photo: Kyle Leahy and Ryan Loutos (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Sunday, March 19) that they have re-assigned three players to minor league camp, reducing their Spring Training camp roster to 43.
Non-roster pitchers Kyle Leahy and Ryan Loutos, and catcher José Alvarez were re-assigned today.
Today’s transactions leave 33 Major League roster players and 10 non-roster invitees on the Spring Training camp roster.
Brian Walton’s take
With about 10 days remaining in camp, the Cardinals are now getting into daily roster cuts. None of these three seemed to be in serious contention of making St. Louis’ roster this camp.
The 2021 free agent signee opened 2022 at High-A Peoria, then passed through Double-A Springfield before earning another promotion, this one to Memphis and finished in the Arizona Fall League,
Loutos, The Cardinal Nation’s 40th-ranked prospect, was solid in camp, allowing no runs in 4 1/3 innings over six games with two hits and two walks. He fanned two. The 24-year-old should be in the late inning mix back with the Triple-A Redbirds.
Leahy spent most of last season in Springfield’s rotation, posting a 5.23 ERA with 144 strikeouts and 71 walks in the system-leading total of 141 innings. Leahy also pitched in the 2022 AFL.
The 25-year-old had a spring line similar to Loutos’, with no runs yielded in 4 1/3 innings on two hits and a walk, but he struck out six.
With fewer pitchers in camp, fewer catchers are needed as well.
Alvarez, 22, was selected from Houston in the Minor League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft in December, 2022. He first signed in 2017 and played at four levels in 2022. The right-handed hitter played roughly a month of games each at Low-A, High-A and Double-A and logged one game at Triple-A. He slashed .279/.354/.379/.733 and plated 36 runners in 71 games.
This spring, he appeared in just two games and reached base in three of four plate appearances with two singles and a walk an RBI and a run scored.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now available – 2023 Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes a record 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of new scouting reports and much more.
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-tcns-2023-cardinals-prospect-guide/
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.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com or for fastest turnaround, pose your questions on The Cardinal Nation’s members-only forum. Follow Brian on Twitter.
© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.