Cardinals misjudged their wager on Nolan Gorman

Rewritten Article:

The Cardinals are having a tough time syncing up this season in 2025. Granted, we knew this would be more of a transition year rather than a contender one. However, there are certain moves they should make that seem more sensible than what they're actually doing.

Take, for instance, the plan to give runway to Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker. They've stuck to this plan, but it isn't a terrible idea to give young blood some playing time in a year where it's clear the Cardinals won't be making a run.

But it appears the Cardinals might have placed their bets on the wrong horse—Gorman.

Cardinals' Questionable Decision on Nolan Gorman

I've been pondering this since the Cardinals demoted Thomas Saggese, despite his impressive start to the season. All he's managed to do is hit, yet the Cardinals sent him down so he could play every day, something he could easily handle in the majors.

But the reason Saggese can't get everyday playing time at the Major League level is due to Gorman, who hasn't exactly lit the world on fire this season. After a strong initial series, he's struggled to live up to the hype.

Entering the series finale with the Reds, Gormanwas hitting a mere .189/.297/.340. With just one home run, eight RBI, and a disheartening .636 OPS, don't get me wrong, Gorman has immense talent and potential. I'm not suggesting that he isn't a good player at all. But I get the feeling that he may burn out within the organization, similar to Dylan Carlson.

I understand the Cardinals wanting to give Gorman runway. In this particular season, it makes sense to do that. You need to see what you have. But he's really struggled at the plate, and, in my opinion, he shouldn't be getting playing time over Saggese.

At some point, the Cardinals need results, even in a reset season. They're not getting them from Gorman. They are getting them from Saggese. So while I understand that Gorman needs runway, so does Saggese. I get that this isn't the year for the Cardinals, but if you really want to give young guys runway, you still need to play the guys that are performing best.

Right now, Saggese is outperforming Gorman in almost every offensive category, hitting .341/.364/.512 with a home run, seven RBI, and an impressive .876 OPS. He's simply hitting too well to be buried in the minors, while Gorman continues to struggle at the plate.

While Saggese's spring training stats weren't impressive, Gorman's weren't any better. In fact, I would have chosen Saggese to be on the roster over Gorman.

To make things worse, other players like Alec Burleson are now essentially blocked. I know Burleson's power hasn't been there, but he's still hitting .259. That's not great, but there's more promise there right now, in my opinion, than there is with Gorman.

I'd love to see Gorman turn things around and go on a tear. He's more than capable of that. But if he doesn't start hitting soon, he and Saggese should switch roles in Memphis and St. Louis.

Enrichment Data: Summary

Nolan Gorman's early 2025 performance for the Cardinals showcases occasional offensive and defensive impact, but direct comparisons with Thomas Saggese and Alec Burleson are limited due to the lack of available data. Here's a brief rundown:

Nolan Gorman (MLB - Cardinals)

Recent significant plays:
May 4: Displayed improved agility with a sliding catch in foul territory, rob José Azocar[3]. Later recorded a sacrifice fly with a strong exit velocity (94.1 mph) and impressive distance (249 ft)[4].
April 21: Went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored against Atlanta[5].
Position: Primary second baseman, contributing both defensively and offensively.

Alec Burleson (MLB - Cardinals)

No 2025 performance data found in the provided results.Historically, Burleson has been a corner outfielder/first baseman with a contact-oriented approach. However, 2025 stats are unavailable here.

Thomas Saggese (Minor Leagues - Cardinals)

No 2025 performance data available in the provided results.Acquired in the Jordan Montgomery trade, Saggese is considered a top infield prospect. He recorded an impressive .331 batting average across AA/AAA in 2023, but 2025 stats are not present in the given data.

Key Comparison Challenges

Data gaps:
Burleson’s 2025 MLB and Saggese’s minor league stats are not included in the given results.
Gorman’s metrics (e.g., 94.1 mph exit velocity on May 4[4]) suggest above-average power, but complete comparisons are impossible due to a lack of full-season data.
Limited sample size: The early 2025 shows Gorman’s dual-threat potential, whereas the others' recent performances remain uncertain.
Despite Nolan Gorman's occasional impact in the 2025 season, his performance has been less impressive compared to Thomas Saggese, who is currently outperforming Gorman in numerous offensive categories.
The Cardinals' decision to demote Saggese, despite his impressive start, raises questions about the team's preferential treatment of Gorman, who has struggled at the plate.
In light of Saggese's impressive performance, some argue that Gorman and Saggese should switch roles in Memphis and St. Louis, as Gorman continues to underperform while Saggese excels.
As Alec Burleson's power has not been evident in the 2025 season, he is essentially being blocked from playing time due to Gorman's struggles, despite Burleson's potential and higher batting average compared to Gorman.