Intensified scrutiny of the Cardinals' pitching development program spotlights the rookie's explosive entrance
In the June 12 face-off between the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, the Brew Crew took center stage with their rookie pitcher, Jacob Misiorowski, giving the Cards a pounding. Clocking 102 mph with his heater, he dazzled St. Louis' hitters, striking out five through five innings without giving up a single hit — all while making his big-league debut.
What set Misiorowski apart? The answer lies in the Brewers' strategic drafting, as they nabbed him in the second round of the 2022 draft. While his pre-draft scouting report pointed to a powerful fastball and questionable control, the Brewers' faith in him paid off, particularly when he developed a mean curveball. It's evident that Milwaukee knows how to cultivate high-ceiling pitchers.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals' selection strategy for pitchers is like night and day compared to their Brewers counterparts. In the same draft where the Brewers drafted Misiorowski, the Cards took Cooper Hjerpe, a side-arming lefty with questionable longevity. And even in previous years, their first-round picks such as Michael McGreevy, Zack Thompson, Dakota Hudson, and Jake Woodford have consistently underperformed.
Conversely, when it comes to hitters, the Cardinals have displayed a completely different approach. They've taken risks on high-school stars like Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman, who, thus far, haven't quite lived up to expectations.
This stark contrast between the Cardinals' approach to pitchers versus hitters could hint at a lack of faith in the Cardinals' pitching development program. In an effort to fill their roster with immediate contributors, they lean towards college pitchers, even if they lack big-time potential. However, with Assistant General Manager Rob Cerfolio and Director of Pitching Matt Pierpont at the helm, the Cardinals are working to reinvent their player development approach.
Boosting their staff with hires from other successful organizations, the Cardinals aim to cultivate young, raw pitchers with a view to rivaling the Brewers' standing in pitching development. Though they've traditionally shied away from the riskier prospect of high-upside pitchers, the Cards might want to take a cue from Misiorowski's electric debut to upgrade their draft picks and reclaim their pitching relevance. Game on!
Enrichment Insights:- The Cardinals' approach to selecting pitchers is generally more conservative, focusing on college talent that is closer to major league readiness but may lack star potential.- The Brewers, on the other hand, tend to take risks on younger, rawer talent with higher ceilings, illustrated by their selection of Misiorowski.- The Cards are working to improve their player development by hiring talent from successful organizations and are focusing on cultivating more projectable arms under assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio and director of pitching Matt Pierpont.
The Cardinals' conservative approach to drafting pitchers may have missed out on the likes of Jacob Misiorowski, as the Brewers took a chance on him despite his questionable control during the draft, showcased by his impressive debut in MLB. Meanwhile, the Brewers' strategic drafting strategy has proven effective, providing them with high-ceiling pitchers that could potentially rival the Cardinals' standing in pitching development.
