Quick Look
The Cardinals' top few prospects are respectable. Their minor league system after that is barren. They can obviously take solace in the fact that their major league team is in solid shape, but their inventory of prospects is among the worst in the game. Playing in a wide-open division, St. Louis will continue to rely on Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, and Adam Wainwright, while Colby Rasmus will be a difference-maker in the near future. By the way, anyone interested in the Cardinals who hasn't checked out Future Redbirds or Play a Hard Nine should do that ASAP; they're very informative sites.
Top Prospects
Shelby Miller, rhp
Age: 19 Level: none-Low A
Miller, the 19th selection in the most recent draft, has the best fastball and highest upside of any Cardinals prospect. Miller's heater sits at 92-93 mph and touches 97 mph. The pitch has plus sink. A Texas native, Miller has a strong, 6-3, 195-pound frame that bodes well for his durability. His curveball flashes plus potential and his changeup has shown improvement. Scouts say his command needs work, and he could further refine his secondary offerings. St. Louis gave him a brief cameo in the Midwest League last year to get his feet wet in his future home for this season. If Miller goes there and shows he can harness his exciting stuff, he will be an elite pitching prospect.
Jaime Garcia, lhp
Age: 23 Level: MLB
Garcia got in just 38 IP during 2009 while he returned from Tommy John surgery. Nearly fully recovered now, he's a viable 2010 rotation candidate. Garcia's best pitch is a devastating curveball. His fastball usually clocks in at about 90-92 mph. He could stand to sharpen a third pitch and hone his command, but the Texas native has shown the ability to rack up Ks and groundballs with his top two pitches. Though some have qualms with his delivery, he projects as a mid-rotation starter.
Daryl Jones, of
Age: 22 Level: Double-A-Triple-A
A raw athlete coming out of high school, Jones struggled for a few seasons until breaking out in 2008, going .316/.407/.483 between two levels. Jones has excellent athleticism and plus speed. He has developed solid plate discipline and greatly improved his feel for hitting. The presence of Colby Rasmus and Jones's below-average throwing arm make him a probable corner outfielder in the future. His modest power (.117 IsoP) fuels questions surrounding his ultimate worth at an offensively-demanding position. To his credit, Jones has made progress offensively and may just be scratching the surface of his potential. He's ready for Triple-A and nearing the majors, but Jones's future with the Cardinals seems unclear.
Lance Lynn, rhp
Age: 22 Level: Double-A-MLB
Lynn fits the Cardinals' mold of a steady, dependable college hurler. A former Ole Miss standout who went in the supplemental round of the 2008 draft, he had a strong 2009 campaign primarily in Double-A (149 IP, 3.20 FIP, 47.0 GB%). Lynn throws a low-90s fastball with sink along with a slider, curveball, and changeup. He doesn't overwhelm (19.9 K%) and needs to develop one of his secondary pitches into a plus pitch, but he should be a mid-rotation workhorse. At 6-5, 250, Lynn has the durable frame to shoulder a lot of innings.
David Freese, 3B
Age: 26 Level: MLB
Since coming over from the Padres for Jim Edmonds, Freese has developed into a legitimate big league option. The 6-2, 220-pounder has a track record of hitting, with a .308/.384/.532 career line. He has been a power hitter in the minors, but some doubt whether his pop will play in the m
ajors. Freese does not control the strike zone well either. He's dealt with injuries, but shown capable defensive skills when healthy. Freese will compete for a job in Spring Training. Approaching 27, he'll have to seize his opportunity now, but Freese has the ability to be a productive starting 3rd baseman.
Allen Craig, 3B/OF/1B
Age: 25 Level: Triple-A-MLB
An underrated prospect with a potent bat, Craig has pounded minor league pitching to the tune of .306/.366/.513 (.390 wOBA) over 4 seasons. He generates consistent righthanded power and makes solid contact, though he doesn't walk nearly enough. In his career Craig has played every corner position and shortstop, but his sub-par speed, arm, and range mean he offers little in the way of defense. With nothing left to prove in the minors, Craig could hit his way into the Cardinals' plans or be used as trade bait.
Daniel Descalso, 2B
Age: 23 Level: Triple-A-MLB
Descalso, an untouted 2007 3rd-rounder out of UC Davis, enjoyed a breakout 2009 season, hitting .299/.373/.459 while reaching Triple-A. He shows the skills to be an everyday regular at 2nd base. The lefty employs a quick, line-drive-oriented stroke to hit for contact and pepper the gaps. He doesn't strike out often. Descalso has good instincts and gets the job done defensively. His average speed and range mean he probably won't be more than a fill-in elsewhere. With Double-A being the only stop at which he posted more than a .130 IsoP, the 5-10 Descalso lacks power. He could draw some more walks as well. His offense dried when he reached Triple-A this year. Descalso will return there in 2010 in hopes of keeping pitchers honest while maintaining his contact skills.
Eduardo Sanchez, rhp
Age: 20 Level: Double-A-MLB
Sanchez's slight build belies his electric stuff. The Venezuelan relief ace has a fastball that he dials up to 97 mph and a sharp breaking ball that gets swings and misses. Sanchez's BABIP and FIP suggest somewhat of a regression next year, but aren't overly troublesome. On the positive side, he shows favorable groundball tendencies. His control and command definitely need fine-tuning, but Sanchez is close to making an impact in the St. Louis bullpen.
Robert Stock, c
Age: 20 Level: Rookie-Low A
Stock skipped his senior year of high school to enroll at USC. He failed to meet sky-high expectations during his three years as the Trojans' catcher, but Stock still went in 2nd round in 2009. Offensively, Stock has projectable power and the ability to be an asset for a catcher. His worrisome mechanics and inconsistency making contact often sabotage him, though. (Proponents note that he was young in college and had a solid pro debut.) Stock's defense can get out of whack, but he has a cannon arm and the tools to be a plus defender. (He threw in the low-90s as a pitcher in college, and I actually like him more in that role.) Far along for his age, Stock will head to Low A in 2010 looking to justify his $525,000 signing bonus and the hype he received as an amateur.
Blake Hawksworth, rhp
Age: 26 Level: MLB
Hawksworth is an erstwhile top prospect whose career was sidetracked by injuries and ineffectiveness. To his credit, he has battled back and reached St. Louis as a reliever. (He threw 40 quality innings in 2009 and is barely eligible for this list.) Hawksworth may not be ticketed for stardom like he seemed to be 5 or 6 years ago, but the 6-3, 195-pounder works in the low-90s and still gets outs with his money changeup. He sometimes struggles with command and needs to establish his fastball better. Hawksworth will play the upcoming season at age 27 and is maxed out. He figures to be a decent bullpen guy.
Others: RHP P.J. Walters; SSs Pete Kozma and Tyler Greene; OFs Tyler Henley, Jon Jay, and Kyle Conley; C/1B/OF Steve Hill; 1B Mark Hamilton; C Bryan Anderson
Impact Talent: D+
Farm System Depth: D+
2010 Breakout Prospect
Adam Reifer, rhp
Age: 23 Level: High A-Triple-A
Reifer has high-octane stuff but hasn't turned the corner yet; when he does, he'll zoom to the Cardinals' bullpen. The UC Riverside product works in the mid-90s and peaks at 99 mph with his fastball, and his power slider is at least a plus pitch when it's working. He occasionally even breaks out a decent changeup. His pure arm and aggressive mentality suit a closer, but his control (10.6 BB%) needs major work. Reifer also gets hit more than one would expect (mainly because he leaves too many pitches over the plate). With that said, his 3.53 FIP this year is much more encouraging than his 4.47 ERA. Reifer could explode if he finally harnesses his stuff.
Daryl Jones walk-off home run ball from 2007
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