The St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate was powered by its offense in 2022. From among six very qualified candidates, power-hitting outfielder Moises Gomez is our Springfield Player of the Year.
All posts by Nicole Walker
2022 Springfield Cardinals Starting Pitcher of the Year
2022 Springfield Cardinals Relief Pitcher of the Year
Springfield Cardinals 2022 Team Review
photo: Hammons Field (St. Louis Cardinals)
The 2022 Springfield Cardinals posted an overall record of 68-70, the Double-A team’s fourth consecutive losing season, and fifth straight season missing the playoffs. However, it was a major improvement from 2021.
Springfield finished the first half in fifth place in the division at 31-38 but improved to 37-32 and a tie for second after the break. The overall winning percentage of .493 is a significant increase from last year’s .375. The Cardinals didn’t have much of a home field advantage, going 31-38, but played slightly better on the road with a winning record of 37-32.
Month by Month
The MiLB Double-A season schedule returned to a normalcy after 2021 started a month late and the entire 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This season, the Cardinals were in action from April 8 to September 18. Four players were placed on IL to start the season, and in their first month of play, Springfield went 8-12. The Cardinals struggled to pick up multiple wins in a row throughout their first two months of play, and went on multiple losing streaks, but to end the first half, the Cardinals won six straight going into the break. To end the first half, the Cardinals had a record of 31-38 and were in last place in the Texas League North Division, 10 games out of first place.
Springfield’s wins started to pick up during the second half of the season and they spent a majority of the half slipping between second and third place, even spending a short time in first. Springfield picked up their most wins in a month during July when they went 14-10 with a four-game winning streak from July 10 to July 16, while averaging .282 at the plate.
Springfield’s longest losing streak was six games from the end of July into early August. To end the season, the Cardinals went 8-7 in September, and finished the second half in a tie for second, six games back, with a 37-32 record and an overall record of 68-70.
At the Plate
The Cardinals had much of their success at the plate this year with numerous home runs and finishing in the top five in hits (1207) and RBI (766) and had a batting average of .258, but at times lacked consistency. Among the best hitters for Springfield this season were Moises Gomez, Jordan Walker, Matt Koperniak, Malcom Nunez, and Chandler Redmond.
Gomez led Springfield in home runs (23) before he was promoted to Memphis, but among those on the roster at the end of the season, Redmond led with 21 home runs. His most memorable game came on August 11 when he became the first Cardinal ever to hit four home runs and notch 11 RBI in a game. Redmond also had a big game on September 13, when he swatted his fourth grand slam of the season. Redmond finished with 79 RBI.
Walker swatted the most hits this year, (141), and had the top batting average at .306, and Mike Antico had the most stolen bases (30). The Cardinals set a team record with 15 walks in their August 26 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
On the Mound
The Achilles heel for the Cardinals this year was their pitching, a common issue for Springfield in recent years.
The club’s 5.50 ERA was the third highest in the Texas League, as they allowed the fourth most hits (1262), second most home runs (186), and only shut out their opponents four times in 138 games. Springfield gave up the third most runs (813) and earned runs (741).
One of the best pitching performances came from Gordon Graceffo on September 15 when he finished six innings with just one hit, no runs, and no walks and matched a career high with nine strikeouts. The 22-year-old retired 17 in a row to start and 18 of the 19 batters he faced. Graceffo was the final Texas League Pitcher of the Week (his second weekly honor this season) and ended the year with a 2.97 ERA.
Team Roster
Springfield had an opening day roster of 28 players, with six players among in the top 30 prospects in the St. Louis system, including number one, then-third baseman, now outfielder Jordan Walker.
Walker finished the season with a .306 batting average, 68 RBI, and was one home run shy of the first 20/20 season in Cardinal’s history (19 home runs, 21 stolen bases). Walker also had the opportunity to represent the Cardinals in the MLB All-Star Futures Game in July.
Along with Walker, the Cardinals had another 20-year-old prospect in shortstop Masyn Winn, who also represented the Cardinals in the Futures Game. Winn was promoted from High-A Peoria on May 23 and was one the best at stealing bases for Springfield, successful in 28 of 33 Double-A attempts. Winn ended his campaign with 63 RBI, 12 home runs, and a OPS of .832 with Springfield and Peoria.
Before being promoted to Memphis on June 28, outfielder Moises Gomez blasted home run after home run, and at the time led the Texas League with 23 home runs. Gomez won back-to-back Player of the Week awards for April 11-17 and April 18-24 and collected two Player of the Month awards. In May, the St. Louis Cardinals named him the Minor League Player of the Month and he was the Texas League Player of the Month for April.
14 pitchers opened the season for the Cardinals and the best starters on the mound were Gordon Graceffo, Kyle Leahy, and Michael McGreevy, who were each in the top three in strikeouts for Springfield. The Cardinals welcomed major league pitchers Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz for rehab assignments.
There were many transactions throughout the season, 92 in total, and once players got settled into their roles, the team would have a bit of momentum, but at times were inconsistent.
In Conclusion
The season may not have ended the way the Cardinals would have hoped, with their struggles on the mound and inconsistency at the plate. But they showed major improvement from last year, and their young prospects hold a lot of potential for the future.
What is next?
Much more detail on the Springfield Cardinals’ top hitters, relievers and starting pitchers is coming as we select the best of the best in upcoming articles in this series.
Check out The Cardinal Nation’s annual article series highlighting team results and top hitters and pitchers across the entire St. Louis Cardinals system. The Dominican Summer League Relief Pitcher of the Year is next up.
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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 24
The Springfield Cardinals went 3-1 to end their series with Tulsa and close out the season with an overall record of 68-70. The Cardinals went 37-32 in the second half and finished with a winning record on the road and at home this season. Gordon Graceffo was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week and Kyle Leahy was promoted to Memphis.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 23
Heading into their final weekend of the season, the Springfield Cardinals have a 34-31 record in the second half but have been eliminated. In the Double-A club’s 4-2 week, Chandler Redmond hit his fourth grand slam of 2022 and second baseman Errol Robinson extended his on-base streak.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 22
The Springfield Cardinals went 2-4 on the week and are 30-29 in the second half. Outfielder Matt Koperniak is the system-wide Player of the Month for August. Center fielder Mike Antico is hot at the plate and continues to steal bases.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 21
The Springfield Cardinals went 3-3 this week and remain in second place in the Texas League North. IF Errol Robinson tied the team’s single-game walk record to open a hot week and OF Matt Koperniak has hits in 19 of 20 games.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 20
With a 4-2 week and 25-22 record in the second half, the Springfield Cardinals are second in the Texas League North. Outfielder Matt Koperniak extended his hitting streak and Jordan Walker led the Double-A team in RBI this week.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 19
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 18
The 19-16 second place Springfield Cardinals were 4-2 on the week and are on a four-game winning streak after previously losing six straight. On Wednesday, Chandler Redmond topped Matt Koperniak’s Tuesday cycle with an extremely rare home run cycle.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 17
The Double-A Cardinals went 2-4 for the week and dropped to second place in the second half standings. Shortstop Masyn Winn extended his hitting streak, and new outfielder Jordan Walker led the team in home runs and RBI.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 16
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 15
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 14
The 8-6 Springfield Cardinals are in first place in the Texas League North and are in the middle of a homestand series with the Tulsa Drillers. Catcher Nick Raposo extends his hitting streak, left fielder Mike Antico leads the team in stolen bases, and Malcom Nunez continues to swat home runs.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 13
The Springfield Cardinals are 4-4 to start the second half. First baseman Malcom Nunez was named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Month and outfielder Chase Pinder made his return from the IL felt with long-ball and RBI feats.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 12
The Springfield Cardinals had an excellent week, going 5-1 and finishing the first half of the season on a six-game winning streak. The bats came alive this past week, as the St. Louis Cardinals Double-A affiliate scored an average of nearly nine runs per game. Malcom Nunez paced the lineup with a .429 batting average and three long balls.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 11
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 10
The Springfield Cardinals went 4-2 on the week, wrapping up a road series with the Midland RockHounds then returning to Hammons Field against Corpus Christi. Utilityman Delvin Perez extended his hitting streak, outfielder Moises Gomez set a new single-season career high in home runs and first baseman Malcom Nunez has been red-hot in June.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 9
The Springfield Cardinals went 1-5 last week as the St. Louis Cardinals’ Double-A affiliate struggled on the mound and at the plate. Jordan Walker extended his on-base streak to 11 games and hitting streak to six games while Moises Gomez continued to lead the league in home runs.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 8
The 20-27 Springfield Cardinals went 2-4 last week. Recent addition to the roster Masyn Winn has gotten hot to join the powerful duo of Jordan Walker and Moises Gomez. The trio led the offense as Winn has a pair of long balls and four doubles since being promoted, Gomez continued to lead league in homers, and Walker batted .467.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 7
The 17-23 Double-A Cardinals went 2-4 in Wichita and won the opener over Tulsa. Three top prospects joined the roster, right fielder Matt Koperniak shines and third baseman Jordan Walker is on an extra-base hit surge.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 6
The 14-21 Springfield Cardinals went 2-4 on the week, currently at the first place Wichita Wind Surge after a home set with the Amariilo Sod Poodles. Outfielder Moises Gomez continues to lead the Texas League with 17 home runs and first baseman Chandler Redmond was named the Texas League Player of The Week.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 5
The Springfield Cardinals went 2-4 at home last week to fall to 12-17 on the season. Third baseman Jordan Walker has five hits in eight at-bats in the current series and has reached base in 24 of 26 games this season. St. Louis shortstop Edmundo Sosa’s rehab was successful.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 4
On the road at San Antonio and home against NW Arkansas, the 10-13 Springfield Cardinals went 3-3 for the week. Outfielder Moises Gomez was named the Texas League Player of The Month for April and catcher Pedro Pages is also making noise around the Double-A league.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 3
The 7-10 Springfield Cardinals concluded their home series against Tulsa and began their six-game road series against the San Antonio Missions, going 3-3 on the week. Third baseman Jordan Walker has an ongoing on base streak of 15 games with Matt Koperniak’s at nine games. Moises Gomez repeated as Texas League Player of the Week.
Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2022 Week 2
The 4-7 Springfield Cardinals wrapped up their six game road series against Arkansas and returned to Hammons Field for six with Tulsa, going 1-4 on the week. Outfielder Moises Gomez was named Texas League Player of the Week for the period of April 11-17. Other standouts include Jordan Walker and Domingo Robles.