Cardinals Minors Spring Camp Report – March 22, 2023

photo: Fernando Diaz home run celebration (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Selected St. Louis Cardinals-provided stats from the organization’s minor league spring training games against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, March 22. Our Player of the Day is Palm Beach’s Fernando Diaz, whose grand slam turned a loss into a win.

On Wednesday, March 22, the St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers played four games against their Miami counterparts on the Marlins’ side of the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter. It was a 2-2 day with Springfield and Palm Beach winning even as the Cards were outscored 22-15, with the Peoria game a 10-run loss.

The Cardinals are labeling their teams “Working Groups”, which is an important reminder that these rosters are written in pencil and change daily. Over a dozen players are yet to be sent down from big-league camp over the next week or so.

Thanks to Cardinals Player Development and Media Relations, the following are selected stats from Tuesday. Notes and Players of the Day come from me.

Also, my personal notes, lineups, rosters, photos and news from the day are available to members of The Cardinal Nation.

Walton’s Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp Report – March 22, 2023

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Memphis Redbirds (3): at Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (5)

RHP Michael McGreevy – 4.0 IP – 4 H – 3 R – 1 BB – 3 SO (Innings 2-5)
RHP Dalton Roach – 2.0 IP – 0 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 2 SO (Innings 6-7)
RHP Kyle Leahy – 1.0 IP – 1 H – 1 R – 0 BB – 1 SO (8^th inning)
RHP Andre Granillo – 1.0 IP – 1 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 1 SO (9^th inning)
INF Arquimedes Gamboa – 2-3, HR, 2 R
OF Chase Pinder – 2-2, HR, RBI 2B

Notes: February free agent signing Gamboa seems to be in the news regularly. The infielder should be in the mix for regular innings for Memphis this season.

Springfield Cardinals (4): at Pensacola Blue Wahoos (0)

RHP Inohan Paniagua – 4.0 IP – 5 H – 0 R – 1 BB – 6 SO (Innings 1-4)
RHP Zane Mills – 4.0 IP – 3 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 4 SO (Innings 5-8)
RHP Michael YaSenka – 1.0 IP – 0 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 3 SO (9^th inning)
OF Mike Antico – 1-3, SB, R
INF Noah Mendlinger – 1-2, RBI, BB
INF Jeremy Rivas – 2-3, RBI
INF Thomas Francisco – 2-2, BB
OF Tyler Reichenborn – 1-2, 2-R HR, SF, 3 RBI

Notes: On Wednesday, Mills allowed just four baserunners in four innings, with none of them coming home. Four other batters were fanned. The 2022 Peoria starter is The Cardinal Nation’s 27^th-ranked prospect for 2023.

Peoria Chiefs (1): at Beloit Sky Carp (11)

RHP Trent Baker – 4.0 IP – 3 H – 2 R – 1 BB – 1 SO (Innings 1-4)
RHP Wilfredo Pereira – 2.0 IP – 4 H – 1 R – 1 BB – 2 SO (Innings 7-8)
OF Trejyn Fletcher – 2-4, 2 SB
OF Nathan Church – 2-3, RBI
INF Brody Moore – 2-4

Notes: The former second-rounder and ranked prospect Fletcher fell into hard times in 2022, struggling at Palm Beach before being returned to rookie ball. Perhaps the outfielder is maturing.

Palm Beach Cardinals (7): at Jupiter Hammerheads (6)

RHP Hancel Rincon – 3.0 IP – 4 H – 1 R – 0 BB – 4 SO (Innings 1-3)
RHP Alex Cornwell – 3.0 IP – 5 H – 3 R – 2 BB – 2 SO (Innings 4-6)
RHP Andrew Marrero – 1.0 IP – 0 H – 0 R – 0 BB – 2 SO (9^th inning)
INF Adari Grant – 2-4, Solo HR, 2 R
OF Joshua Baez – 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R
OF Adanson Cruz – 1-3, 2 RBI 2B, R
1B Fernando Diaz – 1-4 (go-ahead grand slam in the 9^th inning)

Notes: When Diaz’ grand slam turned a deficit to a lead, Andrew Marrero was given the ball in the ninth. The closer had a 1-2-3 inning for the last three outs including two strikeouts.

In 2022, TCN’s number 44 prospect was the August Pitcher of the Month for the system and yielded just three runs over his final 33 innings. His 11 saves were second in the organization.

TCN’s Wednesday Player of the Day

Fernando Diaz

Any player who launches a grand slam in the ninth inning that reverses the score needs to be recognized.

Designated hitter Fernando Diaz’ blast turned a three-run deficit into a one-run lead and the win was closed out by Andrew Marrero’s performance in the bottom of the frame.

Diaz, 21, slashed just .680 in just 26 games in the 2022 Florida Complex league in his first season in the US. The former catcher is now working at first base.

Next games

On Thursday, March 23, the Cardinals will have a Camp Day. On the George Kissell Fields of the Jupiter complex, Memphis and Springfield will face off, while Peoria and Palm Beach work out. Game time is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

Related article exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Read my in-depth observations as well as photos, lineups, pitch velocities and much more from the above games.

Walton’s Cardinals Minor League Spring Training Camp Report – March 22, 2023

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