Years ago, his grandpa would tell stories of catching the great Satchel Paige in the Negro Leagues, harkening back to an era that was segregated but full of stars.
C.J. McElroy, now a prospect outfielder for the Springfield Cardinals, would sit there and listen in awe. How could he not?
“When he’d go back home,” McElroy said of his grandpa, Sylvester Cooper, “he had purple hands, because (Satchel) threw so hard.”
This is the good stuff, the enjoyable stories that McElroy doesn’t mind sharing, including the advice from his dad and uncle – big-leaguers themselves in reliever Chuck McElroy and All-Star slugger Cecil Cooper.
Of course, McElroy himself has a chance now to create his own special memories.
You see, five years after turning down NCAA Division I football and baseball scholarship offers, McElroy has reached Double-A baseball as one of the more intriguing prospects in the Cardinals farm system.
In essence, McElroy is a speedster who two years ago took on the added challenge of switch-hitting, doing so under the watchful eye of Cardinals great Willie McGee, himself a speedster and switch-hitter back in the day. In fact, the two share text messages frequently.
“He always texts me or calls me and asks, ‘Mac, are you taking 100 balls off a tee every day?” McElroy said. “I’m like, ‘Yes sir.’ You’ve got to listen to a Hall of Famer and pick his brain as best you can. He’s got Glove Gloves, stole a lot of bases. In spring training, he was like, ‘Mac, do you want to go bunt?
“He just keeps me on my toes.”
McElroy could well keep Texas League pitchers on their toes and returns to Springfield tonight – the club opens a four-game series against Northwest Arkansas — as one of those potential diamonds in the rough.
Put it this way, the numbers to know about McElroy are these: 3.4 and 126. Those, in order, represent his time (in seconds) from home to first base out of the left-handed batter’s box, and the number of successful steals (out of 177 attempts.)
Plus, he’s got the DNA.
“Cecil told me, ‘If you don’t enjoy the game, it’s a long journey,’” McElroy said, referring to his uncle, a former Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers standout who played in the big leagues from 1971 to 1987, including in the 1975 and 1982 World Series.
“And my dad, he said, ‘If you love the game, it will love you back,’” said McElroy, whose dad was a big-league pitcher from 1989 to 2001 with nine teams.
Such advice could be valuable now more than ever for McElroy, who was among Baseball America’s Top 30 St. Louis Cardinals prospects last season but slid off the list.
He points to one good reason why – alarmingly high strikeout totals in Class A ball, including 94 last year in 493 at-bats and 96 in 530 at-bats a year ago.
But that is to be expected, given McElroy is now only in his third year of switch-hitting, learning from the left side. He also is only 22 years old and was a high school signee in 2011, when the Cardinals drafted McElroy in the third round, signing him away from a baseball scholarship to the University of Houston.
“At first, it was hard,” McElroy said. “Willie told me not to take days off. It’s a great tool (the ability to switch-hit) to have to get to the big leagues.”
Progress has been slow. But it stands to reason that 2016 could be the breakout year for McElroy.
“It’s taken some time to get (switch-hitting) going,” Springfield manager Dann Bilardello said. “He’s still got some work to do. But from day one to now, it’s been a nice improvement.”
McElroy would love to make a big dent this year in Springfield, a place he has only heard about during his days in Class A leagues. He’s obviously got the speed to leg out triples if he pulls hits into the right-field corner, but also could be a blaze just in going first to third or first to home should a teammate find the power alleys.
“It’s a great atmosphere here. When we first got here in April, I was like, ‘Wow,’” McElroy said. “I’ve taken my time to develop my game and, where I’m at now, I’m close to the big leagues. It’s just around the corner. But I’m just taking it one day at a time. I’m going to try to get better every day.”
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Royals-Cardinals series: The Cardinals play host to the Kansas City Royals’ Double-A club, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, from Monday through Thursday. The Arkansas Travelers (Angels) will follow with a four-game series, all at Hammons Field.
Prospects: The Naturals feature Royals top prospect Raul Mondesi Jr., a shortstop who made his big-league debut in last year’s World Series. The club also features outfielder Bubba Starling (3), left-hander Matt Strahm (8), right-hander Alec Mills (12), second baseman Ramon Torres (20), catcher Cam Gallagher (22) and third baseman Hunter Dozier (30).
Who’s hot: Outfielders Collin Radack (10-for-27) and David Washington (10-for-26) hit well in a recent 10-day stretch for the Cardinals.
Promotions this homestand: Tonight — Pasta Express $1 kids orders of toasted ravioli; Tuesday — $1 hot dogs; Thursday — $1 bratwursts; Friday – Postgame fireworks; Saturday – Fleece blanket.
