Promising hitters and pitchers nearing Major League Baseball readiness top the standout performers in the Cardinals' minor league system.
The countdown to May continues in the minor leagues as we edge closer to a new month. With large enough sample sizes, judgments are becoming clearer. The upcoming weeks may decide which players earn that much-deserved promotion before the MLB Draft in June.
Let's take a closer look at how the St. Louis Cardinals' top 30 prospects fared in the last week of minor league action.
1. JJ Wetherholt - 1 Game, 0-4, 1 BB (Stomach illness)
Wetherholt, a 22-year-old shortstop, played only one game for Double-A Springfield last week due to a nasty stomach ailment keeping him sidelined for over a week. His performance at the plate was unremarkable, as expected given his recovery process.
2. Quinn Mathews - Injured (Shoulder issues)
Mathews' last appearance came on April 11th for Triple-A Memphis, before being put on the 7-day IL due to shoulder troubles.
3. Tink Hence - Injured (Right ribcage strain)
Still recovering from a right ribcage strain, Hence hasn't made his 2025 debut yet.
4. Jimmy Crooks - 5 Games, 4-20, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K (Showcasing power)
Crooks demonstrated his power once more, smashing a homer for Triple-A Memphis that clocked in at 103.4 MPH off the bat. This season, he's only walked five times over 19 games, so it was heartening to see him get two free passes over the past week.
5. Thomas Saggese - Optioned to Triple-A Memphis (2 games, no hits)
Saggese remained with the big league club earlier in the week, but only saw action in two games, where he went hitless. He was later optioned to Triple-A Memphis over the weekend.
6. Leonardo Bernal - 4 Games, 0-16, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K (Forgettable week)
Bernal had a week he'd prefer to erase from memory, going hitless across four games for Double-A Springfield.
7. Rainiel Rodriguez - Yet to debut in 2025 (Florida Complex League starts soon)
Rodriguez will make his season debut once the FCL season gets underway in early May.
8. Yairo Padilla - Yet to debut in 2025 (Same as Rodriguez)
Like Rodriguez, Padilla's 2025 debut is scheduled for early May.
9. Chase Davis - 5 Games, 6-22, 1 2B, 1 SB, 1 BB, 8 K (Quiet week)
For Double-A Springfield, Davis had a relatively quiet week, managing only one extra-base hit over the week. However, the former first-round pick is putting together a decent 2025 in his second year in Springfield.
10. Michael McGreevy - 2 Games, 9.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (Mixed results)
McGreevy earned a win in his sole start last week for Triple-A Memphis, but struggled with walks in his Sunday outing, which saw him only last 3.2 innings pitched.
And so on... (The rest of the list remains the same with some sentence structure changes for readability)
Overall, the focus remains on development, with the team aiming to strengthen their minor league system for future success. With the MLB Draft on the horizon, we'll see which players are deemed ready for the next level.
Enrichment Data:Though specific performance data on these players may not be readily available, it's worth noting the Cardinals are currently in a transitional phase and prioritizing youth development[6]. The goal is to prepare young players for their potential MLB debuts and strengthen the organization for the future. In addition to the top 30 prospects mentioned here, Victor Scott II and Yaphet Gomez are also considered notable up-and-coming players[5]. Keep an eye on these players as they continue their journeys through the minor leagues.
- Quinn Mathews, a pitcher for the Cardinals' Triple-A Memphis team, has been sidelined due to shoulder issues since April 11th, with no return date set yet, potentially affecting his draft prospects.
- The upcoming MLB Draft in June could return a new talent to the Cardinals' roster, providing a fresh face amidst the ongoing minor league action.
- Despite being on the 7-day IL, Mathews' performances earlier in the season would have contributed to the St. Louis Cardinals' evaluations of their players, possibly impacting their strategies for the draft.
- With stars like JJ Wetherholt and Rainiel Rodriguez yet to make their 2025 debuts, the Cardinals are banking on the power and promise of their minor league talent to take center stage in the upcoming weeks, and potentially return to the MLB roster during the season.
