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RH Tommy Parsons @tommy_parsons12 of the @peoriachiefs is The Cardinal Nation’s choice as the top pitcher in the #stlcards system during the month of April. @D_Shore23 highlights the winner and the honorable mentions. https://t.co/wnZ8n43koX pic.twitter.com/WtJQNtVJ7I
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 1, 2019
Rightfully so, there is a lot of buzz about Nolan Gorman, but he had the 2nd-best April in the #stlcards system after The Cardinal Nation’s April Player of the Month, @GoPBCardinals OF Justin Toerner, who batted .394 with a 223 wRC+. (free) https://t.co/qydMk3DwCU pic.twitter.com/nQDmy8QG3K
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 2, 2019
Was thinking Gorman would be POTM, but Toerners stats are very, very good and is deserving of the honor Gorman has adjusted like we hoped he would, although I’d like to see him walk a little more. Toerner has increased his pop, while not sacrificing his OBP skills.
What kind of potential does Toerner have? Seems like a very good hitter, good fielder, great on base guy. A Carpenter comp, before focusing on power would be the high end. If he can prove this isn’t a fluke he could move into the top 10-15.
The Cardinals chose Oviedo over Parsons.
Palm Beach Cardinals teammates RHP Johan Oviedo (5-0, 1.60 ERA, 35 SO) and OF Justin Toerner (.394/.531/.549, 20 R, 16 RBI) have been named our April Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Month. pic.twitter.com/sYOTPJJGCU
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 4, 2019
The #stlcards organization have named Johan Oviedo and Justin Toerner their Pitcher and Player of the Month for April. (free) https://t.co/80PvGyODiS pic.twitter.com/amdPXP04C3
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 4, 2019
Ny, Oviedo is a better prospect than Parsons. I suspect Toerner was just so good they couldn’t give it to Gorman. The Cards historically often pick the best prospects of the month rather than the best players of the month. Years ago, that is why I started doing our own awards. Deserving guys who aren’t as good of prospects who had great months were not being recognized. Another reason is that we can also highlight many other players, not just the winners. This way, readers can compare the results and make their own determinations.
Everybody, take one step forward…
I hope that going to Springfield doesn’t have an effect on the way Oviedo has been pitching. I’m not sure how much going to a bottom dwelling team can cause a player to loose some of his mojo. The atmosphere will be less than upbeat, and most likely less than the Palm Beach dugout. IMO, Springfield (1-7 in the last 8) is playing uninspired ball. Last in team batting and pitching >>>(WHIP=1.68 is clearly an indication of poor effectiveness.
I’ve been anticipating Oviedo’s promotion and how he will go about being part of the S-Birds. We’ll just have to see how he fares… every player will be effected differently with adversity. I say adversity because none of our plus-rated prospects are meeting expectations and most are well below their career numbers. Young guys see things differently, but its tough to be optimistic when the team is dragging.
Oviedo needs to take the ball today and show the MWL what he has been building on.
I think much bigger factors could be the smaller ballparks, long bus trips and high familiarity (only eight teams) in the Texas League. Double-A is a big step fairly quickly for Oviedo, especially considering he was kept at Peoria all of last season.
Personally, I believe that if Oviedo is not motivated enough by being put on the fast path to the majors, something is wrong with him.
It’s too bad for Peoria losing their ace. They just ended a long winning streak yesterday, and need pitching. Palm Beach gets to replace one ace with another. Parsons should handle the challenge. Oviedo should too, but the A to AA jump can come with some early struggles, and it easily the most difficult jump in the minors.
Justin Toerner adds another to his list of April honors that include TCN's and the #stlcards organization's Player of the Month. Now the @GoPBCardinals OF is the Florida State League's Player of the Month, as well. https://t.co/JhT86106W0
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 7, 2019
Tommy Parsons was previously named The Cardinal Nation's #stlcards minor league Pitcher of the Month. Now, he is the Midwest League's top hurler as well. @D_Shore23 wrote about the then-@peoriachiefs RHPs April accomplishments here: https://t.co/wnZ8n43koX https://t.co/yKIR0fuNGL
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) May 7, 2019
The Cardinal Nation kicks off our monthly recognition of the best in the #stlcards system with the naming of Memphis 1B/OF Rangel Ravelo as our May Player of the Month. @D_Shore23 highlight's his accomplishments and those of 3 honorable mentions. (free) https://t.co/7p5rgiN0sa pic.twitter.com/FFKYr7nYfn
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 1, 2019
I feel bad for guys like Ravelo and Nogowski who hit well in the minors but have no chance of making it to St. Louis. How long do you figure those guys will want to stay in Memphis or try their luck in a different organization where they might have a chance at the big leauges? They aren’t getting any younger.
It appears there will fewer choices for Pitcher of the Month. Save Rondon, another safe bet is that pitcher will likely come from the Palm Beach squad.
Ravelo is in his third year with the Cardinals and he didn’t have to come back. Nogowski went though indy ball on his rebound and again, chose to return. Perhaps respect and having a stable home has value, too.
I am working on Pitcher of the Month now and you pegged it well, C27.
Ravelo is in his third year with the Cardinals and he didn’t have to come back. Nogowski went though indy ball on his rebound and again, chose to return. Perhaps respect and having a stable home has value, too.
True, I admire those guys for sticking with the organization.
It takes a network of many to help these players to chase their dreams. Late one afternoon during spring training, I struck up a conversation with a young woman who was patiently waiting on a bench outside the media area. Totally by chance, it was John Nogowski’s girlfriend. She was there to support her man. There are a million stories like that.
Five of the top six pitchers across the #stlcards system in May began with high-A Palm Beach. In a tight competition, Alex Fagalde is The Cardinal Nation's Pitcher of the Month. (free) https://t.co/witoI6GXy1 pic.twitter.com/tdQ10FN6uU
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) June 2, 2019
Fagalde (6’3″-225) has been Mr. Consistent since camp broke. You can expect a very good to great performance when his spot comes up in the rotation. Only one blemish on 4/27 when he didn’t eat his Wheaties. The thing is that career-wise he is 25 at Adv-A. He needs to make his way up to AA this season. His GS for May = 66.2 for his five uninterrupted games.
The S-Cards have used two bullpen games in the last to trips through the rotation. That spot may be filled by Roberts when he returns. He has pitched way beyond the expectations for a 30th rounder (’17).
Certainly close enough behind Fagalde was Rondon who got up to AA on 5/18 and has pitched well while advancing, and Rondon will be just 22 in Dec. That’s something to be cognizant of.
Dobzanski has been nearly flawless in coming out of the PB bullpen, and should get notice here. His 10inn pitched is a small sample but if you combine that with what he has done all season his WHIP is still 0.92 and 220Ks in 17.1 IP. I’d like to see what he can do at Springfield.
Another factor in who mans the PB rotation may be clinching a playoff berth. I know player development has a higher priority than team wins but PB is the only club in the hunt for a first-half playoff berth and we’re not that far off from the end of the FSL’s first half.
They may keep Fagalde at PB until then.
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