All posts by Michael Goff

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 11, 2025

photo: Jimmy Crooks (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis catcher Jimmy Crooks, was 3-for-5, including a double, a three-run home run, two runs scored, and six RBI. Other standouts include Ixan Henderson, Jonathan Mejia, Sammy Hernandez and Michael McGreevy.

Memphis Redbirds 8 at Nashville Sounds 3

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds flew past the Sounds at First Horizon Park in Nashville on Thursday.

Michael McGreevy made his third start of 2025 for the Redbirds. The right-hander threw five innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, walked one, and struck out four. McGreevy earned his second win of the season.

Michael McGreevy

Righties Nick Anderson and Andre Granillo each fired a scoreless inning in relief of McGreevy. Left-hander Oddanier Mosqueda allowed one run in the eighth. Ryan Loutos pitched a scoreless ninth.

Memphis fell behind 2-0 early, but cut the lead in the third inning. Mike Antico walked and crossed home plate on a Michael Helman single.

Michael Helman

Memphis took the lead in the sixth inning. Helman began the inning with a walk. Jimmy Crooks smacked a double to score Helman and tie the game.

Jimmy Crooks

Crooks touched home on a double play to give the Redbirds a 3-2 lead.

Memphis added a pair of runs in the seventh. Antico led off with a single. José Fermín and Bryan Torres walked to load the bases with no outs. Crooks notched his second double in as many innings, plating Antico and Fermín, and extending the lead to 5-2.

The Redbirds added insurance runs in the ninth inning. Fermín singled and took second on a pickoff error. Torres walked, and Crooks came through again with a two-out, three-run blast to put the game out of Nashville’s reach.

Memphis scored eight runs on seven hits. Crooks was 3-for-5, including a double, a home run, and six RBI. For the season, Crooks now leads Memphis with 10 RBI. Helman, Torres, Fermín and Antico singled.

Defensively, Helman racked up two outfield assists, throwing out runners at second and third base from right field.

Memphis is 6-4 on the season.

Friday’s game: at Nashville, LHP Quinn Mathews (0-1, 3.52) vs. RHP Carlos Rodriguez (1-0, 1.00) 6:35 CT.

Springfield Cardinals 8 at Amarillo Sod Poodles 4

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals won their third straight road contest over the Amarillo Sod Poodles on Thursday.

Ixan Henderson impressed in his first Double-A start. The left-hander fired five shutout innings on three hits, walked three, and fanned eight batters.

Ixan Henderson

Right-handers Ryan Shreve and Andrew Marrero each tossed two innings in relief to seal the victory.

Springfield jumped out of the gates with a two-run top of the first. Chase Davis singled, Jeremy Rivas walked, and Leonardo Bernal reached on a fielding error to load the bases with no outs. Noah Mendlinger lined a two-out single to bring Davis and Rivas home.

The Cardinals doubled their lead in the third inning. R.J. Yeager doubled and came home on Jacob Buchberger’s first home run of the season.

Jacob Buchberger

Springfield plated two more runs in the sixth. Bernal led off with a double. Dakota Harris drove in Bernal with a single. Mendlinger followed with a double, and Ramon Mendoza singled him home to extend the Cardinals lead to 6-0.

Amarillo took one run back in the home sixth, but the Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the eighth to pad the lead.

Buchberger singled and swiped second base. Darlin Moquete knocked Buchberger home via a single. Moquete stole second and touched home on a single by Rivas to make it 8-1.

Springfield held off a late Sod Poodles rally to secure the 8-4 win.

The Cardinals scored eight runs on 13 hits. Every batter tallied at least one hit. Buchberger was 2-for-4, including a home run, two runs scored, a walk, and two RBI. Rivas, Bernal and Mendlinger doubled.

On the basepaths, Mendlinger and Buchberger stole their first bags of the season. Moquete snagged his second steal. Defensively, Harris committed a throwing error.

Springfield is 5-1 on the season.

Friday’s game: at Amarillo, RHP Tekoah Roby (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Avery Short (0-1, 54.00) 7:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 2 at South Bend Cubs 3

Still looking for their first win of 2025, the High-A Peoria Chiefs dropped a close contest at the South Bend Cubs on Thursday.

Darlin Saladin made his first start of the season. The right-hander pitched four innings and allowed one unearned run on one hit, walked three, and fanned three.

Darlin Saladin

Tyler Bradt tossed two hitless innings with a pair of strikeouts but was charged with one unearned run in relief of Saladin. Hunter Hayes followed and allowed one run over two innings. Hayes took the loss.

Peoria opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning via a Joshua Baez walk. Baez stole second and scored on a South Bend throwing error that allowed Zach Levenson to reach base.

The Cubs clawed back, taking a 2-1 lead into the eighth inning, when the Chiefs strung together a rally to tie the game.

Miguel Villarroel drew a one-out walk and Ian Petrutz singled and advanced to second base on another Cubs error. Villarroel moved up to third base on the play. Braden Jobert loaded the bases on a hit by pitch. Baez plated the tying run by reaching on catcher’s interference, South Bend’s third error.

South Bend took the lead in the home eighth and held it to win the game.

The Chiefs scored two runs on three hits. Jon Jon Gazdar recorded the lone extra-base hit for Peoria, a double. Petrutz and Baez each singled.

On the bases, Jobert stole his first of the season. Baez swiped his second bag.

Defensively, shortstop Villarroel made a throwing error. First baseman Johnfrank Salazar committed a throwing error. Baez threw out a runner at second base.

Peoria is 0-5 on the season.

Friday’s game: at South Bend, RHP Gerardo Salas (0-1, 5.40) vs RHP Nick Dean (0-0, 0.00) 6:05 CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 18 at Bradenton Marauders 6

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals steamrolled the Bradenton Marauders in their highest-scoring game of the young season on Thursday.

Leonel Sequera dazzled in his second start on the mound for Palm Beach. The right-hander tossed four shutout innings and allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out four. Sequera has yet to allow an extra-base hit this season.

Leonel Sequera

Jack Findlay and Samuel Fabian pitched the fifth and sixth innings, respectively, and each allowed three runs. Yordy Herrera struck out four across two scoreless frames, and Sam Brodersen threw a scoreless ninth. Herrera picked up his first win of 2025.

Palm Beach came out of the gates strong in a nine-run top of the first.

Christian Martin and Jonathan Mejia led off the game with singles, and Cade McGee walked to load the bases with nobody out. With two outs and no runners home, Luis Pino drew a bases-loaded walk for Palm Beach’s first run. Sammy Hernandez and Jose Cordoba each took free passes to give Palm Beach a 3-0 lead. Deniel Ortiz knocked home Pino and Hernandez on a single. Martin tallied his second hit of the inning with a double, scoring Cordoba. Mejia cranked his first home run of the season, a three-run shot, to make it 9-0.

Jonathan Mejia

In the fourth inning, Palm Beach loaded the bases with no outs for the second time following a Bryce Madron walk, Pino single, and Hernandez walk. Cordoba plated Madron to give Palm Beach a double-digit lead.

The Cardinals had another impressive offensive showing in the fifth inning.

Martin opened the frame by reaching on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mejia walked, and McGee doubled home Martin. Yordalin Pena walked to load the bases again for Palm Beach. Madron and Pino walked to bring two more runs home, extending the lead to 13-0. Hernandez singled home Pena and Madron. Cordoba smacked his first double of the season, plating Pino and Hernandez. Cordoba advanced to third base on a passed ball, and touched home on an Ortiz sacrifice fly, capping an eight-run fifth and an 18-0 Cardinal lead.

Sammy Hernandez

Palm Beach scored all the runs they needed in the first five innings of the rout of Bradenton.

The Cardinals scored 18 runs on 13 hits. Eight out of the nine hitters tallied at least one hit and one RBI. Every hitter scored at least one run. The Cardinals drew 13 walks, five of which were with the bases loaded.

Mejia was 3-for-5, including a three-run home run and a walk. McGee was 2-for-4 including a double and two walks.  Martin was 2-for-4, including a double, a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI. Hernandez drew three walks, scored twice, and drove in three runs.

The Cardinals were 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

On defense, Mejia committed a throwing error.

Palm Beach is 4-2 on the season.

Friday’s game: at Bradenton, RHP Jason Savacool (0-1, 0.00) vs. RHP Carlos Castillo (0-0, 0.00) 5:30 PM CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 7, 2025

photo: Won-Bin Cho (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system was 2-2 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Palm Beach outfielder Won-Bin Cho, was 2-for-4, including a home run, three RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Other standouts include Max Rajcic, Angel Cuenca, Zack Showalter and Joshua Baez.

Results for games played on Sunday, April 6.

Memphis Redbirds vs. Buffalo Bisons (canceled)

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds’ Sunday doubleheader against the Buffalo Bisons was canceled due to inclement weather. The Redbirds announced that these games will not be made up because the two teams are not scheduled to play again in 2025.

Memphis begins their first road trip of 2025 at First Horizon Park in Nashville, Tennessee for a six-game set against the Nashville Sounds (MIL) starting Tuesday.

Tuesday’s pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 5, Wichita Wind Surge 0 (seven innings, Game one)

The Springfield Cardinals shut out the Wichita Wind Surge in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader at Hammons Field. It was the makeup of Friday’s postponement due to inclement weather.

Max Rajcic impressed in his first start of the season. The right-hander threw five scoreless innings and allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out five. Racjic earned the win.

Max Rajcic

Right-hander Austin Love made his Springfield debut in relief and tossed a scoreless sixth.

Springfield’s bats caught fire in a three-run bottom of the second, collecting five hits. Dakota Harris and Noah Mendlinger led off with back-to-back singles. Jacob Buchberger doubled home Harris to score Springfield’s first run in his season debut.

http://thecardinalnation.com/jacob-buchberger/

Brody Moore brought home Mendlinger on his first hit at the Double-A level. Chase Davis drove in Moore.

In the bottom of the third inning, Harris drew a walk, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Buchberger’s line-drive single scored Harris and make it 4-0.

The Cardinals’ fifth run came in similar fashion. Ramon Mendoza drew a one-out walk and took second via wild pitch to begin the home sixth. Darlin Moquete’s two-out single plated Mendoza.

Jack Ralston escaped a bases-loaded jam to seal the win with two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh.

This marked Springfield’s 700th win at Hammons Field.

Springfield scored five runs on eight hits. Seven hitters in the lineup tallied at least one hit.

Buchburger was 2-for-3, including a double, and drove in two runs. Davis, Moquete, and Moore each singled and knocked in one run. Mendlinger, Harris, and Leonardo Bernal also singled.

Cardinals pitchers stranded seven Wichita men on base.

Moquete stole his first of the year and his first at Double-A.

Springfield Cardinals 2, Wichita Wind Surge 10 (seven innings, Game two)

The Springfield Cardinals fell to the Wichita Wind Surge in game two of Sunday’s twin bill.

In a bullpen game, right-hander Zane Mills started for the Cardinals. He threw 1 ⅔ innings and allowed six runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out one. Mills took the loss.

Andrew Marrero made his season debut in relief of Mills and allowed two runs in one inning of work. Ryan Shreve followed Marrero and yielded two runs in two innings. Left-hander Nathaniel Heredia tossed 1 ⅓ scoreless, and right-hander Leonardo Taveras pitched a scoreless seventh.

The Cardinals’ two runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning. R.J. Yeager reached on a hit-by-pitch, Jeremy Rivas walked and Ramon Mendoza singled to load the bases with nobody out. Jacob Buchberger legged out an infield single to score Yeager. Brody Moore plated Rivas with a sacrifice fly.

Springfield scored two runs on five hits. Chase Davis went 2-for-3, including a walk. Buchberger singled and notched his third RBI of the year. Moore collected an RBI. Mendoza and Carlos Linarez also singled.

Defensively, Springfield featured a different lineup. JJ Wetherholt moved into the DH spot for the first time. Catcher Carlos Linarez made his season debut. Moore has started in three different positions in Springfield’s first three games: designated hitter, second base, and shortstop.

The Springfield defense did not commit an error through their first series (of three games).

The Cardinals are 2-1. They will travel to Hodgetown in Amarillo, Texas to begin their first road series of 2025 in a six-game set against the Amarillo Sod Poodles (ARI) on Tuesday.

Pitching probables have not been announced for Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 7, Quad Cities River Bandits 9 (12 innings)

The High-A Peoria Chiefs lost a wild extra-inning contest to the Quad Cities River Bandits in the three-game series finale at Dozer Park.

Jose Davila started in his Chiefs debut. The right-hander threw 4 ⅔ innings and allowed two runs on just one hit, walked four, and fanned six.

Two Chiefs relievers also pitched in a Chiefs uniform for the first time. Zack Showalter dominated as a tandem starter with Davila. Showalter fired four shutout innings, allowed one hit, and struck out six River Bandits.

Zack Showalter

Two position players made their professional pitching debuts as they took the mound for the Chiefs in the last two innings. Infielder Johnfrank Salazar recorded five outs and allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits. Catcher Grayson Tarlow pitched the final out of the top of the 12th inning and did not allow a run. Salazar took the loss.

The Chiefs fell behind 2-0 early but evened the score in the fifth inning. Tre Richardson reached on a fielding error, and advanced to second on another error, caused by a pickoff attempt. Jon Jon Gazdar and Zack Levenson walked to load the bases. Joshua Baez singled to plate Richardson and Gazdar.

The score stayed tied at two, forcing extra innings.

Peoria allowed two runs in the 10th inning but strung together another rally to tie the game again.

Levenson started the inning at second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Baez walked, and Levenson crossed home plate on a Chase Adkinson sacrifice fly. The Chiefs scored their fourth run on a throwing error which plated Baez.

The Chiefs surrendered one run in the 11th but stormed back to re-tie the score after two quick outs to begin the bottom of the inning.

Trey Paige opened the inning at second base, and Ryan Campos drew the Chiefs’ second-straight lead-off walk in extras. Paige scored on the River Bandits’ fourth error of the game, knotting the score at five.

Against the non-pitchers, the River Bandits made it 9-5 going into the bottom of the 12th. This time, the deficit was too large to make up.

Michael Curialle launched his first home run of the season to make the final 9-7.

Michael Curialle

Peoria scored seven runs on 10 hits. Baez went 3-for-5, including a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored. Adkinson was 1-for-4, including a double, a walk, and an RBI on a sac fly. Campos walked and collected the Chiefs’ first triple of the season. Curialle was 2-for-5, including a two-run home run and a walk. Miguel Ugueto, Paige and Gazdar each tallied one hit.

On the basepaths, Baez swiped his first base of the season. Ugeuto and Paige were caught stealing.

The Chiefs are 0-3 this season.

The Chiefs’ first road trip of 2025 will begin at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana for a six-game set starting Tuesday against the South Bend Cubs (ChC).

Pitching probables have not been announced for Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 11, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 10

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals won a Sunday thriller over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to take their first series of the season.

Braden Davis started for Palm Beach in his professional debut. The left-hander went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out six.

Angel Cuenca

Right-hander Angel Cuenca impressed in his season debut. He pitched three shutout innings in relief of Davis and struck out four. Yordy Herrera allowed five runs, four earned in ⅔ innings of work. Sam Broderson recorded one out via strikeout.

Samuel Fabian made his Palm Beach debut in the ninth inning and earned his first win despite allowing one run.

The Mighty Mussels struck first in the third inning on a solo home run, but Jose Cordoba answered with his own solo blast in his first at-bat of the season to tie the ballgame.

Jose Cordoba

Fort Myers took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Palm Beach answered and took their first lead of the game in the home half. Deniel Ortiz walked and stole second. Jonathan Mejia singled, and Won-Bin Cho reached base on a fielder’s choice. Ortiz scored on the play.

Josh Kross tripled to bring home Mejia and Cho.

Josh Kross

Christian Martin singled to bring home Kross and give Palm Beach a 5-2 lead.

Ortiz drew his second walk in the seventh, and Cho extended the Cardinals’ lead to 7-2 with his first home run of 2025.

Won-Bin Cho

Fort Myers rallied with a six-run eighth inning and a two-run ninth to take a 10-7 lead. Palm Beach responded with a comeback of their own in the bottom of the ninth.

Cordoba reached base on a fielding error and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bryce Madron and Ortiz took back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs. Cordoba scored on the second wild pitch of the inning. Madron touched home on a Mejia groundout.

Cade McGee sent everybody home with a two-run blast, his second home run of the year and third of the day for Palm Beach in the wild 11-10 finish.

Cade McGee

The Cardinals scored 11 runs on nine hits. Five of their nine hits went for extra bases.

Cho was 2-for-4, including a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. Cordoba homered and scored twice. Kross drove in two on a triple. Madron walked and doubled. Martin singled twice, driving in one run. McGee’s lone hit was a two-run walk-off home run. Mejia singled.

Five of Palm Beach’s RBI came with two outs.

Defensively, outfielder Cordoba threw out a runner at second base from left field, his first outfield assist of 2025. Catcher Kross threw out two runners from behind the plate. Palm Beach committed five errors in the game. Kross and Mejia each made a throwing error, Peña committed a fielding miscue and Martin was charged with two errors, one of each.

Palm Beach excelled on the bases. Ortiz stole two bags, and Cho one.

Cho raised his batting average to .429. Martin is hitting .417 and McGee is at .364 after three games.

Palm Beach is 2-1 for the season. They will travel to LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida to begin a six-game series against the Bradenton Marauders (PIT) on Tuesday.

Pitching probables for Tuesday have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 PM CT.

Now Available – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its eighth year. It includes 256 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or 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 2025 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide

Exclusively for TCN subscribers

Where are The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 Prospects to Open 2025?

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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.

Contact Michael Goff at mgoff@mail.bradley.edu.

© 2025 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 6, 2025

photo: Tekoah Roby (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-3 on Saturday as Memphis’ game was postponed. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield’s Tekoah Roby, dominated, pitching four shutout innings on two hits and five strikeouts. Other standouts include Cade McGee, RJ Yeager, Johnfrank Salazar and Edwin Nuñez.

Results for games played Saturday, April 5:

Memphis vs. Buffalo (postponed)

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds will play a doubleheader on Sunday against the Buffalo Bisons at AutoZone Park, after Saturday’s matchup was postponed due to inclement weather.

Sunday’s games: RHP Ian Bedell (0-0, 27.00) vs. RHP Jake Bloss (0-1, 6.75) 1:05 CT (game one); LHP Alex Cornwell (1-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Andrew Bash (1-0, 3.00) (game two)

Springfield Cardinals 6, Wichita Wind Surge 2

The Cardinals blew past the Wichita Wind Surge by a score of 6-2 at Hammons Field in their first game of the Double-A season.

Starter Tekoah Roby dazzled. The right-hander tossed four shutout innings and struck out five, allowing just two hits and walking one. His curveball was an excellent weapon, as he used it right away to collect his first strikeout of 2025.

Tekoah Roby

Right-handers Luis Gastelum, Edwin Nuñez, and Osvaldo Berrios were lights out from the bullpen. Gastelum tossed a scoreless fifth. Nuñez followed with two shutout innings, and Berrios threw a scoreless eighth. They allowed just one hit and struck out five as a group. Sean Harney allowed two runs in the ninth in his system debut. Nuñez picked up the win.

Springfield strung together a two-out bottom of the first. With two outs, Leonardo Bernal singled, R.J. Yeager walked, and Jeremy Rivas was hit by a pitch to bring up Dakota Harris with the bases loaded. Harris legged out an infield single to score Bernal for the Cardinals’ first run of the season.

The Cardinals plated three more in the third inning. JJ Wetherholt was hit by a pitch and Bernal doubled to right field to put two in scoring position. Yeager brought Wetherholt home on a sacrifice fly. Harris doubled home Bernal. Noah Mendlinger singled home Harris to make it 5-0.

Two more runs came home for Springfield in the fifth. Yeager singled and swiped second base. Rivas then lifted a ball into the Wichita bullpen in left field for Springfield’s first home run of the season, extending the lead to 6-0.

Jeremy Rivas

Springfield plated six runs on eight hits, with six of their nine hitters tallying at least one hit.

The organization’s top prospect, shortstop JJ Wetherholt, made his Double-A debut. He was hit by a pitch and scored one run. Harris went 2-for-4 including a double and two RBI. Rivas drove in two on a home run. Bernal was 2-for-4, including a double. Mendlinger drove in a run on his only hit of the game. Yeager was a perfect 1-for-1, also drawing a walk and hitting a sacrifice fly. Darlin Moquete singled.

The Cardinals were 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Springfield moves to 1-0 on the season.

Springfield will play a doubleheader on Sunday, due to Friday’s postponement due to inclement weather.

Sunday’s games: vs. Wind Surge, RHP Max Rajcic (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Aaron Rozek (0-0, 0.00) 1:05 CT (game one); vs. Wind Surge, RHP Zane Mills (bullpen game) vs. RHP Trent Baker (0-0, 0.00) (game two).

Peoria Chiefs 2, Quad Cities River Bandits 6 (seven innings, Game 1)

The High-A Peoria Chiefs fell to the Quad Cities River Bandits in game one of a Saturday doubleheader, and their first game of the 2025 season.

In his High-A debut, Gerardo Salas started for the Chiefs. The right-hander went 3 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out three. Salas took the loss.

Right-hander Hunter Hayes recorded five outs in relief, allowing three runs on five hits and striking out a pair. Jawilme Ramirez made his system debut, allowing one run on one hit, walking two and fanning one in his one inning of work. Last year’s Rule 5 pick in the Triple-A phase, right-hander Angel Gonzalez, made his system debut and tossed a scoreless seventh, striking out two.

The Chiefs fell behind 1-0 early on a lead-off home run, but they evened the score in the bottom of the first. Miguel Villarroel doubled for the first hit of the season for the Chiefs and came around to score after a River Bandits error.

Miguel Villarroel

Quad Cities took the run back in the second and added three more in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it a 6-1 game.

The Chiefs plated one in the bottom of the seventh, as Ryan Campos and Trey Paige walked, and groundouts from Johnfrank Salazar and Jon Jon Gazdar brought Campos home.

The Chiefs scored two runs on just two hits. Villarroel doubled and Joshua Baez singled. Brayden Jobert and Gazdar drove in the runs.

Defensively, catcher Ryan Campos made a throwing error, his first of the season. Outfielder Ian Petrutz threw out a runner at third base.

Peoria Chiefs 6, Quad Cities River Bandits 8 (eight innings, Game 2)

The Chiefs lost a tight extra inning contest in game two of their Saturday doubleheader against the River Bandits at Dozer Park.

Cade Winquest started. The right-hander allowed two runs, three walks, and struck out three in two innings. Dionys Rodriguez allowed a single to the only batter he faced, leaving the game early due to an injury. Inohan Paniagua came in for Rodriguez, allowing three runs in 1 ⅔ innings. Right-hander Tanner Jacobson retired the four batters he faced, striking out one. Fellow righty Benjamin Arias followed with two scoreless innings.

Tyler Bradt allowed two River Bandits to cross home plate in the eighth, and took the loss.

The River Bandits took a 6-0 lead, scoring pairs of runs in the first, third, and fourth innings. The Chiefs responded in a big way in the home fourth.

Peoria loaded the bases with nobody out courtesy of an Ian Petrutz single, a Brayden Jobert double, and a Joshua Baez walk.

Miguel Ugueto

Miguel Ugueto stepped up to the plate in his Chiefs’ debut and cashed in with a two-run single, scoring Petrutz and Jobert. Johnfrank Salazar followed with an RBI single, plating Baez. Ugueto came home on a River Bandits error, allowing Graysen Tarlow to reach base. Miguel Villarroel smacked a two-run double with one out in the inning to bring in Salazar and Tarlow, tying the game at six and erasing the early deficit.

The score stayed deadlocked at six, forcing extra innings in the doubleheader finale, but Peoria fell in eight innings.

The Chiefs scored six runs on 11 hits. Seven hitters in the lineup recorded at least one hit.

Jobert collected two doubles. Salazar notched one RBI, along with three singles. Catcher Graysen Tarlow singled twice in his first game of the season, driving in one. Jobert had two singles from the DH slot. Petrutz, Ugueto, and Michael Curialle singled.

On the bases, Salazar swiped his first of the season. Defensively, Tarlow had a passed ball from behind the plate.

Villarroel doubled in each game of the doubleheader.

The Chiefs are 0-2 this season.

Sunday’s game: RHP Jose Davila (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Hunter Patteson (0-0, 0.00) 2:05 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 4, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 6

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals fell to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels in game two of the season on Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Jason Savacool started for the Cardinals. The right-hander worked four innings, allowed three unearned runs, walking just one batter and striking out two.

Relievers Mason Burns and Jack Findlay made their professional debuts in relief. Burns, the right-hander, went 1 ⅔ innings following Savacool, allowing one run on a single hit, striking out three with no walks. The lefty Findlay followed and did not allow a Mighty Mussel to touch home, walked three and struck out two.

Right-handers Randel Clemente and Ernie Day made their season debuts. Clemente surrendered two runs in 2/3 of an inning. In his first game as a Cardinal. Day pitched the remaining 1 ⅓ frames, striking out two while not allowing any runs.

Palm Beach fell behind after a three-run Fort Myers second inning, but Cade McGee brought Palm Beach within two on his first home run of the young season.

Cade McGee

McGee displayed his speed on the basepaths in the bottom of the fifth inning. He walked to lead off, stole second base and advanced to third on a Fort Myers throwing error. McGee scored via a Bryce Madron groundout to trim the deficit to just one.

Jose Suarez singled and stole his first base of the season in the sixth inning. McGee took his second walk and swiped his second base of the game in the seventh.

Fort Myers added two more runs in the eighth to make it 6-2, and Palm Beach responded with two of their own in the home eighth.

The Cardinals rally began on back-to-back singles by Anyelo Encarnacion and Christian Martin, followed by a Jonathan Mejia walk to load the bases with nobody out. Encarnacion scored via a Suarez groundout, and Martin touched home with two outs in the inning, courtesy of a wild pitch.

In the loss, the Cardinals scored four runs on four hits. McGee slugged his first home run of the year, scored two runs, walked twice, and stole second base twice. Suarez collected a single, a walk, and a stolen base. Martin and Encarnacion also singled and scored.

Defensively, the Cardinals committed three errors. Second baseman Christian Martin and catcher Sammy Hernandez each made a throwing error, and Bryce Madron committed a fielding error at first base.

Palm Beach stole four bases. Two came from McGee, the third by Deniel Ortiz, and the fourth was swiped by Suarez.

Palm Beach is 1-1 on the season.

Sunday’s game: vs. Fort Myers, LHP Braden Davis (professional debut) vs. RHP Michael Ross (0-0, 0.00) 11:30 AM CT.

Now Available – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide

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Cardinals System Improves, but Still Last in NL Central in 2025

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 4, 2025

Setting up the slate of five Friday games to be played across the St. Louis Cardinals system, including Opening Day in Springfield, Peoria and Palm Beach.

Games scheduled on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Memphis Redbirds vs. Buffalo Bisons (TOR) doubleheader

The Memphis Redbirds will play a home doubleheader on Friday, after Thursday’s game was rained out.

Pitching probables for Game 1 at 4:30 p.m. CT: LHP Quinn Mathews (0-1, 4.50) vs. LHP Eric Lauer (0-0, 4.50)

Quinn Mathews

Mathews, last season’s MiLB strikeout leader, pitched four innings of two-run ball in his first start of the season last Saturday. Lauer has pitched in parts of six seasons with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers at the major league level.

Pitching probables for Game 2: RHP Michael McGreevy (0-1, 9.00) vs. LHP Trenton Wallace (0-1, 67.50)

McGreevy, The Cardinal Nation’s no. 9 prospect, was scheduled to start on Thursday before the postponement. He is the presumed (but not yet official) starter for one of Friday’s twinbill.

Bryan Torres enters Friday with a .667 batting average and eight hits on the young season, leading the Redbirds in both categories. Yohel Pozo has been the best run producer for Memphis, slugging two home runs and driving in six across four games.

Memphis enters Friday with a 3-2 record.

More information on the Redbirds roster for TCN subscribers:

Going Deep on Memphis’ 2025 Opening Day Roster

Springfield Cardinals vs. Wichita Wind Surge (MIN)

The Springfield Cardinals will open their Double-A season at home against the Wichita Wind Surge on Friday.

Pitching probables: RHP Tekoah Roby (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Connor Prielipp (0-0, 0.00)

Roby, The Cardinal Nation’s fourth-ranked prospect, pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts over nine innings in Spring Training with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tekoah Roby

The organization’s top prospect, shortstop JJ Wetherholt, will make his Double-A debut after hitting .295 in Palm Beach last season, as the seventh overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft. Among others to watch in Springfield this season are Luis Gastelum (TCN no. 31), Ixan Henderson (no. 26) and another former first-rounder, Chase Davis (no. 10).

Three players start the season on the seven-day injured list: LHPs Cooper Hjerpe (no. 7) and Nick Raquet, along with outfielder Nathan Church.

First pitch at Hammons Field is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.

More information on the Cardinals roster for TCN subscribers:

Going Deep on Springfield’s Preliminary 2025 Opening Day Roster

Peoria Chiefs vs. Quad Cities River Bandits (HOU)

The Peoria Chiefs will open their 2025 High-A season at Dozer Park against the Quad Cities River Bandits.

Pitching probables for Friday: RHP Gerardo Salas (0-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-0, 0.00)

Gerardo Salas

Chiefs players to watch this season include outfielder Ian Petrutz (TCN no. 41 prospect), catcher Ryan Campos (no. 30) and infielder Jon Jon Gazdar. All three were key players on Palm Beach’s 2024 Florida State League Championship team.

The Chiefs feature 11 players on their Opening Day roster who did not finish 2024 with the team.

Three key Chiefs will begin their season on the seven-day injured list: RHPs Joseph King (TCN no. 49) and Chen Wei-Lin (no. 13), and outfielder Won-Bin Cho (no. 17).

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CT.

More information on the Chiefs roster for TCN subscribers:

Going Deep on Peoria’s 2025 Opening Day Roster

Palm Beach Cardinals vs. Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (MIN)

The reigning Florida State League Champion Palm Beach Cardinals open their Single-A season on Friday at home against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

José Suarez

Outfielder Jose Suarez played in 41 games for Palm Beach after a mid-season call up last season, hitting .252 with three home runs and 24 RBI and swiping five bases. Other players to watch include outfielder Bryce Madron and first baseman Josh Kross, along with right-hander Leonel Sequera on the pitching side.

Four players will begin the season on the seven-day injured list: RHPs Brian Holiday, Owen Rice and Hunter Kublick, along with outfielder Travis Honeyman. RHP Andrew Dutkanych is on the 60-day IL.

Leonel Sequera

Friday’s starting pitcher for the Cardinals will be Leonel Sequera. The rest of the rotation has not yet been announced.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 PM CT.

More information on the Cardinals roster for TCN subscribers:

Going Deep on Palm Beach’s 2025 Opening Day Roster

Now Available – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – March 31, 2025

photo: Bryan Torres (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-0 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, outfielder Bryan Torres, was 4-for-5 including a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI in the win at Louisville. Other standouts include César Prieto, Jose Barrero, and Thomas Saggese.

Results for the game played Sunday, March 30:

Memphis 13 at Louisville 9

The Memphis Redbirds prevailed in a Sunday slugfest with the Bats in Louisville for their first win of the Triple-A season.

Gordon Graceffo made his first start of 2025. The right-hander threw 2 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs on four hits, while striking out five and walking one.

Oddanier Mosqueda entered in relief of Graceffo in the third inning and picked up the win in his system debut. The left-hander threw 2 ⅓ innings of one run ball, striking out three and did not walk a batter. Right-handers Matt Svanson, Riley O’Brien, and Ryan Loutos all made their season debuts in relief. Svanson recorded four outs and allowed one run. O’Brien pitched a scoreless seventh, and Loutos was charged with three runs in the eighth inning.

The Redbirds got the scoring started immediately. Bryan Torres and Thomas Saggese led off the game with singles, and Matt Koperniak hit the third-straight single to drive in Torres. César Prieto’s two-out, three-run homer capped off the four-run Memphis first, his first of the season.

César Prieto

Jose Barrero smacked a line-drive solo shot, his first home run of the year, in the top of the third inning to make it a 5-1 Memphis lead.

Jose Barrero

The Bats hit back in the bottom of the third with three runs, but Memphis wasn’t done hitting the ball out of the park.

Following a Matt Lloyd triple and a Ryan Vilade ground out, Bryan Torres smashed a two-run home run. Thomas Saggese went back-to-back with a solo shot for a 8-4 Memphis lead in the fourth inning.

Bryan Torres

Thomas Saggese

In the fifth, Yohel Pozo made it 9-4 Memphis on a run-scoring double, his first RBI of the season. Pozo later stole home plate on a double-steal with Vilade also taking second base to make it 10-4.

Koperniak doubled to lead off the sixth, and later scored on a fielding error, which also allowed Jimmy Crooks to reach base. Prieto doubled to move Crooks to third, and Pozo drove him in on a single to make it 12-5. Prieto came home during the following at-bat on a wild pitch for the Redbirds’ 13th run of the game.

Down by eight, the Bats didn’t give up, plating one in the home sixth and three in the eighth, to cut the gap in half. But right-handed reliever Michael Gomez sealed the victory for Memphis with a scoreless ninth, including striking out the first batter of the inning.

Memphis scored 13 runs on 16 hits, tallying 33 total bases. Torres was 4-for-5, including a home run, a double, a walk, and two RBI, raising his batting average to .625. Barrero, Prieto, and Saggese also homered.

On defense, the Redbirds featured a very different lineup. Barrero received his first look in center field, while Torres made the start in left field for the first time this year. Saggese and Vilade started at shortstop and third base, respectively, for the first time this season. Memphis did not commit any errors in their first series.

The Redbirds are 1-2 for the season. They will head to Memphis for their home opener on Tuesday after the traditional Monday off across Minor League Baseball.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Buffalo (TOR), TBD (likely Sem Robberse or Ian Bedell) vs. Jake Bloss, RHP (0-0, 0.00).

Now Available – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide

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Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp Report – March 29, 2025

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – March 30, 2025

photo: Roddery Munoz, Quinn Mathews (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-1 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, right-handed reliever Roddery Muñoz, dominated in his system debut, striking out five batters in two scoreless innings of Memphis’ loss. Other standouts include Yohel Pozo and Ryan Vilade.

Results for the game played Saturday, March 29:

Memphis 1 at Louisville 4

The Memphis Redbirds lost a close contest to the Louisville Bats on Saturday in their second game of the Triple-A season.

Last season’s MiLB strikeout leader, Quinn Mathews, made his first start of the season. The left-hander threw four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking three. Matthews took the loss.

Right-handers Nick Anderson, Roddery Muñoz, and Zack Weiss all made their system debuts in relief. Anderson allowed two runs in the fifth inning. Muñoz followed with a scoreless sixth and seventh inning, striking out five. Weiss threw a scoreless eighth.

Roddery Muñoz

Yohel Pozo started his Redbird debut strongly, leading off the top of the second inning with a ground-rule double. Ryan Vilade got the Redbirds on the board with a two-out RBI single to score Pozo, giving Memphis their first lead of the young season.

Ryan Vilade

Mathews and Memphis could not hold the lead as the Bats immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the second. The home club made it 4-1 in the fifth.

The Redbirds scored one run on four hits. Pozo was 1-for-4, a double. Matt Koperniak, Vilade and Bryan Torres each singled.

Defensively, catcher Pozo tallied his first caught-stealing of the season. The Redbirds have not made an error in their first two games.

The Redbirds are 0-2 on the season, outscored 13-5.

Sunday’s game: at Louisville, Gordon Graceffo, RHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. Aaron Wilkerson, RHP (0-0, 0.00) 12:05 CT.

Now Available – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its eighth year. It includes 256 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or 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!

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Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp Report – March 29, 2025

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