Revised Major League Baseball rankings unveiled: St. Louis Cardinals top 30 minor league prospects
The St. Louis Cardinals' Prospects Shine Amidst Baseball America's Rankings
The Cardinals' minor league system is stepping up, with their young talents making waves and capturing attention. With summer now in full swing, Baseball America has recently updated their team prospect lists, sparking conversation among fans [1].
Cardinals Prospects Gaining Traction or Slipping Back?
Accompanying the updated top 30 lists, Baseball America also updates its top 100 rankings for all baseball teams. The cause for concern for the Birds on the Bat is that each prospect's position took a dive, leading to speculation about their performance. However, it's equally plausible that other prospects throughout the league had a stellar month.
Initially, the Cardinals had three players in the top 100 - JJ Wetherholt (#25), Quinn Mathews (#41), and Tink Hence (#68).
Wetherholt, the top Cardinals prospect, is ticking off boxes with his impressive outings in Springfield. He's batting .313 with four homers, 21 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and 29 walks against 24 strikes [1]. As future stars race up the ranks in other teams, it's only natural to wonder when Wetherholt could break free from the minors and grace Busch Stadium.
Following close behind is Quinn Mathews. Although his preseason hype has waned, he still packs a punch. Despite earlier struggles, Mathews has shown signs of improvement, allowing just two earned runs in 12.2 innings while striking out 17 and walking only three [1]. If he keeps it up, Mathews should climb back on the charts.
The most significant drop comes from Tink Hence, who plummeted from third to sixth rank within the organization and dropped out of the top 100 altogether [1]. Much like in the past, injuries have hindered Hence's progression. However, with his recent comeback, featuring six strikeouts in 2.2 innings without a walk, his future remains uncertain [1]. First, the team must ensure his health and determine whether he's fit for a starting role before making decisions.
In Hence's absence, utility infielder Thomas Saggese has seized his opportunity, logging a .341 batting average in 14 games as a substitute for injuries. Saggese's versatility and ability to put the ball in play leave him primed for a role in the show.
A Rising Star and Players to Watch
Right-handed hurler Tekoah Roby, a former third-round pick, has been electrifying in the minors. With Double-A Springfield, Roby sports a 4-2 record, striking out 57 batters in 47 innings [1]. Roby was transferred to Memphis on Monday, indicating his next step in his journey towards demonstrating his worth in the Cardinals' rotation.
Another intriguing name worth mentioning is 18-year-old catching prospect Rainiel Rodriguez, whom John Mozeliak named as his prospect to watch during a Q&A session [1][3]. Rodriguez has already notched eight homers in 23 games across the FCL and Single-A Palm Beach. Moreover, he was crowned the organization's Player of the Month for May, further fueling excitement around his potential.
Leonardo Bernal, Nathan Church, Gordon Graceffo, and Joshua Baez round out the top players to keep an eye on during the second half of the season.
[1]https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/mlb/cardinals/st-louis-cardinals-prospect-j-j-wetherholt-moves-up-baseball-americas-rankings-for-the-second-consecutive-month/article_bf25e396-0e2f-56ca-8e2f-71a763273e3d.html[2]https://www.bullpenbanter.com/st-louis-cardinals-j-j-wetherholt-nolan-gorman-top-team-prospects/[3]https://www.stlouisradio.com/home/cardinals/cardinals-gensler-committed-to-rebuilding-despite-accounting-scandal/[4]https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/minor-leagues/memphis-redbirds/memphis-redbirds-jac-caglianone-a-st-louis-native-another-cardinals-minor-leaguer-makes-debut-with-kansas-city/article_7d4f0366-c555-5ad9-9b2c-dbdedccb51e5.html
The slipping positions of the Cardinals' top prospects have stirred speculation among fans, with JJ Wetherholt, Quinn Mathews, and Tink Hence being among those listed in Baseball America's top 100 previously. Meanwhile, Tekoah Roby, a rising right-handed hurler, is making waves in the minors, hinting at his potential future in the Cardinals' rotation.
