Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Notebook: 03/27/16

Welcome back to our eighth year of providing results and much more from St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training games here at The Cardinal Nation Blog.

Following are the highlights from the Cardinals minor league games held on Sunday in Jupiter, FL. The opponent was the Miami Marlins on their side of the shared complex.

The Cardinals had a 2-2 split with Memphis and Springfield winning while Palm Beach and Peoria took losses. For the spring, the 2-2 day means the Cards are now 16-17-4 overall, including 9-10-2 against external competition.

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 pitching and hitting results selected by the organization are being shared. 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, more players have yet to be cut from Major League camp.

When players are members of The Cardinal Nation Top 40 for 2016, their rankings are noted.

Sunday’s Hitter of the Day: Collin Radack, Memphis

What is better than average, power and production? The outfielder had all three working on Sunday, with three hits in four at-bats including a home run, along with two RBI.

Radack, 23, started 2015 at Peoria before an in-season promotion to Palm Beach. The right-handed hitter placed in a tie for 10th in the system last season with 113 hits. For 2016, Radack should be competing for an outfield spot with Double-A Springfield.

Sunday’s Pitcher of the Day: Sandy Alcantara, Peoria

It only stands to reason that the top pitching performance of the day was logged by the only member of The Cardinal Nation top 40 prospects appearing among the highlights.

On Sunday, the tall and slender Alcantara notched four almost-perfect innings backed up by eight strikeouts. Last time out, the right-hander was pitching in the 95-98 mph range and was working on a changeup in the 89-90 area.

For more, The Cardinal Nation members can check out the complete list of minor league spring training attendees and full minor league spring training game schedules. Also exclusively for TCN members is my annual pre-camp series in which I predict the opening rosters for all four full-season minor league affiliates and explain why. Memphis, Springfield and Palm Beach are posted, with Peoria to follow on Sunday. My St. Louis roster prediction article is free for all readers.

If you are not yet a member of The Cardinal Nation, seven-day free trials are always available.

The entire system view by level and position as last season ended is available via the Roster Matrix, always free, right here at The Cardinal Nation Blog.

Memphis (7-2) 5 at New Orleans 3

Memphis pitching TCN IP H ER BB K Notes Memphis hitting Pos TCN AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR SB BB K Notes
J.C. Sulbaran 4 3 1 1 2 Drafted by CIN but reached AAA with KC in 2015 Aledmys Diaz SS #7 1 1 1 1 Should play every day for Memphis this season
Ryan Sherriff 2 3 Dependable lefty can pitch multiple innings Luke Voit 1B 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 Tied Allen Craig for PB season RBI record (77)
Collin Radack RF 4 1 3 2 1 StL’s 20th-rdr in 2014 from Hendrix College (AR)

Springfield (2-6-1) 8 at Jacksonville 7

Springfield pitching TCN IP H ER BB K Notes Springfield hitting Pos TCN AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR SB BB K Notes
Silfredo Garcia 1 1 Was NRI, but had medical reroute to minors camp Nick Thompson LF 3 1 2 10th in system in RBI (59), 8th in walks (52)
Rowan Wick 1 1 Former OF hit 97 mph last time out Orlando Olivera DH 3 1 2 1 1 1 Also was hit by a pitch

Jupiter 5, Palm Beach (3-4-2) 2

Palm Beach pitching TCN IP H ER BB K Notes Palm Beach hitting Pos TCN AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR SB BB K Notes
Chandler Hawkins 1 1 1 33rd-round LHP posted 1.99 ERA bet JC and SC R.J. Dennard 1B 3 2 1 Slimmed down and said to be much improved
Ramon Santos 1 New role? 7.15 ERA as starter at JC in 2015 Mikey Reynolds SS 3 1 2 1 Indy ball signee a regular here this spring

Greensboro 1, Peoria (3-4-1) 0

Peoria pitching TCN IP H ER BB K Notes Peoria hitting Pos TCN AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR SB BB K Notes
Sandy Alcantara #17 4 1 8 3rd in GCL in fewest baserunners/9 IP (11.75) Bryce Denton 3B #21 4 3 1 2015 2nd-rdr from TN HS hit .194 at GCL intro
Steven Gallardo 2 3 Maybe 3 years of injuries are finally past
Jordan DeLorenzo 1 2 23 y/o RP down from JC to GCL with 2.95 ERA

Monday’s games: Monday will bring the second-to-last contests of the spring against the Mets with four games scheduled at 1:00 p.m. Memphis and Springfield will be at home with Palm Beach and Peoria busing up to Port St. Lucie.

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