026
photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
In Saturday AFL action, Peoria lost at Mesa, 7-3. Cardinals center fielder Tai Peete walked twice, stoke two bases and scored twice.
Mesa Solar Sox 7, Peoria Javelinas 3
In Saturday AFL action, Peoria fell at Mesa by a 7-3 score. Only one St. Louis Cardinals prospect appeared, centerfielder Tai Peete.
Peete was the leadoff batter. In the top of the first, he walked, stole third base and scored via Carter Graham’s sac fly, putting the Javelinas on the board first. In the third inning, when Peoria was down 3-1, the centerfielder walked, stole second and scored, helping the Javelinas pull within one.
His next two at-bats weren’t successful, as he struck out swinging in the top of the fourth and then grounded out into a double play in the sixth inning. The 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, ended the night going 0-4.
No other Cardinal prospect played in this game.
Peoria is 9-8 in the AFL. Their next match is a home game against the Scottsdale Scorpions, on Monday, Oct. 26.
Monday’s Game: vs. Scottsdale Scorpions
– TBD vs. TBD
– First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CST
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 23rd, 2026
Photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Peoria Javelinas had a lights out offensive performance against the Surprise Saguaros, winning 12-11 in a high-scoring affair. Two Cardinals prospects appeared in the game: centerfielder Tai Peete and second baseman Cade McGee. Peete doubled, tripled, stole a base and scored twice.
Results from the Arizona Fall League game played Thursday, October 22nd.
Peoria Javelinas 12, Surprise Saguaros 11
Peoria beat the Saguaros in a high-scoring game on Thursday. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects appeared in this match: centerfielder Tai Peete and second baseman Cade McGee.
Peete was the leadup man. In the bottom of the first, he doubled, stole third and made it home via a throwing error, tying the ballgame at one apiece. The centerfielder flied out to left field in his second at-bat, in the third inning.
Tai Peete 💨
The @Cardinals' No. 17 prospect records the fastest home-to-third time in the @MLBazFallLeague this season at 11.21 seconds.
Peete becomes the only AFL player to triple in four straight games since at least 2005: pic.twitter.com/RvjZsqYCTS
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 22, 2026
In his third at-bat, the 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, tripled and then scored on a home run from Alex McCoy, biting at the deficit and making it a 5-3 score. Peete struck out swinging in his last two at-bats. He ended the day 2-for-5, a double and a triple.
McGee batted eighth in the lineup. In his first at-bat in the second inning, he grounded out into a double play. In the bottom of the fifth, the second baseman was called out on strikes. The 23-year-old from Tucson, AZ, walked, then later stole home to add onto the Javelinas lead and make it a 10-8 ballgame in the bottom of the eighth. He finished the game 0-for-2.
No other Cardinals prospects appeared in the game.
Peoria 9-7 in the AFL. They go on the road for their next ballgame, taking on the Mesa Solar Sox on Saturday, Oct. 23rd.
Saturday’s Game: at Mesa Solar Sox
- RHP Kannon Kemp (0-1, 5.19) vs. RHP Fernando Perez (0-0. 6.00)
- First Pitch: 2:30 p.m. CST
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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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 20, 2026
photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Peoria Javelinas blanked the Scottsdale Scorpions on Monday. Three St. Louis Cardinals prospects played: centerfielder Tai Peete and relievers Joseph King and Nolan Sparks.
Peete was 4-for-4 including two doubles and a triple plus a walk, two stolen bases, two runs scored and an RBI.
Peoria Javelinas 5 at Scottsdale Scorpions 0
Peete was the leadoff man. In the top of the first, he doubled and then later stole third base. In his second at-bat in the third inning, the centerfielder tripled and later scored on a balk, giving the Javelinas an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, the 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, doubled, sent home Matthew Ellis to extend the lead to 2-0, and then advancing to third base on a fielding error.
Tai Peete has been a firecracker in the desert 🧨
The @Cardinals' No. 17 prospect was perfect at the plate — going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a triple and a walk –and stands among the @MLBazFallLeague leaders with a .361 average and a 1.091 OPS: pic.twitter.com/qx14YxPQGq
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 20, 2026
In the seventh inning, Peete singled and later scored via a forceout, making it a 4-0 ballgame. He finished the night by walking and stealing second base. The centerfielder finished the night going 4-for-4 plus a walk.
King appeared on the mound in the bottom of the sixth, when the Javelinas were up 3-0. The righty gave up three singles and two groundouts, while striking out one batter in his scoreless inning. King received a hold for his performance.
Sparks received his chance on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, with Peoria holding a 5-0 lead. The 24-year-old from Castro Valley, CA, struck out two batters, and gave up one single in his scoreless inning.
The Javelinas are 6-7 in the AFL. Their next game is on Tuesday, October 20th, when they head home to face the Salt River Rafters.
Tuesday’s Game: vs. Salt River Rafters
– LHP Ross Dunn (0-1, 14.54) vs. RHP Winyer Chourio (0-0, 3.18)
– First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CST
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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St. Louis Cardinals 2026-2027 Winter Ball Report – October 20
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2026 Springfield Cardinals Starting Pitcher of the Year
After a rough first half, lefty Liam Doyle posted a second half ERA of 1.78 on his way to The Cardinal Nation’s Springfield Starting Pitcher of the Year honors.
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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 18th, 2026
Photo: Cade McGee (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
On Saturday, the Peoria Javelinas lost to the Scottsdale Scorpions 2-1. Two Cardinals players appeared in the game: first baseman Sammy Hernandez and second baseman Cade McGee. McGee doubled and walked.
Results from the game played Saturday, October 17th.
Scottsdale Scorpions 2 at Peoria Javelinas 1 (Eight Innings)
The Javelinas fell 2-1 against the Scorpions in a close ballgame. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects played: first baseman Sammy Hernandez and second baseman Cade McGee.
Hernandez batted third in the starting lineup. His first at-bat was in the bottom of the first, where he struck out swinging. The first baseman’s next two at-bats resulted in groundouts; in the fourth inning and in the bottom of the sixth. Hernandez went 0-for-3 on the night.
McGee was the eighth man in the lineup. In the bottom of the third, he hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line. In the fifth inning, the second baseman flied out to center field. The 23-year-old from Tucson, AZ, ended the night with a walk in the bottom of the eighth. He went 1-for-3.
Peoria is 5-7 in the AFL. Their next game is on Monday, October 19th, when they face Scottsdale once again, this time at the Scorpions’ home.
Monday’s Game: at Scottsdale Scorpions
- TBD vs. TBD
- First Pitch: 8:30 p.m. CST
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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 16th, 2026
Photo: Tekoah Roby (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Peoria Javelinas fell to the Scottsdale Scorpions 8-5 on Thursday. Three Cardinals prospects appeared in the ball game. They were center fielder Tai Peete, third baseman Cade McGee and RHP Tekoah Roby.
Full results from the game on Thursday, October 15th.
Scottsdale Scorpions 8 at Peoria Javelinas 5
Peoria fell to Scottsdale by an 8-5 score on Thursday. Three St. Louis Cardinals prospects saw action on the field: center fielder Tai Peete, third baseman Cade McGee and RHP Tekoah Roby.
Peete led off the lineup. In his first two at-bats in the first and third innings, he grounded out to second and first. Peete was then struck out in the fifth inning. His last at-bat didn’t end better for the center fielder, as he struck out swinging in the bottom of the seventh. The 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, went 0-for-4.
McGee batted eighth in the starting lineup. He struck out swinging in his first and second at-bats. In the bottom of the seventh, the third baseman hit a single, stole second and later scored on a home run by Carlos Sanchez, helping the Javelinas take a 5-4 lead. The 23-year-old from Tucson, AZ, struck out swinging to end the night. He finished 1-for-4 and scored a run.
Roby started for Peoria. The righty faced 10 batters; two singled, four grounded out, one lined out and three were struck out. In 2 ⅔ innings, he allowed two singles and no runs.
Frank Elissalt threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit, one walk and with three strikeouts.
No other Cardinals appeared.
The Javelinas are 4-6 in the AFL season. Their next game is an away matchup against the Salt River Rafters on Friday, October 16th.
Friday’s Game: at Salt River Rafters
- RHP Patrick Riley (1-0, 3.00) vs. J.T. Etheridge (0-0, 3.38)
- First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CST
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
2026 Dominican Summer League Cardinals Starting Pitcher of the Year
20% off – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide
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2026 Springfield Cardinals Relief Pitcher of the Year
Nolan Sparks, who arrived at the Double-A level in mid-July, posted a sub-3.00 ERA and struck out 34.6% of batters faced. The right-hander is TCN’s Springfield Relief Pitcher of the Year.
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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 11th, 2026
Photo: Sammy Hernandez (Peoria Chiefs)
The Peoria Javelinas fell to the Mesa Solar Sox on Saturday. Three Cardinals saw action in the ballgame. They are center fielder Tai Peete, first baseman Sammy Hernandez, and second baseman Cade McGee. Hernandez went 2-for-4 on the night, hitting two singles and driving in one.
Results from the game played Saturday, October 10th.
Mesa Solar Sox 7, Peoria Javelinas 3
Peoria lost against Mesa in a 7-3 ballgame. Three St. Louis Cardinals prospects saw action in the ballgame: center fielder Tai Peete, first baseman Sammy Hernandez, and second baseman Cade McGee.
Peete was the leadoff man for the Javelinas. In his first at-bat in the top of the first, he singled and later scored via a sac fly by Boston Smith, giving Peoria an early 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the center fielder walked and stole second base. In his third at-bat, Peete flied out to center field. The 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, ended his night hitting a line out to center field. He went 1-for-4 in the ballgame.
Hernandez batted third in the lineup. In the top of the first, he hit a single down left field. The second baseman flied out to center field in his second at-bat. In the fifth inning, the 22-year-old from Puerto Rico singled, sending Ty Harvey home and making it 6-2. Hernandez’s last appearance at-bat resulted in a fly out. He went 2-for-4 on the night.
McGee was placed sixth in the starting lineup. In the second inning, he walked. In his second at-bat, the second baseman singled. In his third and final at-bat appearance in the top of the sixth, the 23-year-old from Tucson, AZ, hit a pop out to first base. McGee finished the night 1-for-3.
No other Cardinals appeared in the contest.
Peoria is 3-4 in the AFL. Their next game is on Monday, October 12th, as they play another road game against the Surprise Saguaros.
Monday’s Game: at Surprise Saguaros
- TBD vs. RHP Steven Zobac
- First Pitch: 8:30 p.m. CST
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
2026 Florida Complex League Cardinals Relief Pitcher of the Year
20% off – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide
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Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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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Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 9th, 2026
Photo: Nolan Sparks (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Peoria Javelinas beat the Glendale Desert Dogs on Thursday. RHP Nolan Sparks pitched in relief. Sparks pitched one inning on the mound and didn’t allow any runs or hits.
Results from the Arizona Fall League game played on Thursday, October 8th.
Peoria Javelinas 10 at Glendale Desert Dogs 2
Peoria beat the Desert Dogs big on Thursday, with a score of 10-2. This was the Javelinas’ fifth game and their second win in the early AFL season. One Cardinal prospect appeared in this ballgame: reliever Nolan Sparks.
The righty was brought onto the mound in the bottom of the seventh, when the Javelinas were up 7-1. In his appearance, he faced three batters; one hit a flyout to center field while the last two lined out. Sparks didn’t allow runs, hits, or walks. He also didn’t strike out any batters.
After Sparks left, Glendale scored on a sac fly, cutting the deficit to five runs, and a few insurance runs in the top of the ninth helped secure the Javelinas’ win.
No other Cardinals prospect played in the match.
Peoria is 2-3. Their next game is on Friday, October 9th, when they will face off against the Surprise Saguaros in another away match.
Friday’s game: At Surprise Saguaros
- RHP Tekoah Roby vs. RHP Peyton Prescott (1-0, 0.00)
- First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CST
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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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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2026 Springfield Cardinals Team Review
photo: Springfield Cardinals Division Champs (PJ Maigi/Springfield Cardinals)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals had a very good 2026 campaign. After a rocky first half, Springfield improved dramatically, winning the North Division in the second half despite major personnel changes. The Cardinals finished with an overall record of 78-59, won the Division Championship but lost in the finals.
First Half Struggles
After a 4-0 start to the year, the Baby Birds began to slide through April and May. In many series, the Cards followed a pattern: they’d lose five games and win only one. This started with the first home set of the year against Tulsa. At one point, the Springbirds had a seven-game losing streak, losing all but one game to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals from April 29th to May 2nd.
Some fans joked that the home ballpark’s name change (Hammons Field became Route 66 Stadium on May 5th) may have contributed to the losing streak.
Springfield started to pick up steam in late May to early June, picking up series wins against Tulsa and the Wichita Wind Surge. But they couldn’t build a strong winning streak, falling to teams such as the Amarillo Sod Poodles, while winning series against the Arkansas Travelers and getting their get-back against Tulsa from earlier in the year.
Both pitching and hitting contributed to these losing patterns. Springfield starters, including Jurrangelo Cijntje and Liam Doyle, struggled in their appearances, giving up considerable amounts of runs during the first half. While batters such as Dakota Harris had hot streaks, not enough of them could find a way to get runs on the board.
The Cardinals finished the first half with a 31-37 record, six games below .500, and were third in the standings, 14 ½ games behind first-place Tulsa (LAD).
Second Half Success
Springfield came back from the All-Star Break hungry and ready to tear through any team who stood in their way. They wanted to bounce back from what many considered a mediocre first half of the season, and they delivered.
The Springbirds took care of business throughout July, August, and the first half of September, stomping most of their competition, including a 10-game winning streak in August.
Two key players helped drive this success: Doyle and Rainiel Rodriguez. After a mediocre first half, the 22-year-old lefty from Boston, MA, locked in, becoming one of the Texas League’s top starting pitchers, posting a 1.78 ERA, allowing only 12 runs and striking out 66 batters.
Rodriguez, or as many called him, “The Hulk,” became a superstar on the team. The 19-year-old put up monster performances across the second half of the year, scoring 49 runs, collecting 83 hits, including 19 home runs, driving in 52 and batting .362 in 57 games.
The 417 Cards finished the second half of the season 47-22, winning the Texas League North and finishing first in the division, five games ahead of Tulsa.
Rebrand Announcement
On August 25th, the team announced that after the season, the team will no longer carry the “Cardinals” moniker. In a press conference, Springfield General Manager Dan Reiter announced that the name, logo and jerseys would change following the playoffs.
The team announced its new name, Ozarks Springbirds, on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026.
Playoffs
In the playoffs, the Cardinals continued their winning ways. They swept the first half champion Drillers in the Division Series and advanced to the Championship Series, where they faced the Amarillo Sod Poodles.
Springfield won Game One in Amarillo, 7-2. At home, however, the Baby Birds couldn’t get the job done, falling to the Sod Poodles in both Games Two and Three; as Amarillo won the Texas League title.
Team Season Stats (10-Team Texas League)
In the 2026 season, the Cardinals’ hitting ranked:
– Fourth in runs (787)
– Third in batting average (.262)
– Fifth in hits (1,190)
– Fourth in RBIs (730)
– Fourth in OPS (.796)
– Seventh in doubles (213)
While Springfield’s offense had its ups and downs, a few batters led the way throughout the season.
Rodriguez, despite being called up from Peoria on May 11th, led Springfield in hits (113), runs scored (74), home runs (23), and RBIs (66). The catcher also batted .328, tops in the Texas League.
Jesus Baez, another player called up from Peoria during the season, collected 74 hits, scored 48 runs, hit eight home runs, and drove in 45. The shortstop batted .316 during his time in the 417.
Harris, who played for the Springbirds from April until August, also put up strong offensive numbers. The 24-year-old from Tampa, FL, collected 87 hits, including 12 home runs, scored 58 runs, and drove in 61, while batting .254.
Springfield pitching ranked:
– Fifth in ERA (4.87)
– First in strikeouts (1,449) – a single-season team record
– Second in opponent’s batting average (.241)
– Second in saves (35)
– Fourth in walks (640)
Pitching was also up and down throughout the year but had some bright spots.
Starters Mason Molina and Doyle had strong seasons, while relievers Mason Burns, Andrew Schultz and Nolan Sparks also performed well throughout 2026.
Regular Season Accolades
Multiple Springfield Cardinals players earned regular-season honors during the year.
LHP Braden Davis was the first Cardinal to receive a regular-season award, named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for May 19-24.
LHP Molina and Baez were named the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Month, respectively, on July 13th.
Rodriguez received several rewards during the season. He was named Texas League Player of the Week three times: for the period of July 27-August 2, August 17-23 and September 7-13. He was also named the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month for August.
Doyle was also named St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August.
Post-Season Accolades
After the regular season ended, several Springbirds received honors for their regular-season performances.
Molina, Baez and Rodriguez were named Texas League All-Stars.
Rodriguez was selected to MLB Pipeline’s All-MiLB Prospect First Team as a catcher. He was also honored by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Cardinals system. The Athletic went another step higher, naming Rodriguez their Player of the Year across Minor League Baseball.
Reliever Sandro Santana, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Lars Nootbaar trade, was also on MLB Pipeline’s first team.
Outfielder Josiah Ragsdale, whom St. Louis acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Dustin May and JoJo Romero on August 3rd, was part of the second team after becoming one of 59 Minor League players to compile a 20-homer, 20-stolen-base season.
What’s Next
More details on the Springfield Cardinals’ top hitters, relievers and starting pitchers are coming as we select the best of the upcoming articles in this series.
Check out The Cardinal Nation’s annual article series highlighting team results, top hitters and pitchers across the entire St. Louis Cardinals system. The Memphis Redbirds Season Review is up next.
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. After our free Team Recaps across affiliates, we will recognize individual player leaders through the current month and into November.
Thank you for your support!
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Double-A Springfield Becomes the Ozarks Springbirds
photo: Jamie Santner/The Cardinal Nation
The Springfield Cardinals are no more. St. Louis’ Double-A affiliate announced Tuesday evening, October 6th, that it will now go by the name “Ozarks Springbirds.”
It’s the second major rebrand to occur with the minor league club this year. In May, the ballpark where Springfield plays changed names from Hammons Field to Route 66 Stadium.
“We are extremely excited to launch our new brand identity today,” Springbirds General Manager Dan Reiter said on Tuesday. “Our new name and logos were created with three things in mind: our city, our region and our birds, to create something we can all be proud to call our own. We can’t wait to see the Springbirds take the field in 2027.”
The name “Springbirds” has been the team’s unofficial nickname for the last couple of decades, popularized by Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Broadcaster Ned Reynolds. Reynolds provided play-by-play for the club on local KY3 telecasts, from the inaugural game in 2005 until 2026. The “Springbirds” moniker has long been used by fans and media members alike in the 22 years of the Springfield Cardinals. Notably, various writers at The Cardinal Nation have also used the name over the years.
Reiter also said the name was chosen to “start this new chapter with an identity that was uniquely ours while knowing how important it was to our fanbase to keep the connection with Cardinals Nation.”
“St. Louis has their Cardinals, Memphis has their Redbirds and now the Ozarks have their Springbirds,” Reiter stated.
The new primary logo for the Springbirds features the new team name on a brand-new, Cardinals-inspired bird to continue the Ozarks’ relationship with the parent club. It also features three components of the Springfield, MO, flag: the top of the compass crown, the three stars and the light blue background.
The crown references Springfield’s nickname: the Queen City of the Ozarks. The three four-pointed stars represent three elements of the city: innovative spirit, connection with nature and Ozarks culture. A light blue background represents tranquil Ozarks waterways.
The moniker “Ozarks” was chosen as the new geographic identifier to unify the fanbase, which supports the team not just in Springfield, but in towns across the region. The primary logo also features a beautiful green landscape, vibrant waterways and tree branches outlining the shield to showcase the beauty of Southwest Missouri.
The secondary logos include an all-new Springbird Feather S, Ozarks O-Bird and Batbird. Three new jerseys will be in use for 2027: a home white, victory blue and alternate/road red will be in rotation for the Springbirds’ inaugural season. Louie and Fetch, the two Springfield mascots, will remain with the Ozarks Springbirds as part of the rebrand.
The team will play under the brand-new Ozarks Springbirds name for the first time on Friday, April 2, 2027, at Route 66 Stadium in Springfield, MO.
Our City. Our Region. Our Birds.https://t.co/jzLf2zrFAP pic.twitter.com/yz3g4oG8Mk
— Ozarks Springbirds (@ozkspringbirds) October 6, 2026
What’s Next
The 2026 Springfield Cardinals Season Review will be published on Wednesday, October 7th.
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. After our free Team Recaps across affiliates, we will recognize individual player leaders through the current month and into November.
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Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 6, 2026
photo: Sammy Hernandez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Peoria fell to 1-2 in the AFL after a Monday loss at Salt River. Cardinals prospect catcher Sammy Hernandez singled, tripled and scored, but reliever Nate Dohm took the loss.
Salt River Rafters 10, Peoria Javelinas 7
Peoria lost its second game in a row, in a high scoring matchup against the Salt River Rafters on Monday. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects played in the game: catcher Sammy Hernandez and reliever Nate Dohm.
Hernandez started the afternoon with a single in the top of the first. He later stole second but was left stranded. In his second at-bat, in the third inning, he popped out to first base. In the fifth, the catcher flied out. The 22-year-old from Puerto Rico lined out in the sixth inning. In his last at-bat, Hernandez tripled and later scored in the top of the ninth. Overall, he went 2-for-5.
Dohm made his appearance in the bottom of the fourth, when the Javelinas were tied with the Rafters 1-1. In 2/3 of an inning, he allowed three runs on one hit, while also walking three batters and not striking out anyone. The 23-year-old from Geneva, IL, didn’t finish the inning, took the loss and turned what was a tied game into a 3-1 Salt River lead.
The Rafters kept on scoring after Dohm departed, taking a 6-1 lead by the end of the fourth inning. Peoria came back with six combined runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but Salt River wouldn’t let the Javelinas take their lead, ending the night with a win due to late insurance runs.
No other Cardinals prospects appeared in the game.
Peoria is 1-2. Their next game is on Wednesday, Oct. 7th, when they will face off against the Scottsdale Scorpions in another away match.
Wednesday’s game: at Scottsdale Scorpions:
- RHP Winyer Chourio vs. RHP Drake George
- First Pitch: 8:30 p.m. CST
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 5, 2026
photo: Nolan Sparks (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Peoria fell to 1-1 in the AFL after a Sunday loss at Mesa. Cardinals reliever Nolan Sparks threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, escaping an inherited two-on, one-out jam in the sixth with two strikeouts.
Mesa Solar Sox 4, Peoria Javelinas 3
Peoria fell to the Mesa Solar Sox in a tight Sunday matchup. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects played in the game: centerfielder Tai Peete and right-handed pitcher Nolan Sparks.
Peete started off the night with a single in the top of the first. The leadoff man was then picked off and caught stealing second base. In his second at-bat, in the third inning, he flied out to left field. In the top of the fifth, the 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, struck out. In his last two at-bats, Peete grounded out. The centerfielder was 1-for-5 for the day.
Sparks entered the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Javelinas were down 2-1. With two runners on, Sparks got his team out of the jam with two consecutive strikeouts. In his 1 ⅔ innings on the mound, he walked two and struck out two while not allowing any runs or hits.
Peoria took the lead after his appearance, which would have set Sparks up for the win, but the Javelinas gave up a home run and an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth as Mesa pulled ahead and won.
No other Cardinals prospects appeared in the game.
The Javelinas are 1-1. They play another road game next, this time at the Salt River Rafters on Monday.
Monday’s Game: At Salt River Rafters
– RHP Luke Holman vs. LHP Cesar Lares
– First Pitch: 3:30 CST
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
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
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 4, 2026
photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Peoria won its AFL opener as Cardinals outfield prospect Tai Peete doubled, homered and scored twice. Michael Watson fanned two in a perfect relief inning.
Peoria Javelinas 7, Mesa Solar Sox 6
The Peoria Javelinas started the Arizona Fall League season with a win at home against the Mesa Solar Sox on Saturday. Two St. Louis Cardinals prospects played in the game: centerfielder Tai Peete and reliever Michael Watson.
In Peete’s first at-bat in the bottom of the first, the leadoff man struck out swinging. He did better his second time up, blasting a solo home run to center in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the 21-year-old from Riverdale, GA, doubled and later scored. Peete ended his night by being called out on strikes in the bottom of the eighth. Overall, the center fielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Watch it fly Tai
The Cardinals No. 17 prospect drills a solo homer 425 feet for Peoria’s first run of the 2026 Fall League season! pic.twitter.com/Y7Gf61Oh9B
— MLB's Arizona Fall League (@MLBazFallLeague) October 4, 2026
Watson appeared in the top of the eighth, as Peoria was down 6-5. In his one inning on the mound, he struck out two batters, while not allowing any runs or hits. The Javelinas walked off the win with two runs in the home ninth.
No other Cardinals prospects appeared in the matchup.
The Javelinas start off the season 1-0. They face Mesa in an away game on Sunday.
Sunday’s Game: at Mesa Solar Sox
– RHP Braxton Bragg vs LHP Grant Richardson
– First Pitch: 7:00 PM CT
Closeout at 20% off – 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.
Closeout sale of remaining printed books at 20% off.
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Playoffs
The Double-A Cardinals swept the Division Series but lost the last two games of the Finals at home to miss their second consecutive Texas League Championship. In the five games, Tai Peete hit .364 with two home runs, five runs scored and six RBIs.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 24
19-year-old Rainiel Rodriguez is the Texas League batting champion and received his third league Player of the Week honors as a loaded Springfield team begins the playoffs Tuesday evening.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 23
The Springfield Cardinals went 6-0 on the week, winning the series against Corpus Christi and taking the first two games against Arkansas. Catcher Cade McGee did well throughout the week, totaling eight hits, eight runs scored, including three home runs, and seven RBIs, batting .320 in the week.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 22
The Double-A Cardinals went 4-2 on the week and clinched the second half division title. Before going on the IL, outfielder Tai Peete was red-hot, hitting .615, 8-for-13, including two home runs, plus three walks, two steals, six RBI and eight runs scored.
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Springfield Cardinals to Rebrand for 2027 and Beyond
photo: Route 66 Stadium (Springfield Cardinals)
On Tuesday, August 25th, Springfield General Manager Dan Reiter announced at a press conference that the team is leaving the Cardinals moniker behind at the end of this season. Springfield will continue to use the name throughout the rest of the current Minor League Baseball season.
Reiter mentioned the history of baseball in the Ozarks, dating back to 1905, and said that they will “always cherish the Springfield Cardinals era and we are excited to open this next chapter.”
The Double-A team has carried the Cardinals name since moving to the Queen City in 2005, but its St. Louis parent no longer owns it. Diamond Baseball Holdings has been the team owner since May of 2023. Springfield will remain an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, despite the rebrand, and has no plans to leave the 417.
“We will remain a St. Louis affiliate for years to come and will continue to play right here in Springfield,” Reiter announced.
Both the Springfield Cashew Chickens and Ozarks Snipe Hunters names will still be used as alternate identities but neither will be the new name for the Springfield ball club.
“This rebrand is about becoming uniquely us and representing Southwest Missouri with pride and joy,” Reiter said.
In an FAQ released by the team after the announcement, the reasoning behind the rebrand is that teams across the country have “found it more important to connect with their community instead of using their MLB affiliate’s marks.”
It also said that back in 2005, 22 teams shared the same name as their parent ballclub. Only eight will remain as of 2027, with four of the teams being owned by their MLB affiliates.
This isn’t the first time Springfield has made a major branding change. Before this season, the ballpark was renamed from Hammons Field to Route 66 Stadium, in honor of the city being marked as the birthplace of the Mother Road.
The team has honored the Springfield Cardinal name since Tuesday night and will continue to do so throughout the final nine regular-season home games. Special in-game programming, fan opportunities and giveaways will be included in the celebration, including fans adding names onto a large sign that will be hung at the stadium and special giveaways given throughout the final two home stands.
“We want to honor our roots and offer fans an opportunity to celebrate the end of this chapter with us,” Reiter declared. “Just like the retirement tours for Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina, we felt it was important to let fans know ahead of time and give them the chance to celebrate 22 wonderful years with us. At the same time, we’re incredibly excited about what comes next and the opportunity to build something that feels distinctly unique to our community.”
A new name, logo and uniform will be released on Tuesday, October 6th at a free party in Route 66 Stadium in Springfield, MO. Timing and more information will be released in the coming weeks.
“Our franchise is committed to providing fun and affordability for everyone. And while the name of our team is changing, our dedication to our fans and our community is not,” Reiter said. “Excitement in Cardinals Nation continues to rise. We know that having a new identity for our team will build on that excitement too and give us all something to be proud of.”
What is next?
Catch Jamie Santner’s Springfield Cardinals Notebook, direct from Route 66 Stadium each Thursday for subscribers to The Cardinal Nation.
20% off – 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.
The final copies of the printed book are on sale for 20% off!
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
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Contact Jamie Santner at jdsantner@gmail.com.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 21
The first place Double-A Cardinals are flying high on an eight-game winning streak. In the last six games, Jesus Baez and Texas League Player of the Week Rainiel Rodriguez combined for 10 home runs, four doubles and 21 RBI while hitting .415. Jamie Santner reports.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 20
The first-place Double-A Cardinals went 4-2 on the week, led by top prospects Liam Doyle and Rainiel Rodriguez. Doyle has allowed two or fewer runs in eight straight starts. Rodriguez hit .550 for the week, increasing his streak to 11 games.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 19
Despite a 2-4 week, the Double-A Cardinals are holding onto first place. No. 1 prospect Rainiel Rodriguez batted .375 including two doubles and two home runs for team highs in slugging (.708) and OPS (1.093).
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 18
The first-place Double-A Cardinals went 4-2 for the week while the organization heavily bolstered the roster for the second half stretch run. Liam Doyle is rounding into form with a 0.84 ERA and 14 strikeouts in his last 10 2/3 innings pitched.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 17
The first-place Double-A Cardinals are on a six-game winning streak. Catcher Rainiel Rodriguez led Springfield in hits (nine) including three doubles and two home runs for a .429 batting average. Jesus Baez and Zach Levenson are also swinging hot bats.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 16
Coming out of the break, the Double-A Cardinals are 1-4. Outfielder Won-Bin Cho had five hits including a double and a home run, led the team in walks (3), stole a base and drove in three.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2026 Week 15
The Double-A Cards split their final pre-break series at Tulsa before major roster changes that include Chase Davis and Jurrangelo Cijntje moving up to Memphis. Dakota Harris logged team highs in batting average at .376 and runs scored with seven.
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