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Cards Fan!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lincoln, IL
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02/29/2008 10:00 AM ET
Cardinals' farm system cause for excitement
Perennial playoff contender is reloading with homegrown prospects
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
A first-round pick in last June's Draft, Clayton Mortensen is one of a slew of flame-throwing pitchers quickly climbing the Cards' ladder. (Paul Gierhart/MLB.com)
There's a certain buzz around the Cardinals these days and for the first time in a long time, it's generating from down on the farm.
In years past, Cardinals fans had a team prepped for a postseason run. The big-league scene might not be quite that hopeful (though in the NL Central, you never know), but the good news is there's plenty of young help starting to arrive in St. Louis.
That help begins, of course, with Colby Rasmus, one of the top prospects in baseball. The Cardinals haven't had reason to be this excited about a hitting prospect since Albert Pujols came to town. Even if the organization decides Rasmus needs a little fine-tuning in the Minors, he's going to make a huge impact -- and soon.
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ON THE VERGE
Here are a few players on the brink of breaking into the Major Leagues:
• Brian Barton, OF -- If this Rule 5 pick can show his knee is fully healed, he has a chance to secure an outfield spot.
• Colby Rasmus, OF -- It's a question of when, not if, this uber prospect (MiLB.com ranks him seventh among all Minor Leaguers) takes over in center field. Even if he's not the Opening Day starter, it won't be long.
• Chris Perez, RHP -- A year of apprenticeship with Jason Isringhausen should serve him well -- the closing job should be his in 2009.
10 Prospects to Watch in 2008:
C Bryan Anderson
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Though his defensive skills have emerged more slowly, Anderson has made considerable strides and the Cardinals are convinced he'll be a long-term catcher. He's worked with Mike Matheny in camp this spring, and while he has an unconventional arm angle, he gets the ball to second base in plenty of time. At this point, he really just needs more experience behind the plate to be ready to catch a big-league staff. There's a good chance that Mark Johnson will be the No. 1 catcher in Memphis, meaning Anderson would remain at Double-A Springfield so he can play every day.
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RHP Mitch Boggs
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The one thing Boggs truly needs to succeed at the higher levels as a starter is an off-speed pitch. He began working on it in the Arizona Fall League this past autumn, but in the heat of the competition, he didn't throw it enough to progress much. He's been throwing it more this spring and will continue to master it, most likely as a member of the Triple-A Memphis rotation.
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3B Allen Craig
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A shortstop in college, Craig has made the transition to third base as a pro and has improved there considerably in the last year. If necessary, he might be able to play second or even the outfield, but the Cards would love to leave a bat like that at third. They've got a similar player in David Freese, acquired from San Diego in the Jim Edmonds trade, but it's hoped that Freese will be able to make the leap to Triple-A and Craig will be part of a very good infield in Springfield.
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LHP Jaime Garcia
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When he's 100 percent, Garcia has a number of pitches to choose from -- a four-seam rising fastball that can reach 94 mph, a two-seamer with sink that he throws in the 88-90 range, an outstanding curve he can throw for strikes and a changeup. The goal is to keep him healthy all year and let him rack up innings. He'll get to do that, most likely as a starter, in either Springfield or Memphis, depending on where the many young arms in the system land.
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1B Mark Hamilton
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He still has plenty of playing to do, of course. Hamilton watched teammate Allen Craig take off in Palm Beach early last year and it lit a fire under him. The first baseman hit .306 in May and then slugged eight homers in 52 at-bats in June before being promoted to Springfield. He finished the year with 19 homers and 90 RBIs. He's improved defensively to the point where he should be average at the position. He'll be a part of the Springfield infield again in 2008 and the Cards are excited at the prospect of him becoming one of the first non-six-year free agents to play at Triple-A Memphis.
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RHP Tyler Herron
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In high school, Herron's fastball reached the low and occasionally even the mid-90s. As is often the case with prepsters, his velocity dropped with the adjustment to pro ball. He's now back up to touching 94 mph with his heater to complement a good changeup and decent breaking ball. He'll most likely start the year in Palm Beach, but there's a chance he could sneak up to Springfield with a big spring.
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SS Pete Kozma
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Offensively, he swings the bat well, though he didn't get to show much in a very brief pro debut in 2007, picking up just 146 at-bats. He has the potential to do everything well -- hitting for average and stealing some bases -- though he may never be a huge power guy. Many outside observers will consider it a botched pick if Kozma doesn't start the year in Quad Cities, and he'll be given every opportunity to win a job there. The Cardinals, however, see nothing wrong with him remaining in extended Spring Training to get more reps and then being assigned later in the year.
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OF Joe Mather
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Then it happened, a little bit in 2006 and then fully in 2007. Last year, Mather hit 31 homers and slugged .522 at Double- and Triple-A. The performance finally earned him a spot on the 40-man roster and a trip to big-league camp. He's got big-time power and can handle right field capably with a good arm. He can even run. In short, he's the complete package as an outfielder -- it just took a while to be delivered. He'll likely be a part of the Memphis outfield in 2008 while waiting for his first call to the bigs.
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RHP Clayton Mortensen
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The Cardinals don't often invite a draftee from the previous June to big-league camp, but Mortensen has earned it. The senior signee out of Gonzaga made it to full-season ball in his debut last summer. He's tall, lanky and extremely flexible and delivers at an angle that should be difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up.
Mortensen has a fastball, curve and changeup, and can throw all for strikes with movement. He's a major ground-ball producer, as evidenced by his 3.31 GO/AO ratio in his pro debut. The right-hander will probably start in Palm Beach, but don't be shocked to see him in Springfield.
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RHP Adam Ottavino
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Ottavino has a pair of fastballs ranging from the low- to the mid-90s. He also has a slider and curve, though the latter still needs work. He'll get the chance to iron out the kinks as part of the rotation in Springfield.
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Under the Radar:
LHP Nick Addition
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The last of a dying breed -- a draft-and-follow -- the Cardinals took the southpaw in the 47th round of the 2006 draft and watched his progress at Indian River Community College. When they realized his improvement might price him out of their range, they worked hard to sign him. He pitched 58 innings last summer, mostly at Johnson City, striking out 66 and walking just 12. He's got a plus curve and has shown increased velocity with the fastball. He was throwing 83-85 mph in high school; now he's up to 87-88 mph. Now 20 years old, the southpaw will most likely start 2008 in Quad Cities.
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SS Tyler Greene
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It's hard to call a former first-round pick "under the radar," but Greene's struggles and injuries have dropped him off most screens. He missed all of the second half of last year with a knee injury. The Cardinals think there's still something there. He was starting to figure things out in second half of 2006 (.927 OPS in 57 games with Quad Cities), but didn't really get the chance to build off it in 2007. If he can cut down his strikeout rate and get his batting average up to the .270-ish range, the organization still believes he can become a shortstop with power at the next level.
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2B Jarrett Hoffpauir
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At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Hoffpauir is used to people telling him he won't achieve much in the game. A sixth-round pick in 2004, he really took off in 2007 when he hit a combined .323 at Springfield and Memphis. With 55 walks and just 39 strikeouts, he finished with a nifty .407 OBP and his .473 slugging percentage from a second baseman isn't something to sneeze at. He's a gritty player who'll do anything to help his team win. He's now just an injury away from St. Louis being that team.
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RHP Jason Motte
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Two years ago, Motte was a strong-armed catcher who really couldn't hit as a pro. The Cardinals converted him to a pitcher and he showed some life with his fastball, throwing it 88-90 mph. Now he's cranking it up as high as 99 mph, has earned a spot on the 40-man roster and is opening eyes in big-league camp. He's got a good slider to go with the heater and the right mentality to handle a short relief role. He could land a spot in Triple-A Memphis, just a phone call away from helping out the big club.
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Predictions:
Player of Year: Allen Craig
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He's a little under the radar, but something tells me Craig is poised for another big season. His first full one was big enough, with a .311 average and .908 OPS. He'll start the year in the Texas League -- look for more power and a higher average from the Cardinals' future third baseman.
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Pitcher of Year: Clayton Mortensen
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So many young arms, only one to choose. Let's go with the gangly one from Gonzaga. Mortensen will begin what should be a quick climb up the ladder in 2008, jumping a level or two along the way. Don't be shocked if he's ready for St. Louis in September.
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Team to Watch: Springfield Cardinals
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With Mark Hamilton at first, Jose Martinez at second, Tyler Greene at short, Allen Craig at third and Bryan Anderson behind the plate, there's no deeper infield in the Minor Leagues.
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Comeback Player of Year: Tyler Greene
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Maybe this is just a ploy to help an Under the Radar pick do well, but Greene has always had plenty of natural talent. Now injury-free, he'll be able to put those tools to good use. It's time for this shortstop to perform at a higher level.
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Minor League Baseball: News: Article
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