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Another really good one!
#stlcards starting pitching prospect Jacob Odle speaks with The Cardinal Nation’s Peoria Chiefs reporter Steffen White about his preparation, evaluation, his mentors, main hobby and more! https://t.co/A0brjQpNQn pic.twitter.com/XTmGJ585nC
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) August 25, 2026
In an oddity, Nelson Velazquez was DFAed by the Astros. He went through waivers unclaimed. Then the Astros re-signed him to an MLB contract.
In a home set, Class-A Palm Beach won four of six over Fort Myers (MIN). #stlcards CF prospect Ryan Mitchell led the way on offense, batting .300 on six hits, including a homer and a double, drove in three, stole three bases and scored four runs. https://t.co/SGArCDDi76 pic.twitter.com/DvltysqMng
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) August 25, 2026
I like what you said, stlcard25. I just have a rankings rub, as you touched upon. If Baez is a borderline Top 10 in this system (to which I agree), then there is no way he can also be even close to the national Top 100. There aren’t going to be 10-12 Cardinals in the Top 100 and I don’t see how (given his limitations) that he is going to pass six or eight Cardinals ahead of him with just a few weeks remaining in the season. Maybe next year. JMO.
P.S. Right now, Baez is no. 15 in the system per both MLB Pipeline and BA. Same with our list here at TCN.
Pro scouting not amateur.
This is interesting. Immediate social media reaction is cost savings ahead of the lockout.
I am not as sure, as pro scouting does most of its work in the minors, which will be playing in 2027. Maybe it is video scouting and analytics taking over. Maybe contrary to news reports, Marge Schott is still alive and relocated to Miami!
More is likely to come out soon.
The entire pro scouting dept was let go https://t.co/2bpDeUCLKw
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 24, 2026
Some non-negative news. Manfred says the two sides are meeting regularly and says “we want to play in 2027.”
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49711803/rob-manfred-amid-mlb-labor-talks-says-want-play-27
Let’s look into Baez and Gorman before we lump them together.
Similarities:
High pull rate, high fly ball rate
Differences:
For a slugger, Baez has a very low 16.0% K rate at Springfield.
At the same level, Gorman’s K rate was 26.7%.
Gorman’s MLB K rate was so high, always above 30%, they sent him down to try to flatten his swing. It isn’t working as his Memphis K rate this season is 36.3%, 4% higher than with StL when we was sent down. One point to his credit is that his walk rate is up substantially to a career-high 17.4%.There are many problems in baseball and the Dodgers’ business model is among them, IMO. But it may unravel soon.
One gorilla is six times larger than the other.
Per Spotrac:
“The Los Angeles Dodgers owe more than $1.1 billion in deferred salaries to their players, while the New York Mets owe approximately $181 million in future deferred commitments.”
It’s the second time he won it this month!
The real deal. Congratulations to Rainiel Rodriguez on being named Texas League Player of the Week after a monstrous week in North Little Rock where he hit a ridiculous .583.
Read more: https://t.co/oNpHn058lt pic.twitter.com/4tJYG6EO2A
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 24, 2026
Lotsa words and speculation with nothing to back it up. Nothing you said was “reality”.
You assert that he is less projectible because he is younger, despite better results at the Double-A level. Show me something to validate this.
His body is not fully developed so you think there is more risk his body will become worse. Why are the odds lower that his body won’t develop into that of a better player? Show me some data.
That you honestly think these factors are “half” of his story, therefore equal in importance to his results at his age and level, is astounding. I am not ignoring them. I just feel they pale in comparison to the things we KNOW, which are his numbers.
At this point, you seem to be grasping at straws.
C’mon, bling, don’t insult us like we can’t tell the difference.
Was Jimmy Crooks a Top 100 MLB prospect? Was he a Top 30 prospect? Oh yeah, the prospect raters don’t know anything.
Was Crooks 19 years old at Double-A? Well, Crooks being 5 1/2 years older means he is more mature. Being 19 only means Rodriguez has more time to fail.
In his entire Double-A season, Crooks hit 11 home runs. In Crooks’ best ever minor league season, he hit 14 homers. Rodriguez has 21 already in 2026, 17 at Double-A in fewer games than Crooks played there. Probably just dumb luck.
The Cardinals will be limiting his innings the rest of the way as a precaution because of his large IP increase already this season.
That seemed ok for the team this year until two other starters were hurt. Now, they have a big innings problem with not a lot of help nearby.
I will keep repeating how wrong I was about Kyle Leahy as a starter.
The lowest ERA in the NL since the All-Star Break:
KYLE LEAHY ‼️
He’s been incredible for the Cardinals in the 2nd half! pic.twitter.com/23efrN6t3e
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) August 23, 2026
In the two months since Chris Roycroft was traded to TB, he was up and down three times before he was DFAed yesterday.
Thank you for the thought, but I probably wouldn’t be smart enough to stay out of the way!
It also does apply to Marmol, though, who takes too much heat, IMO. I don’t think Counsell or Pat Murphy would but this Cardinals team in the playoffs.
Short on pitching during a tough road trip, the #stlcards went just 3-5, capped off by an especially painful ninth inning loss on Sunday. Our history feature highlights the team’s past highs and low seasons in one-run games. https://t.co/O7rn31WMN9 pic.twitter.com/3puvXOebUd
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) August 24, 2026
No mention of batting average.
The Brewers are an MLB-best 81-49 despite hitting the fewest home runs in baseball (120). 😲
So how are they doing it?
They lead MLB in OBP (.337) and chase rate (27%), rank second in walk rate (11%) and third in stolen bases (129) and sac bunts (30).
They get on base. pic.twitter.com/e5xvamTRU8
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) August 23, 2026
Yes, and some of them become MLB stars. Depends on whether your glass is half empty or half full. We know your view. They’re all overrated. Anything positive pointed out is derided as hype. Doesn’t it take the joy out of being a fan?
In Rodriguez’ case, you were quick to criticize the organization for promoting him to Springfield after he didn’t immediately hit. Once he took off, your narrative changed to “lots of players look good in the Texas League,” conveniently glossing over his level of success while still a teenager.
The truth is that lots of players in the Texas League do NOT do what Rodriguez is doing.
The #stlcards system was 3-2 on Sunday. TCN’s Player of the Day, Jesús Báez, crushed four HRs with six RBI in Sunday’s doubleheader, including back-to-back twice with Rainiel Rodriguez. Other standouts: Zach Levenson, Jose Davila, B Moore and A Frias. https://t.co/DLnh6Ozmor pic.twitter.com/cgSFmCiy6e
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) August 24, 2026
Hasn’t that been their MO over time? A crafty lefty up from the minors no one ever heard of throws seven shutout innings against them. It seems that way, anyway.
My last recollection of a Cardinal this good this young at Double-A is Oscar Taveras, who in his 19-20 y/o season logged a .952 OPS, 23 HR, 94 RBI in 124 games for Springfield.
Oscar was Texas League MVP. But Rainiel might lose out to Josue De Paula (21), who is also having an exceptional year.
Definitely elite talents.