Special Guest Columnist - Seth Trachtman
December 28, 2004
The St. Louis Cardinals - Farm Report
The Cardinals have some nice pitching prospects at the top, but when you go down the list this organization as a whole is still terrible. Trading their top prospect and only real position prospect Daric Barton to Oakland does not help. Recently, the
team has taken a new approach in the draft and has hired on new talent evaluators. They hope it helps.
Anthony Reyes, SP: If he can keep his delicate arm healthy, this 23-year-old out of USC has a chance to be an ace. Considering that he has had so many arm problems, that is a big if. Reyes throws in the low-to-mid-90s with a good slider, posting a dominating 12.4 K/9 in Double-A last season as a result. The former 15th round pick has pinpoint control and has had no home run problems thus far. He could be called up by the All-Star Break. Again, the phrase "if healthy" is pertinent.
ETA: 2005
Adam Wainwright, SP: Wainwright is already the forgotten piece of the J.D. Drew trade following a forgetful 2004 season. He struggled to begin the year in Triple-A and then partially tore his elbow ligament. With a successful return in the Arizona Fall League, we can only assume that he is fully healthy. The lanky Wainwright throws in the mid-90s with a good curve. His strikeout rate was excellent last season in Triple-A, but he also had problems with walks. This will be his most important development year yet.
ETA: 2005
Brad Thompson, SP: Thompson went on a long scoreless innings streak last season in Double-A, which set Cardinal Nation abuzz. He looks like another draft steal for this organization, this time from the 16th round in 2002. The 22-year-old right-hander throws in the low-90s with excellent control, but his less than superb strikeout rate in Double-A is a concern as he moves up. Without one terrific secondary pitch, he is more a back of the rotation starter.
ETA: 2006
Blake Hawksworth, SP: Hawksworth was clearly the top pitching prospect in the Cardinals' farm system going into last season. After two starts, his season was halted with shoulder problems. He had surgery to increase circulation in his shoulder, and his status for this season is anything but a sure thing. He threw in the low-90s with a wide repertoire and good control up to High-A in 2003. This farm system has been ravaged with pitcher arm injuries over the last several years, so they can only hope Hawksworth will return to his old self.
ETA: 2007
Chris Lambert, SP: The Cardinals' first round pick from the 2004 draft had a decent pro debut. He had over a strikeout per inning in Low-A, posting an ERA well under 3.00. His biggest problem has been walks, in his early pro career and in college. With a mid-90s fastball and legitimate out-pitch already, he has a high ceiling.
ETA: 2007
John Gall, OF/1B: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is obsessed with defensive contribution, which is a huge problem for Gall. Thus, he could use an organizational change. Gall will turn 27 in April, but he has been a good enough average and power hitter through the minors to make a prospect list. How do the Cardinals really know that he will not be able to play until they give him a try?
ETA: 2005 (hopefully)
Stuart Pomeranz, SP: Big Stuart Pomeranz is a good pitching prospect due to his mid-90s fastball and control. The 6-7 right-hander was a second round pick in 2003 out of high school, and he posted a 3.55 ERA in Low-A last season at age 19. If he is able to develop a better out-pitch, he could project as a number two starter.
ETA: 2007
Brendan Ryan, SS: The 22-year-old Ryan was drafted in the seventh round of the 2003 draft, and he has moved smoothly through the system so far. Last season in Low-A he hit .322 with 30 steals on 37 attempts. He is not exactly the most patient hitter, but he makes consistent contact, thus utilizing his skills. If he has a good 2005, he is likely to emerge as the top position prospect in the system.
ETA: 2007
Chris Duncan, 1B/OF: Son of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, Chris broke out offensively last season. The 23-year-old hit .289-16-65 in less than 400 at-bats in Double-A and also greatly increased his walk rate. The team has moved him to the outfield due to that guy that the Cards have playing first base. It is unclear whether Duncan has the talent to start in the majors, but he at least has enough talent to be a pinch-hitter.
ETA: 2006
John Nelson, SS: The soon to be 26-year-old Nelson projects as a decent utility man. He hit .301 in Double-A last season, and has shown some pop and speed in the past. Solid defensively, the Cardinals are likely to call him up at some point this season. The team left him exposed in the Rule V draft this past month, but that does not necessarily mean that they have completely soured on his abilities.
ETA: 2006
