photo: Luke Voit (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The Cardinal Nation’s 10th year of providing results and much more from St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training games continues. Again this year, I am joined in these recaps by TCN analyst Derek Shore.
After a camp day on Sunday, from which the Cardinals did not provide reports, we are back with the highlights from the minor league action held on Monday, March 26.
The Marlins were the opponents as the Cardinals swept all four contests at the George Kissell Quad in Jupiter, Florida. Following the 4-0 day which included Palm Beach’s fifth consecutive win, the Cardinals are a collective 22-10-5 versus external competition this spring.
Once again this spring, Cardinals Baseball Operations Coordinator for Player Development Tony Ferreira is sharing highlights from minor league spring training contests.
The raw data is his, but the comments and awards are mine. However, be aware that only minimal pitching and hitting results are being shared – what you see here. So to find those struggling, you will have to look for names missing or make some guesses.
Remember these working team assignments are fluid by the day. In addition, another nine players have yet to be cut from Major League camp.
When players are members of The Cardinal Nation Top 50 Prospect List for 2018, their rankings are noted.
Monday’s Hitter of the Day: Luke Voit, Memphis
The open question is whether Grandma Joan pays for minor league homers, too.
She may need to get out the purse, as the big first baseman is not wasting any time showing his bat is ready to help St. Louis when next called upon. On Monday, Voit had three extra-base hits, including a double and two home runs, good for five driven in.
Earlier in major league camp, the 27-year old batted a solid .288 with a long ball and nine RBI in 52 at-bats over 23 games.
Honorable mentions go to Palm Beach’s Evan Mendoza with two hits and two RBI and his teammate Stefan Trosclair with two hits and three driven in. Also, Peoria’s Nick Plummer plated two on three hits, including a triple.
Monday’s Pitcher of the Day: Kevin Hamann, Peoria
The 24-year old right-hander was St. Louis’ 22nd-rounder in the 2017 draft from Lewis-Clark State in Idaho, a school that once delivered Brendan Ryan to the Cardinals. Hamann, who stands 6-foot-4, dominated out of the Johnson City bullpen last summer and made two starts, foreshadowing his apparent assignment for 2018. The Oregon native also made an effective spot long relief appearance for Palm Beach.
On Monday, Hamann allowed just one baserunner in four scoreless innings, fanning four along the way, reminding us that he is going to be a player to watch this season.
Honorable mentions go to all five pitchers named in the tables below – Sam Tewes, Mike O’Reilly, Estarlin Arias, Junior Fernandez and Enrique Perez.
For more, The Cardinal Nation members can check out the full list of minor league spring training attendees and minor league spring training game schedules.
Ahead – exclusively for TCN members – is my annual pre-Opening Day series in which I predict the opening rosters for all four full-season minor league affiliates and explain why. St. Louis was posted previously, with the others to follow. The St. Louis roster prediction article is free for all readers.
If you are not yet a member of The Cardinal Nation, join now and order our first-ever Prospect Guide at less than half price.
The entire system view by level and position as last season ended with every transaction all year long is available via the Roster Matrix, always free, right here at The Cardinal Nation.
Memphis (6-3-1) 15, New Orleans 7
| Memphis pitching | TCN | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Notes |
| Sam Tewes | #29 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6’5 RH was 9th in the system with 4.6 K/BB ratio in 2017. |
| Memphis hitting | TCN | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | BB | K | Notes |
| Luke Voit | #38 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | Hitter of the Day – see above | ||||
| Carson Kelly | #3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Getting work in to show he deserves to return to St. Louis. |
According to our eyewitness reporter, Harrison Bader and Rangel Ravelo also went deep for the Redbirds.
While we see when minor leaguers get into big league games and perform well, as did Max Schrock in Montreal Monday night, for example, the same thing is done more quietly in minor league games and for the same reasons – reward, incentive and exposure.
Among the youngsters given the opprtunity to step into Memphis’ game were Ivan Herrera, Leandro Cedeno, Wadye Ynfante, Andres Luna and Wood Myers. Even if they do not make a full-season club, it had to be a thrill for them, likely heading into extended spring training camp next.
Springfield (6-3-1) 5, Jacksonville 3
| Springfield pitching | TCN | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Notes |
| Mike O’Reilly | #33 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Top 5 in system in W, ERA, K, OBA, WHIP, K/BB in 2017. |
| Estarlin Arias | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6th in org in SV (7), 8th in K/9 IP (10.5). Never allowed >1 HR per yr. |
| Springfield hitting | TCN | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | BB | K | Notes |
| Granden Goetzman | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | FA OF signee split 2017 bet. AA and AAA with Rays. |
Palm Beach (6-2-2) 12, Jupiter 1
| Palm Beach pitching | TCN | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Notes |
| Junior Fernandez | #17 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | FSL 1H All-Star has best changeup in system per BA. |
| Palm Beach hitting | TCN | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | BB | K | Notes |
| Evan Mendoza | #26 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2017 NYPL batting champ finished at Peo. What is next? | |||||
| Stefan Trosclair | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Top 10 in system in HR, RBI, 3B, SB, BB, OPS in 2017. |
Peoria (4-3-3) 7, Greensboro 3
| Peoria pitching | TCN | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | Notes |
| Kevin Hamann | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Pitcher of the Day – see above | |
| Enrique Perez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Tied for #1 in GCL with 18 GP, 4 holds. 1 HR allowed in 4 years. |
| Peoria hitting | TCN | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | BB | K | Notes |
| Rayder Ascanio | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Switch-hitting IF was take in Leake trade. Just 3 gms. at PB. | |||||||
| Yariel Gonzalez | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .305 BA 5th in system. Led NYPL with 42 RBI. | ||||||
| Nick Plummer | #46 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Ex-1st rdr looks to untrack career. 5th in system w/ 53 BB. |
Tuesday’s games: The Astros will be the Tuesday opponent, with Memphis and Springfield on the road again, with their games to be held at West Palm Beach. The Class-A games will be played at the George Kissell Quad in Jupiter, Fields 2-5.
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