Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 1, 2026

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

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-0 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, C Jimmy Crooks, blasted a three-run home run and was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Other standouts include Leonardo Bernal, César Prieto, Blaze Jordan, Matt Koperniak and Ramon Mendoza.

Results for the game played on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Memphis 10, Norfolk 5

The Memphis Redbirds pounded the Tides on Tuesday night by a 10-5 score at AutoZone Park. St. Louis’ Hunter Dobbins made his first rehab start of five innings, gave up three runs on three hits, struck out three and issued two free passes. Dobbins received the win.

Following Dobbins on the mound was Gershon Moreno who threw a scoreless sixth. In his long-awaited Triple-A debut, Tink Hence surrendered a run in the seventh. Packy Naughton relinquished the final run for Norfolk in the eighth. Ryan Fernandez tossed a scoreless ninth.

Memphis went up 3-0 in the second inning, but the Tides fought back to tie the game in the top of the third. In the bottom half of the inning, the Redbirds retook the lead on a Blaze Jordan long ball.

Blaze Jordan

Memphis continued to add on with their fifth run in the fourth, a solo home run by César Prieto.

In the sixth, Nelson Velázquez drew a walk, advanced to second on a single by Leonardo Bernal, went to third on a Prieto walk, and scored on a sacrifice double play off the bat of Matt Koperniak to bring the score to 6-3.

Norfolk cut the lead to 6-4 in the visitors’ half of the seventh on a home run surrendered by Hence.

The score became lopsided in the home half of the inning when Ramon Mendoza singled, Jordan drew a walk, and backstop Jimmy Crooks blasted a missile to right center field for a three-run home run.

Jimmy Crooks

The Tides continued to fight with a run in the top of the eighth, but the relentless Redbirds added a run of their own in the bottom frame in a bizarre play. Leo Bernal singled and was almost picked off first base, but the throw got away from the Norfolk first baseman. Bernal dashed to second and went partly on his way to third, when the Tides first sacker inexplicably threw the ball to home plate rather than to third. Bernal took advantage and ran to the next base. Now on third, he scored when Matt Koperniak grounded into a double play.

The beginning of the ninth went quietly. Memphis was the victor by the score of 10-5, and the possessor of a 4-0 record to start the season.

Crooks finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Prieto was 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Mendoza was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bernal was 2-for-4.  Koperniak drove in three runs. Jordan had an RBI and two runs scored. The offense scored 10 runs on 10 hits.

Mendoza stole his first base of the season. Crooks had a passed ball.

The Redbirds continue their homestand against the Tides through Sunday.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Norfolk, Quinn Mathews LHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. Brandon Young RHP (0-0, 0.00) 12:05 CT.

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