Cardinals' Rainiel Rodriguez makes loud statement with 106-MPH double

[TraveledLessRoad]

Alejandro Kirk seems to be doing just fine and he's built like Danny DeVito

[rockondlouie]

Likely on paper , Bloom has him Raniel penciled in as the 'primary big league Cardinal catcher' for 2027 season. The rest of the catcher staff will be battling to see who is the 'backup ' catcher with others being traded to improve their future with another team.

I'd love to see him here in 2027 if he's ready rfdan but I'd put my money on 2028, Bernal should be here in 2027.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Me too would love to see him play himself into a position. That bat plays!

[Strummer Jones]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

This is what I'd like to see...but maybe Rodriguez plays elsewhere. He's solidly built, but isn't that tall. How's his arm behind the plate? Could he start thinking about right field? Or third base?

The height, or lack of, is also why I don't think Herrera finds a long term home at first base, either.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

This is what I'd like to see...but maybe Rodriguez plays elsewhere. He's solidly built, but isn't that tall. How's his arm behind the plate? Could he start thinking about right field? Or third base?

The height, or lack of, is also why I don't think Herrera finds a long term home at first base, either.

I've heard Craviduce mention the possiblilty of 2B for him. Where is Craviduce? Haven't heard from him in a bit.

[Strummer Jones]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

This is what I'd like to see...but maybe Rodriguez plays elsewhere. He's solidly built, but isn't that tall. How's his arm behind the plate? Could he start thinking about right field? Or third base?

The height, or lack of, is also why I don't think Herrera finds a long term home at first base, either.

I've heard Craviduce mention the possiblilty of 2B for him. Where is Craviduce? Haven't heard from him in a bit.

First I've heard of that. That's an...odd transition. Usually if they move a guy out of catching then they stick him at the corners. Craig Biggio notwithstanding.

Either way, that's truly a bat that's going to play just about anywhere you put it. I know it was just one game, one in early spring training at that, but that was real impressive yesterday. I know he's a kid, but he's a kid who looked like he knew what he was doing and knew how he was going to do it.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

This is what I'd like to see...but maybe Rodriguez plays elsewhere. He's solidly built, but isn't that tall. How's his arm behind the plate? Could he start thinking about right field? Or third base?

The height, or lack of, is also why I don't think Herrera finds a long term home at first base, either.

I've heard Craviduce mention the possiblilty of 2B for him. Where is Craviduce? Haven't heard from him in a bit.

First I've heard of that. That's an...odd transition. Usually if they move a guy out of catching then they stick him at the corners. Craig Biggio notwithstanding.

That would be crazy offense from a 2B! That would make for an interesting infield: 2B Rodriguez, SS Winn, 3B Wetherholt, and someone at 1B.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Catching is the toughest position to play in terms of wear on the body. It would be great if he can hit at a high level and handle the catching duties but he is a long way from MLB at the moment.

He hit .249 at Palm Beach - A ball.

Yea, as an 18 year old, that is really good. Here is his full batting line there: .249 .373 .498 .871 OPS. That's good for a 145 wRC+. Between Rookie Ball, A, and A+ he hit .276 .399 .555 and a .954 OPS. That's a 167 wRC+.

Then I saw this tweet the other day. Try to enjoy a young stud having an amazing start to his minor league career. We all know he's very young and [shirt] happens. Why pick out one stat to focus on? And again, hitting .249 isn't bad when you do a lot of other things well. There's a lot more to be able to enjoy if you try.

[Basil Shabazz]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

^this

Amazing that it took this long in the thread for someone to mention Bernal. He is the best defensive catcher of the group and hits pretty well, too. He is the catcher of the future, most likely. It seems RR's bat will play outside of the catcher position, so 1B or DH are possibilities for him. We have already seen Herrera's bat at the MLB level, and we know it plays outside of the catcher position.

[ScotchMIrish]

Catching is the toughest position to play in terms of wear on the body. It would be great if he can hit at a high level and handle the catching duties but he is a long way from MLB at the moment.

He hit .249 at Palm Beach - A ball.

Yea, as an 18 year old, that is really good. Here is his full batting line there: .249 .373 .498 .871 OPS. That's good for a 145 wRC+. Between Rookie Ball, A, and A+ he hit .276 .399 .555 and a .954 OPS. That's a 167 wRC+.

Then I saw this tweet the other day. Try to enjoy a young stud having an amazing start to his minor league career. We all know he's very young and [shirt] happens. Why pick out one stat to focus on? And again, hitting .249 isn't bad when you do a lot of other things well. There's a lot more to be able to enjoy if you try.

That's great.

[2ninr]

I would love to have a 19 year old make it to the big leagues and have a long hall of fame career. I know it’s against all odds but I’m rooting for Rainel to make the big leagues this year for the stretch.

We need to trade Pages sooner than later.

Dont forget the best defensive catcher in all the minors who is also a switch hitter Bernal.

Great problem to have, if all goes well Bernal is your long term C. Herrera at DH and Rodriguez at 1B

^this

Amazing that it took this long in the thread for someone to mention Bernal. He is the best defensive catcher of the group and hits pretty well, too. He is the catcher of the future, most likely. It seems RR's bat will play outside of the catcher position, so 1B or DH are possibilities for him. We have already seen Herrera's bat at the MLB level, and we know it plays outside of the catcher position.

Everyone forgets about Crooks. They have many options. We are all gun shy about moving guys now, but they can't all catch. Keep a close eye on what's going on in mib.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Catching is the toughest position to play in terms of wear on the body. It would be great if he can hit at a high level and handle the catching duties but he is a long way from MLB at the moment.

He hit .249 at Palm Beach - A ball.

Yea, as an 18 year old, that is really good. Here is his full batting line there: .249 .373 .498 .871 OPS. That's good for a 145 wRC+. Between Rookie Ball, A, and A+ he hit .276 .399 .555 and a .954 OPS. That's a 167 wRC+.

Then I saw this tweet the other day. Try to enjoy a young stud having an amazing start to his minor league career. We all know he's very young and [shirt] happens. Why pick out one stat to focus on? And again, hitting .249 isn't bad when you do a lot of other things well. There's a lot more to be able to enjoy if you try.

This is wild. I am hoping he can make it really hard on them to send him down.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

This is wild. I am hoping he can make it really hard on them to send him down.

There's zero chance he will not be sent down. Even the most freakishly great spring training performance results in him being sent down. He played in the US for the first time last year, started at the FCL, moved to A ball, and has played all of 4 games at A+.

[An Old Friend]

This is wild. I am hoping he can make it really hard on them to send him down.

There's zero chance he will not be sent down. Even the most freakishly great spring training performance results in him being sent down. He played in the US for the first time last year, started at the FCL, moved to A ball, and has played all of 4 games at A+.

Yep, it’s an absurd thought.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

This is wild. I am hoping he can make it really hard on them to send him down.

There's zero chance he will not be sent down. Even the most freakishly great spring training performance results in him being sent down. He played in the US for the first time last year, started at the FCL, moved to A ball, and has played all of 4 games at A+.

Agree to disagree. If he blasted 7 hrs and hit for a 1000 ops it would be hard regardless if you agree or not.

Ultimately he’s going back down but it would be “hard”. Whereas if he hit 150 and didn’t do jack it would be “easy”.

[Talkin' Baseball]

This is wild. I am hoping he can make it really hard on them to send him down.

There's zero chance he will not be sent down. Even the most freakishly great spring training performance results in him being sent down. He played in the US for the first time last year, started at the FCL, moved to A ball, and has played all of 4 games at A+.

Agree to disagree. If he blasted 7 hrs and hit for a 1000 ops it would be hard regardless if you agree or not.

Ultimately he’s going back down but it would be “hard”. Whereas if he hit 150 and didn’t do jack it would be “easy”.

Agree with Ronnie on this one. The decision has already been made. The aren't sending him from a handful of games at A+ to the majors. Full stop. If he has the kind of spring you describe, perhaps he opens the season at AA. It's ok to disagree (it's a much more enjoyable disagreement than speculating on how long they stick with someone before they pull the plug). We'll see how it pans out.