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Brian should not under estimate how much we value his work and insights. I, too have been feeling a little twitchy checking the website for his next revelation. It is one of my few baseball joys right now.
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2022 reaches no. 38 with Conner Capel, a versatile defensive standout in the outfield who has been just short of receiving his first MLB promotion. ($) https://t.co/6B6znJh9H4 pic.twitter.com/NgpjcQJRL8
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 10, 2021
Prospect rankings for guys the community has voted for (community rank):
47. Freddy Pacheco (23rd)
46. Jeremy Rivas (35th)
44. Edwin Nunez (30th)
41. Jack Ralston (31st)
38. Conner Capel (33rd)We should start seeing a lot more crossover soon.
I like Capel and think he will be a 4th OF in MLB, but as Brian pointed out, he has Nootbaar and Burleson ahead of him so it may be with a different organization eventually.
Prospect no. 37 in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 countdown for 2022 is a previously unknown RH who did so well in Palm Beach's rotation that he became our systemwide Pitcher of the Year. Was it a fluke or a true emergence for Dionys Rodriguez? ($) https://t.co/NurCTHEs4R pic.twitter.com/KvERuVO4xH
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 11, 2021
Dionys Rodriguez could move the most in our prospect rankings next year. I had him 28th on my list this year.
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2022 reaches no. 36 with @PedroPages17, a strong defensive catcher who had an uneven 2021 offensively in his first shot at High-A. ($) https://t.co/uY2Qprzsdv pic.twitter.com/vXzTc8wfZ9
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 12, 2021
At number 35 in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2022 is a non-drafted outfielder who was the top hitter at Low-A Palm Beach and advanced to Double-A in his first season. FREE report on Matt Koperniak. https://t.co/HwZm445cfM pic.twitter.com/iitW26F6QI
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 15, 2021
Prospect no. 34 in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 countdown for 2022 is @AlecWillis14, a promising 2021 right-handed high school pitching draftee who is going to need time to develop. ($) https://t.co/ubPnzMDLBM pic.twitter.com/EPuaLHc9TL
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 16, 2021
Willis doesn’t seem to have that over the top down hill delivery that I like to see from a tall righty. He will make for a good illustration of how an 18 year old’s pro career progresses with the new system configuration. JC would have been the next stop. I guess with the next level now being also there at Roger Dean maybe he can sort of ease into it or something.
The Community is a bit more optimistic on him>>>>>> #20
From MLB.com
Each team’s youngest top pitching prospectCardinals: Alec Willis, RHP (18 years old) (No. 22)
Ulnar nerve decompression surgery from 2020 delayed Willis’ ability to pop up on radars, but he did so enough this spring to get a $1 million signing bonus from St. Louis as a seventh-round pick. Standing at 6-foot-5, the 18-year-old right-hander has plenty of projection remaining and could show more velocity than his present 90-94 mph heaters in time. His curveball and changeup are decent enough secondaries as well. Willis just needs more opportunities to pitch and allow the stuff to tick up with experience.I think that I got that same surgery, leaving me with a nice little scar on my elbow to boot…it takes months before one is back to normal afterwards…
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 countdown for 2022 reaches no. 33 with a strong defensive catcher whose injuries in 2021 slowed his career progress. 2022 will be crucial for Julio Rodriguez. ($) https://t.co/EL8v2ve48G pic.twitter.com/bcKACtCfYe
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 17, 2021
At no. 32 and falling in The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2022 is a former second-round draft pick. Outfielder Trejyn Fletcher needs to get on the field and play. ($) https://t.co/EFgrZNzxob pic.twitter.com/GBTjcvpyPN
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 18, 2021
Brian, do you remember taking that photo of Fletcher? It appears he is swinging left handed. Do you know if it was just a moment in his warm up routine or if he was actually taking hacks as a lefty?
The photo is from 2020 instructs. I believe he was taking practice swings. I’ve seen others do it from both sides as part of their readiness ritual.
The Cardinal Nation’s #stlcards Top 50 prospect countdown for 2022 arrives at no. 31 with the club's top signee from the last international class. Luis Mario Piño is a Cuban outfielder with considerable power potential. ($) https://t.co/sHcyqz6BMW pic.twitter.com/pUUHVDhdfm
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 19, 2021
There are 767,000 reasons why the 17 year old kid makes the list. Coming up with 767,001 reasons is a stretch, but I hope he pans out.
It still makes no sense that they’ve gotten rid of the Rookie Advanced and Short-Season Class A leagues. This only hurts teams like St. Louis, who have great track records with development in those leagues.
Personally I think having seven farm teams is enough for development but we are still feeling the impact of missing the entire 2020 season. That was brutal, not only because of a lack of playing time, but also their minor league service time clock kept on ticking so now the organization is pressured to rush players before their rule 5 time is up.
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