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All good points Albert. I do think Saggese is a good second baseman defensively though. I believe he’d probably be better than anyone on the current ML team, although my preference would still be to have Donovan play there and Saggese be a utility for now. He’s been making better swing decisions lately. He says he’s really been focusing there and the results have been showing that albeit a SSS. I think he makes an excellent backup so Winn can have a few off days and Donovan can sub in the outfield if any of them are injured. To me, there’s a clear top 10 prospects in the organization and Saggese comfortably fits inside that zone. The next group is a ways back. The levels on my list are 10 prospects that are very good, 6 that may become solid contributors, and then pretty much everyone else as flyers – some of whom I may personally like better but all of whom have big gaps in their game.
As for Hence, I really struggle to place him. If he were healthy and eating even a modest number of normal starter innings, then he would be #1. The way he’s been babied through the system though – spending several seasons not going above 2, 3 or 4 innings – and then finally starting to get to 5+ and then feeling lots of pain – all just makes me highly skeptical that he’s either going to become a reliever (who may still be fragile) or never throw more than 250 ML innings in his career. Because of that extreme risk, I’ve dropped him all the way to #7 on my list. I’m sure nearly everyone will rank him higher than that though (except maybe Blingboy).
I feel similarly to you, Jnevel, about the top 10 prospects. I would say to me, the top 3 (Mathews, Wetherholt, Hence) really distinguish themselves as potential stars, then the next 7-8 are potential starting players or good pieces, then another half dozen or so that I feel fairly good about having in the big leagues at some point. Below that, it’s hard to tell. Some will make the big leagues. Some will possibly even start. But those guys are probably in low level ball now, with the off chance that a guy or two will unexpectedly come from Memphis or Springfield and pull the Aledmys Diaz or Luke Voit and be a starting big leaguer for several years
On Hence in specific, I’m of the belief that he will be very effective when he pitches. Whether that’s as a starter, high leverage reliever, or my personal hope, a 70ish pitch opener, remains to be seen.
I also have concerns about Hence, and this year he needs to stay healthy for the majority of the season in order to stay toward the top of the rankings. That being said, he has tremendous talent and could be a great asset to the Cards staff.
#3 – Tink Hence
Saggese is not an IF/OF UT like Donovan, but I agree he will probably make the team.
I am awaare that he doesn’t play the OF but he is still a scrappy UT type player.
If Hence were a workhorse he would probably be ranked number 1 in the system based on his talent. His propensity to stay on the IL is a major red flag for me. He really really needs a healthy 2025.
Hence will surely drop in the ranking if he doesn’t show some durability in 2025. But we have to keep in mind that this kid just turned 22 years old on August 6. His weight was listed at 175 lbs when drafted, and now he’s up to 195 lbs. I’m sure his height was listed at an inch or two less than the 6’1 that he is listed at now, but I couldn’t find anything that references that.
Early 20s is as healthy as anyone is ever going to be. With pitchers especially, arm trouble is cumulative. From here on out, its needs to be about minimizing additional wear and tear, and getting him to the bigs ASAP. Of course, by the time we are any good again, he will likely be done. Those whiffle ball arm guys have a short shelf life. The smart move might be to get something for him that has a better chance of helping several years from now. Let him pitch for a contender while he can.
I think Tink has #3 in the bag. He’s much much too fragile to my liking to hold such an esteemed position. My vote for McGreevy here at #3 is akin to voting for Robert F. Kennedy in the upcoming presidential election……..it’s a fruitless undertaking.
I think Hence’s durability problem is that nickname. “Tink”. Just sounds wimpy. Let’s have him come in to 2025 as “Truck” Hence, and I bet he throws 175 innings and once and for all dispenses the sense that he is the next Alex Reyes. 🙂
They should change his nickname to “tank”.
But yes, he pitched three full years before the Cardinals would allow him to attempt to throw more than four innings, and when he was finally pushed to five, he spent half the season on the IL.
He seems destined to be a reliever at this point.
Shades of Alex Reyes. I think I would trade Tink in a blink….. of an eye if a fairly decent return could be realized.
Its normal to want to believe. I get it. But there comes a time. This year there will be plenty of opportunity for us all to find out the truth about what our system consists of. In a way it will be refreshing. Maybe next we can sit down and I’ll tell everyone about Santa Claus.
McGreevy I’m sure about as far as a fixture in the rotation, which we desperately need. I don’t know if he’ll be a 3 or 4 or what. Maybe a 2 some day since he will probably have the longevity to learn the art rather than just trying to throw it past guys until his arm falls off. In the world of real life baseball, he’s a gold nugget.
My top position player is Davis, but who knows. We need to develop impact bats who are not a liability in the field. He’s about it as to potential in that catagory. I understand we also need to develop handy middle infield types who can bat 7th, but they are not top prospects, IMO.
Since it looks like Hence is #3 and voting has closed and I’m already here, I’m going to select Crooks at #4. I had the organization’s Player of the Year at #2 so now I’m waiting for the group to catch up.
Sorry about my tardiness. It will typically be more like 12:30 pm CST when we close the voting on Sunday.
Yes, Hence is officially our group’s #3. The voting is now open for the #4 prospect in the Cardinals system.
I’m sticking with Saggese at #4.
#4. McGreevy
Just a reminder what he did against major league hitters this year.
W-L = 3-0
ERA = 1.96
IP/H = 23/16
SO/BB = 18/2No prospect has done more to flip me from a non-believer to a believer more than McGreevy. As I noted in I think July’ish, McGreevy changed up his arsenal in late May and has looked like a completely different pitcher since. His K rate skyrocketed and his overall stats as a result started to look dominant. With his control, he can work deep into games while limiting free passes and can be a #3/#4 type
#4 – Michael McGreevy
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