Fans’ guide: Springfield Cardinals
Since the Springfield Cardinals’ home-opener is tonight – and an all-inclusive fan guide is below, awaiting your eyes — I have to tell this story.
It goes back to my first Opening Day in the minor leagues some 14 years ago this week. But it’s more than a story. It’s also a helpful tip for the casual fans wondering how in the world to follow a minor league club through a 140-game, five-month season and ever-changing roster.
So there I was in the Double-A Southern League, and the parent club of the team I covered – it shall remain nameless – was just getting into the international market. And one of its European imports was a left-handed pitcher from the Netherlands by the name of Ferenc Jongejan.
Can’t pronounce his name? That’s OK. Neither could the manager.
“Hey you,” the manager hollered at the guy just as batting practice got under way.
“I can’t pronounce your name,” the manager hollered with a smile, “so for the rest of the season your name is Frank Johnson.”
Well, Frank Johnson, er, Ferenc Jongejan lasted the entire season, a great accomplishment. Not that I remember anything that he did exactly. But he was a storyline among many that season, a guy who became more than just a name in a box score.
That’s a good tip for fans of the Springfield club. Once again, it appears St. Louis has dispatched a pretty good roster dotted with prospects and potential diamonds in the rough.
See you out at the ballpark again this summer. Game time tonight is 7:10 at Hammons Field.
SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS
The Prospects (ranking)
Alex Reyes, RHP (1): OK, so St. Louis’ top-rated pitching prospect isn’t listed on the active roster – he’s serving a 50-game suspension – but it would be no surprise if Reyes makes his 2016 debut here in May/June. You won’t want to miss this guy. In a brief stretch here late last year (35 innings), the right-hander showed electric stuff but the questions remain – can he follow in the footsteps of fellow flamethrower Carlos Martinez or will his inconsistency lead him to big-league bullpen duty, long-term anyway? Besides, the big-league club placed three starting pitching prospects on the DL at Triple-A Memphis to open the season and, if St. Louis needs starting pitching, you wonder if the front office would dip down to Double-A for help. Two other pitchers to keep in mind: Jack Flaherty and Luke Weaver, the Nos. 3 and 4-rated prospects in the Stl farm.
Carson Kelly, catcher (10): Obviously, Yadier Molina can’t catch forever in St. Louis, but the Cardinals are preparing for a potential successor. This year could be a key building block in that project. Kelly was signed away from a University of Oregon commitment for a $1.6 million bonus in 2012, according to Baseball America, and the outfielder was moved behind the plate before the 2014 season – when St. Louis shifted Stephen Piscotty to the outfield and kept Patrick Wisdom as a prospect third baseman.
Harrison Bader, outfielder (15): A third-round draft pick just last year, Bader is completely skipping high Class A baseball along with teammate Paul DeJong. That should come as no surprise. The Cardinals have jumped prospects (see: Matt Adams, Kolten Wong) over the Florida State League in recent years, partly because the ballpark there is a graveyard and Double-A offers a great challenge. Bader could thrive here if he mirrors his low Class A Midwest League stats. In only 206 at-bats last season, he cracked nine home runs, 11 doubles and drove in 28 runs – all after leading the Florida Gators to the College World Series.
Paul DeJong, third baseman (16): A 2015 fourth-round draft pick, DeJong played for Missouri State’s Missouri Valley Conference rival Illinois State. He led the Valley with 14 home runs last year after cracking 20 in the collegiate wood-bat Northwoods League the prior summer. He’ll man third base.
ONCE RANKED, STILL INTRIGUING
Outfielder C.J. McElroy (NR): The son of former big-league pitcher Chuck McElroy, C.J. was among BA’s Top 30 St. Louis prospects a couple of years ago. He’s a burner, with 124 steals in 174 attempts, and is in Double-A for the first time.
Right-hander Mike Mayers (NR): This right-hander was among Baseball America’s Top 30 St. Louis prospects last season, but he was shut down after 10 starts, so he’s hard to look past. After all, Mayers was a third-round draft pick in 2013 out of Ole Miss. He’s already made two impressive starts this season, striking out 13 in 12.2 innings and compiling a 2.13 earned run average.
SLEEPER?
Right-hander Daniel Poncedeleon (NR): Baseball America labeled the right-hander “a sleeper” this season, given he gets out when healthy. He did in his Double-A debut over the weekend in the starting rotation, allowing only one earned run in seven innings.
WELCOME BACK
Luke Voit, first baseman/DH: The former Missouri State catcher was the batterymate of Nick Petree on the Bears’ teams through 2013 and enjoyed a nice year in the high Class A Florida State League a year ago with 11 home runs and 18 doubles in a big-league spring training ballparks. He’s been a first baseman/DH mostly in the minor leagues and, given he is comfortable hitting at hitter-friendly Hammons Field, this could be a nice summer for a fan (and media) favorite.
Bruce Caldwell, INF: Dude showed some pop on the road in the opening road trip, with three home runs, two doubles and one triple. He hit nine home runs in 293 at-bats for Springfield last season.
Ronnie Shaban, RHP: Shaban enjoyed a solid bounce-back year in 2015, converting 10 saves as Springfield’s closer, and could handle the role again.
Joey Donofrio, RHP: He could be an asset in the bullpen, given he has Double-A and Triple-A experience the past two seasons.
Kurt Heyer, RHP: A starter two years ago, Heyer is now working the late shift, where his fastball should play up in shorter stints. If he keeps the beard, he’s all the more intimidating.
Corey Baker, RHP: Who was the last Double-A pitcher to earn a win with Yadier Molina catching? It was Baker in the final week of the 2014 season. The 49th-round selection is one of those battlers that coaches love within a pitching staff.
Breyvic Valera, INF: Versatile infielder actually made his Double-A debut here at age 19, when he was summoned all the way from rookie ball to cover for Kolten Wong, who was competing in the Futures Game.
Chris Thomas, RHP: Gotta pull for him, right? This guy went undrafted out of Avila, an NAIA school in Kansas City and a rival of Evangel’s. He has struck out 81 and walked 17 in 88 Double-A innings.
AND YOU ARE?
Chris Jacobs, 1B/DH: In the minors, guys like Chris Jacobs are called “hired thumpers,” signed off the waiver wire and installed in Double-A to provide pop (and protection to the prospects) in the lineup. He’s crushed 378 home runs in 10 minor league seasons, with last year spent at both Double-A and Triple-A in the White Sox farm.
Trey Nielsen, RHP: A 30th-round draft pick in 2013 is in the starting rotation after going 9-6 with a 2.59 ERA last year in high Class A.
Corey Littrell, LHP: Part of the trade that brought John Lackey from Boston, the lefty was 9-9 with a 2.69 ERA last year in Palm Beach.
Other notables: C Luis Cruz, Collin Radack, Andrew Sohn, John Brebbia, Chris Perry
Manager: Dann Bilardello is back for a second season, with Jason Simontacchi as the pitching coach and Ramon Ortiz as hitting coach.
PROMOTIONS YOU CAN’T MISS
Bobblehead nights: June 9 – Yadier Molina gnomes; June 11 – Carlos Martinez bobbleheads; July 17 – Fredbird toothbrush holder bobbleheads; Aug. 13 – Stephen Piscotty bobbleheads; Aug. 27 – Adam Wainwright & Yadier Molina Final Out dual bobbleheads.
Replica rings: May 28 – St. Louis Cardinals replica 1946 World Series rings; July 7 – St. Louis Cardinals replica 1926 World Series rings; July 30 – St. Louis Cardinals 2006 World Championship mystery player replica rings
Texas League All-Star Game: June 28 at Hammons Field
Promotions back on the calendar: Fireworks: Opening Night and every Friday night; Tuesdays: $1 hot dogs; Thursday: $1 bratwursts; Sundays: Free ice cream & kids run the bases
