Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 13, 2025

photo: Ixan Henderson (PJ Maigi/Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 3-3 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield’s Ixan Henderson, pitched six scoreless innings with seven Ks to lower his ERA to 2.36. Other standouts include Nathan Church, Mike Antico, Jordan Walker, Brandt Thompson, Jack Findlay and Ruben Menes.

Results for games played on Saturday, July 12:

Memphis Redbirds 9, Charlotte Knights 10

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds nearly erased a seven-run deficit in the late innings at AutoZone Park before losing on Saturday.

Michael McGreevy made his 15th start for Memphis. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on eight hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. In his second consecutive rough start, McGreevy again took the loss.

Roddery Muñoz surrendered two runs and struck out six across two innings in relief of McGreevy. Michael Gomez yielded a run over the final two innings.

The Redbirds took an early lead with a run in the first inning. Nathan Church and Luken Baker walked to bring the team’s RBI leader, Jimmy Crooks, to the plate. Crooks laced a double to score Church for the first run of the game.

Charlotte responded with three runs in the third, and four in the fourth to jump ahead 7-1.

The Redbirds plated a run in the home fourth to chip into the gap. César Prieto drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third base on a Matt Lloyd double. Mike Antico hit a bloop single into center field to bring Prieto home and move the Redbirds within five at 7-2.

Mike Antico

The Knights added a pair of runs in the seventh to take a 9-2 lead.

Memphis responded with a six-run bottom of the eighth inning to shrink the Charlotte lead to just one run. Crooks and Prieto singled to put runners at the corners. Gavin Collins followed with his first triple of the season to score Crooks and Prieto for a 9-4 game.

Gavin Collins

Lloyd walked and advanced to second base on an Antico RBI groundout, with Collins home on the play. Lloyd took third base on a Brody Moore groundout and scored on a single from Church.

Michael Siani lined a double to bring Church home and move the Redbirds within two at 9-7.

Baker doubled home Siani to narrow the gap to one at 9-8.

The Knights pushed across an insurance run in the ninth for a 10-8 edge. Memphis looked to respond in the bottom of the ninth.

Prieto walked and Collins singled. Prieto moved to third base on a Lloyd double play. Antico hit a double to bring plate Prieto and move Memphis within a run once more at 10-9. But the Redbirds’ rally fell just short in the loss.

The Redbirds scored nine runs on 14 hits. Church was 3-for-4, including a walk, a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Antico was 2-for-5, including a double and three RBI. Collins was 2-for-5, including a triple, a run scored, and two RBI. Crooks went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and one RBI. Siani doubled, scored a run, and drove in a run. Baker walked and hit an RBI-double. Lloyd doubled. St. Louis rehabber Ivan Herrera did not play.

On the bases, Church swiped his fifth bag with Memphis.

Defensively, catcher Crooks made two throwing errors. Left fielder Antico also made a throwing error.

Memphis is 47-43 overall, and 6-11 in the second half. They will look to secure the series split on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: vs. Charlotte, RHP Curtis Taylor (4-3, 3.63) vs. Davis Martin (0-0, 9.00) 1:05 PM CT.

NL Futures 4, AL Futures 2 (7 innings)

The National League Futures defeated the American League Futures in the 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game on Saturday. The game was played at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

JJ Wetherholt was the St. Louis Cardinals’ lone representative in the game. The organization’s top prospect started in the lead-off spot for the NL as the designated hitter and took over at second base in the sixth inning.

The 22-year-old scorched a lead-off double at 105.9 mph off the bat on a 1-1 count in the bottom of the first inning but was stranded at third.

JJ Wetherholt

In his second at-bat, Wetherholt hit a 102.4 mph line drive that went 363 feet, though it was caught for an out.

Wetherholt did not commit an error after entering the game at second base and ultimately went 1-for-4 for the day.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ top prospect Josue De Paula hit a go-ahead three-run home run and was named Most Valuable Player.

Springfield Cardinals 2 at Corpus Christi Hooks 1

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals won a close contest over the Hooks in Corpus Christi on Saturday.

Ixan Henderson made his 15th start for the Cardinals. The left-hander fired six scoreless innings on four hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Henderson earned his fifth win and lowered his ERA to 2.36.

Ixan Henderson

Leonardo Taveras threw a scoreless seventh inning with a strikeout in relief of Henderson. Luis Gastelum surrendered a run in the eighth. Left-hander Nick Raquet tossed a scoreless ninth to lock down his fifth save of the season, and his career.

Springfield took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Noah Mendlinger lined a leadoff single and scored on Jordan Walker’s second home run of his rehab assignment, a two-run blast, to give Springfield the lead.

Jordan Walker

The Hooks entered the run column in the eighth inning to cut the Springfield lead in half to 2-1 and the scoring ended there.

The Cardinals pitching staff held the Hooks to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position to lock down the win.

The Cardinals scored two runs on four hits. Walker hit a two-run home run, the lone Cardinals extra-base hit, to account for both Springfield RBI. Mendlinger, Jeremy Rivas, and Darlin Moquete singled.

On the basepaths, Rivas swiped his 15th bag.

The Cardinals did not commit an error.

Springfield is 55-31 overall, and 12-5 in the second half. They hold a one game lead in the Texas League North Division. The Cardinals will look to sweep the six-game road set with a win on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: at Corpus Christi, LHP Brycen Mautz (2-2, 3.92) vs. LHP Luis Angel Rodriguez (1–2, 4.14) 2:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 2, Cedar Rapids Kernels 5

On Saturday, the High-A Peoria Chiefs fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park for their sixth consecutive loss.

Darlin Saladin made his first start since June 10 for the Chiefs. The right-hander pitched four innings and allowed five runs on seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts. Saladin took the loss.

Tanner Jacobson threw 2 ⅔ scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Saladin. Randel Clemente followed with 2 ⅓ innings of scoreless baseball and three strikeouts.

The Kernels scored three runs in the first and a run apiece in the third and fourth innings to move in front 5-0.

The Chiefs did all their scoring the sixth inning, narrowing the gap to 5-2. Jon Jon Gazdar was hit by a pitch. Zach Levenson hit his 10th double of 2025 to bring Gazdar home. Levenson advanced to third on a Chase Adkison single. Graysen Tarlow brought Levenson home via a sacrifice fly.

Zach Levenson

Peoria scored two runs on five hits. Levenson doubled, scored a run, and drove in a run. Tarlow recorded an RBI single. Gazdar doubled and scored. The Chiefs were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and drew just one walk in the game.

On the bases, Won-Bin Cho swiped his 11th bag.

On defense, catcher Tarlow made a throwing error. Levenson nailed a runner at second base from right field.

Peoria is 35-50 overall, and 9-11 in the second half. The Chiefs will look to salvage the series finale on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids, RHP Cade Winquest (2-6, 4.40) vs. RHP Alejandro Hidalgo (0-2, 4.94) 2:05 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 7, Dunedin Blue Jays 1

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals bested the Dunedin Blue Jays at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Saturday.

Brandt Thompson made his 15th start for Palm Beach. The right-hander tossed five innings and allowed one run on two hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

Brandt Thompson

Left-hander Jack Findlay fired three shutout frames with two strikeouts in relief of Thompson and picked up his second win. Yordy Herrera finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

Jack Findlay

The Blue Jays broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning.

The Cardinals immediately tied the game in the home fourth. Cade McGee singled and stole second base. Jose Cordoba legged out an infield single, with McGee to third. Sammy Hernandez lined a single to bring McGee home for a 1-0 Palm Beach lead.

The Cardinals’ bats caught fire and erupted for a six-run seventh to break the 1-1 tie.

Rainiel Rodriguez crushed his third home run of the season, a solo shot, to put the Cardinals in front 2-1.

Rainiel Rodriguez

Deniel Ortiz and McGee walked and executed a double steal. Luis Pino walked to load the bases. Cordoba, Sammy Hernandez and Anyelo Encarnacion each drew bases-loaded walks for a 5-1 Palm Beach lead. Jonathan Mejia singled home Cordoba and Hernandez to extend the lead to 7-1.

Jonathan Mejia

The Palm Beach lineup drew 10 walks in the victory.

The Cardinals scored seven runs on 11 hits. Rodriguez drew two walks and hit a solo home run. Mejia singled twice and drove in two runs. Hernandez took a bases-loaded walk, singled, scored a run, and tallied two RBI. Pino and Jose Suarez each recorded a double. Cordoba and Encarnacion each walked with the bases loaded for an RBI.

On the basepaths, Ortiz stole two bags to increase his season total to 28. McGee swiped two bases for 18 on the year. Mejia snagged his 12th.

Defensively, first baseman Ortiz committed a fielding error. Catcher Hernandez picked a runner off third base.

Palm Beach is 40-44 overall and 8-12 in the second half. They will look to take five of six from Dunedin on Sunday.

Sunday’s game: vs. Dunedin, LHP Braden Davis (2-1, 3.26) vs. RHP Silvano Hechavarria (1-1, 2.83) 11:30 AM CT.

FCL Cardinals 5 at FCL Astros 4 (7 innings)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals edged the FCL Astros in a seven-inning contest on Saturday. In the process, the rookie Cards broke their six game losing skid.

Hunter Kublick started his fifth game for the Cardinals.  The right-hander pitched just ⅔ of an inning and allowed two unearned runs on one walk, and no hits or strikeouts.

Five relievers covered the final 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two runs. Alan Reyes recorded the final out of the first inning to lower his ERA to 0.77 with the FCL Cardinals, and 0.68 overall. Ruben Menes fired three scoreless frames and fanned three in long relief. Antoni Cuello followed with a shutout inning. Bruno Lopez yielded two unearned runs and secured two outs, both on strikeouts. Giovanni Vargas struck out two over the final 1 ⅓ innings of scoreless baseball. Menes picked up his second win of the season. Vargas collected his first save of 2025 and the third of his career.

Ruben Menes

The Cardinals scored a run in the top of the first inning. Facing rehabbing Housston Astros starting pitcher, Christian Javier, Johnfrank Salazar lined a double. Andru Arthur followed with a walk, with Salazar stealing third base. The Cardinals executed a double steal, with Arthur snagging second base and Salazar coming home.

The Astros plated a pair of runs in the home first to take a 2-1 lead.

The Cardinals immediately pulled back ahead in the second. Yoerny Junco walked, stole second base and moved to third on a Daniel Rojas flyout. Romtres Cabrera walked. Hancel Almonte reached on a fielding error, with Cabrera to third and Junco scoring. Cabrera crossed home plate on a Facundo Velasquez groundout for a 3-2 Cardinals lead.

The Cardinals added a run in the fourth. Rojas hit his first double with the FCL Cardinals. Cabrera reached on a throwing error and advanced to second, with Rojas home for a 4-2 lead.

Daniel Rojas

The Cardinals’ lead extended to three runs at 5-2 in the sixth. Rojas singled and stole second and third base. Cabrera lined a single to bring Rojas in.

The Cardinals scored five runs on five hits. Cabrera walked, singled, scored a run, and drove in a run. Salazar doubled and scored a run. Almonte recorded one RBI. Rojas went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.

The Cards utilized their speed by stealing eight bases in the victory. Salazar stole third base and home for a total of three steals with the FCL club. Cabrera swiped two bags to increase his season total to five. Rojas snagged two bases for 10 steals on the season. Arthur stole his eighth. Junco swiped his seventh.

On defense, third baseman Bracewell Taveras committed a fielding error. Pitcher Lopez made a throwing error. Catcher Salazar was tagged with three passed balls.

The FCL Cardinals are 19-28 on the season. They reside in fourth place in the FCL East Division and are eliminated from playoff contention. The Cardinals are off Sunday and Monday and will play a doubleheader with the FCL Astros on Tuesday. The Cardinals will serve as the road team for game one and the home team for game two.

Tuesday’s games: at FCL Astros. Pitching probables have not yet been announced for either game. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 9:00 AM CT. Game two is slated to follow shortly after the conclusion of game one.

DSL Cardinals 0 at DSL Mets 3 (7 innings) 

The Dominican Summer League Cardinals were shut out by the DSL Mets Blue in a seven-inning road contest on Saturday.

Daniel Gomez made his fourth career start for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched three innings and allowed two runs on six hits, no walks, and one strikeout. Gomez took the loss.

Jesus Garcia

Jesus Garcia tossed two scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Gomez. Ricardo Fernandez fanned two and yielded a run in the sixth inning.

The DSL Mets Blue scored a run apiece in the first and second innings and added a run in the sixth for a 3-0 lead. The Cardinals failed to respond.

The DSL Cardinals scored no runs on five hits. Jesus Perez recorded the lone Cardinals extra-base hit, a double. Portolatin, Hernandez, Strop, and Brayan Amoroso singled. Guribe, Portolatin, and Sebastian Dos Santos drew one walk each. The lineup was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.

Strop recorded his first career stolen base. Dos Santos and Perez each swiped their fifth bag.

On defense, shortstop Dos Santos made a throwing error.

The DSL Cardinals are 16-14 on the season and are tied with the DSL Marlins for first place in the DSL Southeast Division.

The Cardinals are off Sunday and will play a home contest with DSL LAD Mega on Monday.

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

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