Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 4, 2025

photo: Cade Winquest (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, Springfield SP Cade Winquest, fired 5 ⅓ strong innings with seven strikeouts to earn his first Double-A win. Other standouts include JJ Wetherholt, Jimmy Crooks, Alex Cornwell, Michael Watson and Hunter Hayes.

Results for games played on Sunday, August 3:

Memphis Redbirds 9 at Norfolk Tides 10 (10 innings)

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds dropped Sunday’s series finale in extra-innings to the Tides in Norfolk on Sunday.

Zach Plesac started for Memphis. The right-hander pitched four innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Alex Cornwell

Alex Cornwell threw 3 ⅔ dominant, scoreless innings with four strikeouts in relief. Chris Roycroft surrendered three runs in the ninth, taking the walk-off loss.

The Redbirds dealt an early blow with a four-run first inning. Facing rehabbing Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish, JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church hit back-to-back singles. Jimmy Crooks connected for a third consecutive single to score Wetherholt for the first run of the game.

Matt Koperniak reached on a fielder’s choice due to a fielding error, loading the bases with no outs. Blaze Jordan cashed in with his first hit as a Redbird, a two-run single to bring Church and Crooks home for a 3-0 Memphis lead, with Koperniak to third.

Blaze Jordan

Koperniak crossed home plate on a César Prieto double play ball to extend the lead to 4-0.

Norfolk split the lead in half with a pair of runs in the home first.

Memphis responded with a trio of runs in the top of the second. Michael Siani walked and moved to second base on an Andy Yerzy groundout. Wetherholt lined a single to bring Siani home for a 5-2 lead.

With two outs, Crooks drilled his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot, to extend the lead to five at 7-2.

Jimmy Crooks

The Tides moved back within two with a run in the home second and two runs in the third.

The Redbirds added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Siani drew his second walk of the game and scored on Wetherholt’s sixth Triple-A home run, the second two-run blast in the game for Memphis, to regain a four-run lead at 9-5.

JJ Wetherholt

The Tides added two runs in the home fourth and came back late with three in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the win.

The Redbirds scored nine runs on nine hits. Wetherholt was 3-for-5, including a two-run home run, three runs scored, and three RBI. Perhaps even more notably, the organization’s top prospect made his professional debut at third base.

Crooks was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI. Jordan singled and drove in two runs on his first hit in the organization. Siani singled, walked twice, and scored twice.

The Redbirds did not record a stolen base nor commit an error.

Memphis is 57-49 overall, and 16-17 in the second half after taking four of six from Norfolk. They reside in fourth place in the International League West Division. The Redbirds will head home to AutoZone Park for a six-game series with the Durham Bulls, starting Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Durham (TB). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 4, Arkansas Travelers 2

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the Arkansas Travelers to clinch the series victory at Hammons Field on Sunday.

Cade Winquest made his third start for Springfield. The right-hander fired 5 ⅓ innings and allowed two runs on three hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Winquest earned his first Double-A win and has a 1.76 ERA since joining Double-A.

Cade Winquest

Austin Love threw 1 ⅔ scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief. Michael Watson pitched the final two innings with four strikeouts and no hits allowed to collect his first save at the Double-A level. Love lowered his ERA to 2.09 on the year. Watson holds a 1.42 ERA through five appearances with Springfield.

Michael Watson

Arkansas broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning.

Springfield took the lead in the bottom of the frame. Chase Davis lined a single and Jeremy Rivas was hit by a pitch. Leonardo Bernal followed with a single to plate Davis, with Rivas to third. Joshua Baez brought Rivas home on a sacrifice fly to put the Cardinals in front 2-1.

Springfield extended the lead in the fifth with a second consecutive two-run inning. Trey Paige legged out an infield single and Brody Moore followed with a walk. The runners advanced on an R.J. Yeager groundout. Darlin Moquete smoked a double to score Paige and Moore to extend the lead to 4-1.

Darlin Moquete

Springfield pitching did not allow a hit with runners in scoring position as Watson struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win.

The Cardinals scored four runs on five hits. Moquete recorded the lone Springfield extra-base hit, a double, for two RBI. Bernal and Baez each walked, singled, and drove in a run. Paige and Davis singled and scored.

Bernal was picked off first base and defensively, the catcher was tagged with a passed ball.

Springfield is 64-38 overall, and 21-12 in the second half after winning four of six from Arkansas. They hold a three-game lead in the Texas League North Division. The Cardinals will travel to Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium in San Antonio, Texas, to begin a six-game set with the San Antonio Missions on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: at San Antonio (SD). LHP Pete Hansen (7-3, 3.83) vs. RHP Michael Morales (2-4, 4.38). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 4 at Beloit Sky Carp 3 (11 innings)

The High-A Peoria Chiefs won their second consecutive extra-inning contest over the Sky Carp in Beloit on Sunday.

Nate Dohm started for Peoria in his organizational debut after being acquired from the Mets in the Ryan Helsley trade. The right-hander tossed three innings and allowed one run on three hits, no walks, and one strikeout.

Frank Elissalt

Frank Elissalt, acquired in the same trade and also making his organizational debut, fired three shutout frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Dohm. Benjamin Arias yielded a run across 1 ⅔ innings. Hunter Hayes followed with 2 ⅓ scoreless innings and collected his second win of the season. Mason Burns allowed an unearned run in the 11th inning but still picked up his second save with the Chiefs.

Beloit struck early with a run in the first inning.

Peoria tied the game in the third. Anyelo Encarnacion singled and stole second base. Brayden Jobert singled to put runners at the corners. Tre Richardson hit into a fielder’s choice double play, erasing both runners, with Richardson taking second base. Zach Levenson hit the third single of the inning to score Richardson and tie the game at one.

Peoria grabbed their first lead of the game with a run in the fourth. Deniel Ortiz drew a walk and advanced to third on a Josh Kross single. Encarnacion delivered a single to plate Ortiz and move the Chiefs ahead 2-1.

The Sky Carp tied the game at two apiece in the seventh. The score remained knotted at two to force extra innings.

Peoria broke the tie with a two-run top of the 11th inning. Jesus Baez started the inning at second base and Travis Honeyman was hit by a pitch. Ortiz lined a single to bring Baez home for a 3-2 Chiefs lead, with Honeyman to third.

Deniel Ortiz

Kross drove in Honeyman on a sacrifice fly for what became a very important insurance run and a 4-2 lead.

The Sky Carp pushed one across in the bottom of the 11th and had the potential tying run in scoring position, but the Chiefs held on to take the series finale.

The Chiefs scored four runs on 10 hits, all singles. Ortiz walked, singled, scored, and drove in a run. Kross singled and tallied an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Levenson singled and drove in a run. Encarnacion was the only hitter with multiple hits, as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI. All nine Chiefs in the lineup recorded a hit.

On the basepaths, Encarnacion swiped his second bag at the High-A level. Richardson was picked off first base.

The Chiefs did not commit an error on defense.

Peoria is 41-60 overall, and 15-21 in the second half after taking just two of six from Beloit. They reside in fifth place in the Midwest League West Division, 5.5 games back of first place. The Chiefs will head home to Dozer Park for a six-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, starting Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Wisconsin (MIL). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 3, Jupiter Hammerheads 10

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals dropped the series finale to the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for their fifth consecutive loss.

Ruben Menes made his third start for Palm Beach, following his second promotion to the team this season. The right-hander pitched 2 ⅔ innings and allowed all 10 Hammerheads runs, eight earned, on eight hits, four walks, and no strikeouts. Menes took the loss.

Christian Worley fanned two across 2 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief. Antoni Cuello followed with 2 ⅔ scoreless frames and a pair of strikeouts. Sam Brodersen tossed the final 1 ⅓ scoreless innings.

Jupiter scored early and often, with a two-run first inning and four runs apiece in the second and third.

Palm Beach put a tiny dent in the gap with a run in the bottom of the third. Heriberto Caraballo singled. Jonathan Mejia and Rainiel Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Luis Pino reached on a throwing error, with Caraballo coming home.

Heriberto Caraballo

The Cardinals added a run in the fifth. Caraballo walked and Mejia was hit by a pitch. Rodriguez grounded into a force out, with Mejia retired at second. Caraballo scored on a wild pitch to reduce the deficit to 10-2.

Down to their final three outs, Palm Beach could only score one. Bracewell Taveras drew a walk and Caraballo was hit by a pitch. Taveras moved to third base via a wild pitch. Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Pino was hit by a pitch to force home Taveras for the 10-3 final.

The Cardinals scored three runs on five hits, all singles. Jose Cordoba was the lone Cardinal with multiple hits in a 2-for-5 day. Christian Martin and Jose Suarez each recorded a hit. Caraballo singled, walked and scored twice. The lineup was 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.

The Cardinals did not record a stolen base.

On defense, second baseman Martin committed a fielding error. Pino nailed a runner at second base from left field.

Palm Beach is 48-52 overall, and 16-19 in the second half after being swept by Jupiter. They reside in third place in the Florida State League East Division, 9.5 games back of first place. The Cardinals will travel to TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, for a seven-game set with the Dunedin Blue Jays, starting with a doubleheader on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s games: at Dunedin (TOR). Pitching probables have not yet been announced for either game. Game one is the resumption of July 24th’s suspended game, which will pick up in the top of the fifth inning with no score at 3:00 PM CT.

First pitch for game two is slated for 5:30 PM CT.

DSL Cardinals (off-day)

The Dominican Summer League Cardinals were off Sunday, as they prepared for a home contest with the DSL Phillies Red on Monday.

The Cardinals will look to get back on track following a close loss to the DSL Marlins on Saturday.

The DSL Cardinals are 22-22 on the season. They reside in third place in the DSL Southeast Division, five games behind the Marlins.

Monday’s game: vs. DSL Phillies Red. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM 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

Cards Rejuggle Minor League Rosters over Weekend

Not yet a member of The Cardinal Nation?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Follow Michael Goff on X @MG6400.

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