Cardinals minor leagues

[OldRed]

Did anyone notice how young most of players were on the A's yesterday?

[Cranny]

Fingers crossed on Josh Baez emerging later in 2026 as a RH OF bat.

that would be great, agree

Baez has had one good year between A and AA. I don't look for him to be that good of hitter going forward. I live in the show me state and he needs to show me more next year. He has never hit for average and showed streaks of pop. I dont think he will get the stolen bases he got in the minors as well.

Just keep giving him a chance to answer the questions. He did at A. He has at AA. Give him a chance at AAA. If he can do that, move him up. We don't presently have another outfield prospect like him. I'm pretty sure he'll make the majors. How he does- we'll see. People are understandably excited. It's been awhile since the Cardinals had an OF that does things that stars do- run, hit for power, play good defense, cannon for an arm etc...

He is Cards 11th ranked prospect. He has never hit for average, he has never hit HRs at a good rate, and he had problems with the strike zone before, and has a higher K rate. His speed is not as good as his SBs indicate and his SBs will not translate. He is the 11th ranked Cards prospect behind 3 catchers for a reason. O’Niell, Carlson, Bader had higher prospect status and none of them are around.

No one will debate you on Baez’ struggles prior to this year.

IMO, there are 2 reasons for optimism. New minor league instructors in place this year. Bloom’s guy running the show this year. Maybe they found something. Second, he had handled the promotion to AA well. Has continued the power and cut down the strikeouts.

Dude just turned 22 in June. Let’s see where this goes.

Peterman’s - no amateur on CT really knows what’s going on with our prospects up and down the system.
Only the minor league managers and coaches know, along with Bloom and Cerfolio. Also the traveling position coaches.
Anything on CT is pure conjecture.

True, including your sunshine pumping.

Actually, icon, the sunshine pumping is a perspective (and attitude) - not a conjecture. There are no guarantees of success for any minor league prospect.

[Bomber1]

AA Springfield is 79-47. I’d look for some of those players to be called up from Memphis sometime in 2026.

What in the world is this statement?

What does AA W/L have to do with call-ups from AAA to MLB?

Cranny is hilarious.

When I pointed out what a slug Jake Woodford has been in the Majors, Cranny responded by saying that Woodford started the AAA All-star game 6 years ago.

That’s exactly right, Bomber. It’s why I had high hopes for him at the time. Fairly logical, huh? Amazing that he’s on the Diamondbacks 26 man roster right now.

Cranny for once you’re correct.

It IS amazing that Woodford is on ANY team’s 40-man, much less the 26-man active roster.

Woodford in 2025 -
0-3
5.09 ERA
1.42 WHIP
4.7 K/9 IP
0.0 WAR

This year’s WAR is actually good as far as Woodford goes, since his career WAR is negative .9

[icon]

Fingers crossed on Josh Baez emerging later in 2026 as a RH OF bat.

that would be great, agree

Baez has had one good year between A and AA. I don't look for him to be that good of hitter going forward. I live in the show me state and he needs to show me more next year. He has never hit for average and showed streaks of pop. I dont think he will get the stolen bases he got in the minors as well.

Just keep giving him a chance to answer the questions. He did at A. He has at AA. Give him a chance at AAA. If he can do that, move him up. We don't presently have another outfield prospect like him. I'm pretty sure he'll make the majors. How he does- we'll see. People are understandably excited. It's been awhile since the Cardinals had an OF that does things that stars do- run, hit for power, play good defense, cannon for an arm etc...

He is Cards 11th ranked prospect. He has never hit for average, he has never hit HRs at a good rate, and he had problems with the strike zone before, and has a higher K rate. His speed is not as good as his SBs indicate and his SBs will not translate. He is the 11th ranked Cards prospect behind 3 catchers for a reason. O’Niell, Carlson, Bader had higher prospect status and none of them are around.

No one will debate you on Baez’ struggles prior to this year.

IMO, there are 2 reasons for optimism. New minor league instructors in place this year. Bloom’s guy running the show this year. Maybe they found something. Second, he had handled the promotion to AA well. Has continued the power and cut down the strikeouts.

Dude just turned 22 in June. Let’s see where this goes.

Peterman’s - no amateur on CT really knows what’s going on with our prospects up and down the system.
Only the minor league managers and coaches know, along with Bloom and Cerfolio. Also the traveling position coaches.
Anything on CT is pure conjecture.

True, including your sunshine pumping.

Actually, icon, the sunshine pumping is a perspective (and attitude) - not a conjecture. There are no guarantees of success for any minor league prospect.

You often recite long lists of miinor leaguers who are potential stars or at least MLB players here. That is conjecture.

[ClassicO]

Fingers crossed on Josh Baez emerging later in 2026 as a RH OF bat.

that would be great, agree

Baez has had one good year between A and AA. I don't look for him to be that good of hitter going forward. I live in the show me state and he needs to show me more next year. He has never hit for average and showed streaks of pop. I dont think he will get the stolen bases he got in the minors as well.

Just keep giving him a chance to answer the questions. He did at A. He has at AA. Give him a chance at AAA. If he can do that, move him up. We don't presently have another outfield prospect like him. I'm pretty sure he'll make the majors. How he does- we'll see. People are understandably excited. It's been awhile since the Cardinals had an OF that does things that stars do- run, hit for power, play good defense, cannon for an arm etc...

He is Cards 11th ranked prospect. He has never hit for average, he has never hit HRs at a good rate, and he had problems with the strike zone before, and has a higher K rate. His speed is not as good as his SBs indicate and his SBs will not translate. He is the 11th ranked Cards prospect behind 3 catchers for a reason. O’Niell, Carlson, Bader had higher prospect status and none of them are around.

No one will debate you on Baez’ struggles prior to this year.

IMO, there are 2 reasons for optimism. New minor league instructors in place this year. Bloom’s guy running the show this year. Maybe they found something. Second, he had handled the promotion to AA well. Has continued the power and cut down the strikeouts.

Dude just turned 22 in June. Let’s see where this goes.

Agree Peterman.
As noted before, last year in High A, Baez was hitting .225/.306/.388 with a 37.3% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate across 71 games. The Cards sent him to a 4-week development camp to concentrate on his poor hitting skills.

Some stats that make you believe the camp worked well:
Post-camp 2024:
In the 15 games after his return from the camp, Baez slashed .340/.459/.500 and cut his strikeout rate almost 10% to 27.9% and increased his walk rate almost 4% to 13.1%.
Post-camp 2025:
He's soared this year with power, speed and a good batting average. .285/.381/.488/.869 with 17 HRs and 49 SBs.
And his K-rate is now only 21.2% and 12.1% BB rate. That's a 16.1% lower k-rate post-camp.
His “miss %” has improved dramatically from 43.2% in 2023 to 27.5% in 2025, while his hard-hit rate has improved from 40% to 47%. And his chase rate has gone down from 29% to 22%

[hugeCardfan]

Fingers crossed on Josh Baez emerging later in 2026 as a RH OF bat.

that would be great, agree

Baez has had one good year between A and AA. I don't look for him to be that good of hitter going forward. I live in the show me state and he needs to show me more next year. He has never hit for average and showed streaks of pop. I dont think he will get the stolen bases he got in the minors as well.

Just keep giving him a chance to answer the questions. He did at A. He has at AA. Give him a chance at AAA. If he can do that, move him up. We don't presently have another outfield prospect like him. I'm pretty sure he'll make the majors. How he does- we'll see. People are understandably excited. It's been awhile since the Cardinals had an OF that does things that stars do- run, hit for power, play good defense, cannon for an arm etc...

He is Cards 11th ranked prospect. He has never hit for average, he has never hit HRs at a good rate, and he had problems with the strike zone before, and has a higher K rate. His speed is not as good as his SBs indicate and his SBs will not translate. He is the 11th ranked Cards prospect behind 3 catchers for a reason. O’Niell, Carlson, Bader had higher prospect status and none of them are around.

No one will debate you on Baez’ struggles prior to this year.

IMO, there are 2 reasons for optimism. New minor league instructors in place this year. Bloom’s guy running the show this year. Maybe they found something. Second, he had handled the promotion to AA well. Has continued the power and cut down the strikeouts.

Dude just turned 22 in June. Let’s see where this goes.

Agree Peterman.
As noted before, last year in High A, Baez was hitting .225/.306/.388 with a 37.3% strikeout rate and 9.2% walk rate across 71 games. The Cards sent him to a 4-week development camp to concentrate on his poor hitting skills.

Some stats that make you believe the camp worked well:
Post-camp 2024:
In the 15 games after his return from the camp, Baez slashed .340/.459/.500 and cut his strikeout rate almost 10% to 27.9% and increased his walk rate almost 4% to 13.1%.
Post-camp 2025:
He's soared this year with power, speed and a good batting average. .285/.381/.488/.869 with 17 HRs and 49 SBs.
And his K-rate is now only 21.2% and 12.1% BB rate. That's a 16.1% lower k-rate post-camp.
His “miss %” has improved dramatically from 43.2% in 2023 to 27.5% in 2025, while his hard-hit rate has improved from 40% to 47%. And his chase rate has gone down from 29% to 22%

Good numbers. Thanks. Seems like somebody has figured something out, and in the highest minor league level he has yet to play.

Nothing is final. But, i am very hopeful for this kid. He was so raw when we drafted him, I wasn't sure he'd ever get us pumped. Stay healthy and keep improving Baez.

[blackinkbiz]

Did anyone notice how young most of players were on the A's yesterday?

Can't stomach the endless whiffs on junk and watching fastballs go right down the middle.

But every time I think the FO should petition the league to move the walls in at Busch, I'm reminded it's not the stadium when a team as lowly as the A's belts 3 into the stands...

It's this bunch of idiots who think swinging at offspeed pitches is a sound offensive strategy.

[Cranny]

Fingers crossed on Josh Baez emerging later in 2026 as a RH OF bat.

that would be great, agree

Baez has had one good year between A and AA. I don't look for him to be that good of hitter going forward. I live in the show me state and he needs to show me more next year. He has never hit for average and showed streaks of pop. I dont think he will get the stolen bases he got in the minors as well.

Just keep giving him a chance to answer the questions. He did at A. He has at AA. Give him a chance at AAA. If he can do that, move him up. We don't presently have another outfield prospect like him. I'm pretty sure he'll make the majors. How he does- we'll see. People are understandably excited. It's been awhile since the Cardinals had an OF that does things that stars do- run, hit for power, play good defense, cannon for an arm etc...

He is Cards 11th ranked prospect. He has never hit for average, he has never hit HRs at a good rate, and he had problems with the strike zone before, and has a higher K rate. His speed is not as good as his SBs indicate and his SBs will not translate. He is the 11th ranked Cards prospect behind 3 catchers for a reason. O’Niell, Carlson, Bader had higher prospect status and none of them are around.

No one will debate you on Baez’ struggles prior to this year.

IMO, there are 2 reasons for optimism. New minor league instructors in place this year. Bloom’s guy running the show this year. Maybe they found something. Second, he had handled the promotion to AA well. Has continued the power and cut down the strikeouts.

Dude just turned 22 in June. Let’s see where this goes.

Peterman’s - no amateur on CT really knows what’s going on with our prospects up and down the system.
Only the minor league managers and coaches know, along with Bloom and Cerfolio. Also the traveling position coaches.
Anything on CT is pure conjecture.

True, including your sunshine pumping.

Actually, icon, the sunshine pumping is a perspective (and attitude) - not a conjecture. There are no guarantees of success for any minor league prospect.

You often recite long lists of miinor leaguers who are potential stars or at least MLB players here. That is conjecture.

Sorry, icon. If a player is doing well, I usually post their stats
and simply say that they’re someone to watch and track.
I never predict that someone is going to be a star. Nice try, though.