photo: Victor Scott (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals made six roster cuts Saturday morning, optioning four and reassigning two non-roster players to minor league camp. Five of the six are position players, including our no. 4 prospect, Victor Scott.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Saturday, March 23) that the team has reduced its Spring Training roster to 35 players, sending six players to their minor league camp.
The team optioned RHP Nick Robertson, 1B Luken Baker, 1B/OF Alfonso Rivas III and 1B/OF Jared Young to the Memphis (AAA) roster, and re-assigned INF César Prieto and OF Victor Scott II to their minor league camp.
The team currently has 34 Major League roster players and one non-roster invitee remaining in its Major League camp.
Brian Walton’s take
Though some had hopes that Scott would make the team out of camp, gaining Triple-A experience is a better move for the young center fielder, our no. 4-ranked Cardinals prospect. Dylan Carlson played well this spring and will be the starter in center until injured Tommy Edman can return. Michael Siani should be the reserve.
The other move of special interest is the optioning of Robertson. With Friday’s announcement that both Zack Thompson and Matthew Liberatore have made the team, one less pen spot was available.
Robertson, acquired from Boston in the Tyler O’Neill trade, did not stand out in his first Cardinals camp. The right-hander logged a 4.50 ERA by allowing five runs, four earned, in eight innings. Robertson gave up nine hits and walked five against nine strikeouts. He will initially work out of the Memphis pen and try to position himself to be an early call up with a relief spot opens with St. Louis.
With the off-season return of Matt Carpenter, any realistic chance for Baker to make the team (sans an injury to another) was quashed. Baker will return to the middle of the Memphis lineup and continue to rake against Triple-A pitching.
The remaining challenge for the big man is to carry that success over to the majors. It didn’t happen this spring, as Baker went 9-for-44 (.205) including a double and a home run. He fanned 13 times and registered a meager .545 OPS.
Rivas and Young were waiver wire additions over the off-season to serve as end-of-the-roster depth at the corner infield and outfield. With the Cardinals having a relatively thin Triple-A bench, the duo should receive decent playing time with Memphis while trying to avoid falling off the back end of the 40-man.
Over 36 spring at-bats, Rivas batted just .194. Three of his seven hits were doubles and he walked five times against nine strikeouts. His OPS was .634.
Young had a dismal camp at the plate, with just two singles and a double in 37 at-bats. He drew six walks but struck out 11 times. Young’s slash line was .081/.244/.108/.352.
The Cuban native, acquired from Baltimore last July, does not yet hold a 40-man roster spot so is in position to battle with Thomas Saggese to be the first infielder called up when St. Louis has a need.
This spring, Prieto hit well, albeit with no power. Across 35 at-bats, Prieto collected 14 singles and a double and plated an impressive 11 runs. He struck out just four times against one walk. His slash line was .429/.447/.457/.904.
The entire camp absence of Edman opened the door for the speedster Scott to receive a high level of playing time. Despite no Triple-A experience, Scott performed well. In 38 at-bats, he had 11 singles and a triple. Scott drew five walks against six strikeouts and stole four bases in five attempts. His slash line was .316/.409/.368/.777. Scott also made several exceptional plays in the outfield and continues to have a bright future.
For more
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