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This Wednesday, we discuss rising and falling prospects in the #stlcards system per the upcoming May Top 50 rankings at The Cardinal Nation. Players profiled include Mathews, Prieto, Levenson, Love, Bedell, Honeyman, Gomez, Hernandez, Lin (p) & Henderson. https://t.co/NKwKH2Ge4P pic.twitter.com/SKnyFbROFQ
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 15, 2024
What is really depressing about the Cardinals system this year is how poorly the hitters are doing as a whole.
As I am working on the revised list, I have more guys going down than coming up. So some will improve just by not declining, if that makes sense.
Yes, it makes sense. The system only has 3-4 hitters doing really well, a few others doing good enough to get promotions later this year and a ton of players struggling.
.800+ OPS in the system –
Palm Beach –
Villarreal – .840
Hernandez – .838Peoria –
Curialle – .853
Levenson – .827Springfield –
Crooks – .939
Church – .841Memphis –
Prieto – .883
Dunn – .839
Baker – .839Both Fermin and Pages were well above .800 before being called up.
Of those players, who would you have in the Top 20?
How are the rest of the hitters in our Top 20 doing?
As for Memphis hitters, I generally figure them to lose about 40-50 points of OBP and at least 150 points off OPS when they make it to MLB
You don’t need to have a slew of prospects come to St. Louis every year. But the talented, fairly high ceiling guys need to develop into solid regulars. Guys like Winn, Walker, Gorman, Herrera, Carlson, Baker, Scott, Donovan, Burleson, Saggese, etc. That very well could make a pretty solid position ball club going forward.
Guys like Winn, Walker, Gorman, Herrera, Carlson, Baker, Scott, Donovan, Burleson, Saggese, etc. That very well could make a pretty solid position ball club going forward.
Of that group, only one is doing well with the big-league club this year.
You generally look for 3-4 guys to graduate to the MLB roster per year (including relievers). Right now, the Cardinals have no position depth in Memphis other than Catcher and 2B/3B. The reason they are doing so poorly this year is they had no AAA outfielders to call up when Carlson & Nootbaar went down with injuries.
Stated truisms aren’t necessarily truisms. Only time will tell. Look at Adolis Garcia. He matured late. You simply can’t predict the future.
Just because they aren’t doing as well as we would like right now, that doesn’t really say anything about how well they will do going forward.Walker – 21
Winn – 22
Herrera – 23
Scott – 23
Gorman – 24
Carlson – 25
Burleson – 25No one knows how good any of them will be as they mature.
In our Wednesday podcast, @bt_newberry and I discuss Top 20 prospects in the #stlcards system who are not yet meeting lofty expectations. Ten players are profiled – Roby, Scott, Saggese, Hjerpe, Graceffo, Davis, Cho, McGreevy, Rajcic and Bedell. (free) https://t.co/l3XI6UgGjR pic.twitter.com/rSQDN0QjFn
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 22, 2024
In our Wednesday podcast, @bt_newberry and I cover the top May pitchers and hitters in the #stlcards system. Included are Saladin (p), Jacobson, Bosiokovic, Showalter, Henderson, Baker, Prieto, Villarroel, Salazar and Suarez. (free) https://t.co/rfk8lbxm5C pic.twitter.com/QAeWRxae0g
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 6, 2024
Maybe you guys could talk about the defense of our catching prospects? I have the opinion that Bernal is the one to watch for regarding catching and throwing the ball. Crooks is really hitting the ball at Springfield. But I’d like to hear something about his defense. how is Sammy Hernandez’ defense. The opposing teams are running at will against Herrera, including stealing 3B. I’m thinking that he’s a future DH/1B. Pages hasn’t impressed with his defense either.
In our Wednesday podcast, @bt_newberry and I double our usual time to discuss first half races for the four full-season teams in the #stlcards system and highlight many of the key pitchers and hitters at each level. Don't miss it at The Cardinal Nation! https://t.co/HAOJCYcdjX pic.twitter.com/pYQIfIa9dR
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 12, 2024
In his next start, Quinn Mathews should roughly equal the number of innings pitched at Peoria as Cooper Hjerpe this year. His ERA, WHIP, BAA, K:BB and BB/9 are all better than Hjerpe. The only area Hjerpe has an advantage is K/9.
I am hoping the Cardinals promote Matthews by the end of the month.
Of course, Hjerpe was also at Peoria in 2023. It would be very unusual if Mathews is promoted to Double-A after just six starts at High-A and six at Low-A, but who knows?
Mathews pitched for Peoria today. He pitched 6.2 innings today, which means he is tied with Hjerpe in terms of innings pitched at Peoria this year.
If you were to choose a guy that is worthy of promortion to AA, would you choose a guy thowing 6+ innings each start with superior results, or a guy averaging slightly more than 3 innings per start with inferior results?
Mathews should have two more starts at Peoria before the end of the month. After those two starts, he should be promoted.
In Wednesday's podcast, @bt_newberry and I cover seven #stlcards Tuesday player moves, league Players of the Week Dakota Harris and Chase Davis and a half-dozen names linked to the organization’s seventh overall selection in next month’s MLB draft. (free) https://t.co/CVl0zf6nW7 pic.twitter.com/z1zoARAFMr
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 19, 2024
Great stuff this week Brian and Blake. I am really liking Rainer the more I read and hear about him. Plus bat speed and power potential at SS is hard to pass up for someone like Kurtz who will be stuck at 1B. Wetherholt and Rainer are probably my two favorite players with a chance to make it to us.
Mathews has now thrown more innings in A+ ball than Hence did last year. Mathews has the better ERA, BAA, WHIP, K rate, Walk rate, K:BB ratio.
Of course, he is two years older. So, time for another promotion!
In our Wednesday podcast, @bt_newberry and I cover key 2H promotions in the @stlcards minor league system and major changes in the June Top 50 Prospect Rankings at The Cardinal Nation. Many players are highlighted including new names at Palm Beach. (free) https://t.co/5Z1clviIQx pic.twitter.com/0La5DBRBBb
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 26, 2024
Great discussion today!
I would also move Mathews ahead of Roby.
Not sure I would have Hjerpe in the Top 5 – he’s throwing too few innings right now.
I enjoyed the discussion as well. The rankings make for great debate points. The Cards are in desperate need of a couple of these guys hitting their ceilings. A rotation of Gray, Hence, Matthews, FA signing from this year, Graceffo/Hjerpe in 2026 would be good news if they are all pitching to their potential.
We are a day late, but not a dollar short, because it is free! Look for the new podcast mid afternoon today.
This week, Wednesday comes on Thursday for our weekly #stlcards podcast. @bt_newberry and I discuss The Cardinal Nation's June Pitcher and Player of the Month winners and finalists. Listen in! https://t.co/vZQtVz9pob pic.twitter.com/cEpssV1H0F
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 4, 2024
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