photo: Hector Soto (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
As the 2022 minor league regular season approaches, the St. Louis Cardinals released three pitchers. Two had been in the system for almost six years each, with one having received $1.1 million to sign.
RHP Connor Jones (Memphis)
After he was selected in the second round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, Jones received a signing bonus of $1.1 million, almost $180,000 over slot. Initially, the now-27-year-old moved quickly, reaching Double-A in 2018, when he was named a mid-season Texas League All-Star and pitched in the Arizona Fall League.
However, his ERA has increased every year from 2016 through 2021, with his career high of 5.91 logged with Memphis last season. Jones had moved into the bullpen for 2019 with his final 90 of 152 career appearances having come in relief.
Considered a prospect early on, Jones was ranked here in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but had fallen out of the Top 50 since. Though he received non-roster spring camp invitations, Jones never earned a 40-man roster spot, a necessity to reach the majors.
LHP Mac Lardner (Peoria)
The lefty was a long shot from day one, as he signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2020. As was the case with most minor leaguers who became professionals that year, Lardner had to wait until 2021 to pitch in official game action.
Last season, the 24-year-old from Gonzaga University appeared in 21 games, including 14 starts, for Peoria. In an interesting consistency, Lardner’s ERA was also 5.91.
RHP Hector Soto (Palm Beach)
The native of Mexico was signed to a minor league contract in December 2016 and debuted with the 2017 Dominican Summer League Cardinals. Soto was The Cardinal Nation’s DSL Cardinals Relief Pitcher of the Year his rookie year.
He moved to starting in 2018 and lowered his ERA to 2.72 in 14 starts. Shifting to the US in 2019, Soto pitched at all four of the lowest levels, albeit briefly.
After the year off in 2020, he split his time between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Palm Beach last season. While his results were decent (3.00 ERA), having not progressed past Low-A after toiling this many years suggests making it to the top is likely not going to happen – and certainly not before he earns the right of free agency.
For more
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St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix – 2022 Spring Training
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