Five Cardinals Prospects Make Esteemed Top 100 List Ahead Of 2024 Season
The St. Louis Cardinals finished 2023 at the bottom of the National League Central with hopes for a brighter future.
The club has been busy retooling the rotation and bullpen this winter while investing in the farm system and hiring former Boston Red Sox baseball chief officer Chaim Bloom to an advisory role.
It's also worth noting that the Cardinals possess five players who were recently listed among the top 100 prospects going into the 2024 season.
The five Cardinals prospects listed include Masyn Winn (#39), Tekoah Roby (#75), Victor Scott II (#83), Tink Hence (#84), and Thomas Saggese (#85), according to Baseball America's 2024 Top 100 Prospects List.
Winn batted .288 with 40 extra-base hits including 18 home runs, 61 RBIs and a .833 OPS in 105 games played for Triple-A Memphis last season.
Following the trade of Paul DeJong at last year's trade deadline, Winn was called up to the big leagues. The talented shortstop finished 2023 playing for the Cardinals where he logged .172/.230/.238 in 122 plate appearances.
Roby posted a 2-3 record with a 4.63 ERA, 69-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .250 batting average against and a 1.20 WHIP in 58 1/3 innings pitched for Double-A Frisco and Springfield in 2023.
The 22-year-old starting pitcher is showing promise early on in his career and could be a valuable asset to the Cardinals' rotation down the line. Roby battled injuries last season but should be much more valuable when healthy.
Scott II hit .303 with 39 extra-base hits including nine home runs, 63 RBIs and a .794 OPS in 132 games played for High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield last season.
The center fielder is quickly making a name for himself after stealing an impressive 94 bases and earning a Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove in just his second season. The 22-year-old is playing under an organization that has strong outfield depth, so it might take a while before we see Scott II suit up at Busch Stadium.
Hence posted a 4-6 record with a 4.31 ERA, 99-to-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .258 batting average against and a 1.33 WHIP in 96 innings pitched for High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2023.
The 21-year-old has a fastball that explodes up in the zone and often leaves batters whiffing. The young starting pitcher has the potential to develop into an ace if he can succeed while taking on a heavier workload.
Saggese batted .306 with 66 extra-base hits including 26 home runs, 111 RBIs and a .904 OPS in 139 games played for Double-A Frisco and Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last season.
The young infielder was promoted twice in 2023 and finished the year with 170 hits -- the most by any player in Minor League Baseball last season. His ability to man second base, third base, and shortstop while executing with such consistency at the plate might earn him a Major League Baseball debut soon if he keeps it up.
The Cardinals have a lot to look forward to with the aforementioned talents in their farm system. It might be some time before we see any of them shine in the big leagues but it's great to recognize that there is certainly hope for the organization's future.
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