It is a strange time for the St. Louis Cardinals. On the one hand, the team will be celebrating a championship when the season starts and has a great chance to get back to the playoffs again this year.
However, there is the little hole over at first base that the organization and fans will miss. The good news is that there is help coming from down on the farm. Most of the top prospects in the system are in the lower levels of the minors, but there are a few players who could make their presence felt in 2012.
Here is a look at the next wave of young talent that the Cardinals hope will bring more championships in the not-too-distant future. .
1. Shelby Miller, RHP, 21
The Cardinals should boast one of the best rotations in the National League, depending on how fast Adam Wainwright is able to return to the form we saw before the Tommy John surgery. Miller is not a bad insurance policy to have waiting if and when the team needs another impact arm.
Strengths: His easy velocity comes from a smooth, fluid delivery that puts little stress on his shoulder. In addition to throwing his fastball in the mid-90s, he also gets great life and movement on the pitch. The velocity and movement allows him to induce a lot of weak contact.
Weaknesses: Though he is nearly finished developing in the minors, he could stand to improve the consistency on his curveball and changeup. Both should be plus pitches soon enough, but there are times when he loses his feel for the pitches. His command also needs some refinement before he takes the next step.
Report: Miller is one of the best pitching prospects in the game right now. He is a true No. 1 starter in the making. His fastball is already a dominant pitch, and should allow him to succeed if he were to start the season with the team. He should make his Major League debut this year, but he will need some refinement in Triple A.
ETA: Late 2012
2. Carlos Martinez, RHP, 20
Most teams can’t claim to have one pitcher in their system with true No. 1 starter potential, but the Cardinals can honestly say they have two in Miller and Martinez. Far from a finished product, Martinez does have to make progress this year to keep his stock rising.
Strengths: He has such an easy delivery that it is almost a crime he throws 95-100 mph with regularity. Despite his age, he is already able to maintain that velocity deep into games. Time is on his side since he just turned 20 in September.
Weaknesses: As great as his delivery is, he does have problems repeating it. This leads him to having problems commanding his pitches in the zone. There is some doubt about whether he will be able to handle starting long term because he is just 6’0″ and 165 pounds.
Report: The size issue doesn’t concern me, especially when you see how easily he throws the ball and holds his velocity. His 4.7 BB/9 IP has to improve, but he was just 19 pitching in high Class A last year. He needs to show more consistency with his curveball and a better feel for his changeup, but both should end up being plus pitches. He and Miller will lead the Cardinals rotation in three years.
ETA: 2014
3. Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, 19
While Jenkins does not have as much upside as Miller or Martinez, he would be the top pitching prospect in a lot of systems. He is more projection than polished product at just 19 years old, but last year he started to show signs of being the top-of-the-rotation starter his stuff suggests he can become.
Strengths: After throwing just three innings during the 2010 season due to signing late, he was able to increase his workload to 56 last year. While very limited, he did show signs of improvement with his mechanics and a better feel for his pitches. His best offering is a low-to mid-90s fastball that has great life out of his hand.
Weaknesses: As you can imagine for a pitcher so young with so little experience, his secondary pitches need work. He is still learning to throw a curveball and changeup. How well they progress as he moves through the minors will determine his ultimate role in the big leagues.
Report: Assuming his secondary pitches come along, Jenkins has the upside of a No. 2 starter. He has only thrown 59 innings since 2010, so there is a lot of risk and projection in his arm right now.
ETA: 2016
4. Oscar Taveras, OF, 19
While the Cardinals have played it fairly conservative in the draft, save for a few picks here and there, where they really shine is on the international free agent market. They signed Martinez and Taveras for a combined $1.6 million, and both should play a prominent role in the future direction of the franchise.
Strengths: While most players need time to adjust to the pitching in the minors, Taveras has had no problems hitting. He went from .303/.342/.485 in rookie ball two years ago to .386/.444/.584 in 2011. His bat speed and easy swing allow him to make consistent, hard contact with the ball. He has a strong arm that should allow him to play in right field.
Weaknesses: As great as his swing is, he could benefit from taking more walks. He is not so aggressive that it works against him, but he does get swing-happy now and then. His defense has been problematic. He tends to lose focus in the outfield, which allows many balls that should be caught to fall in.
Report: Even if the defense never comes around, you can learn to live with it because the bat is so good. He may end up being more of a doubles hitter than a home run threat in the majors, but because his swing is so good he will end up as a No. 3 hitter.
ETA: 2016
5. Zack Cox, 3B, 22
There was some thought that Cox would be one of the first college hitters taken in the 2010 draft. He fell all the way to the bottom of the first round, where the Cardinals took him with the 25th pick. His bat will carry him to the big leagues, but with David Freese locked into the hot corner for the time being, he could be used as trade bait to fill another need the team has.
Strengths: Cox came out of college as a polished hitter that would move quickly through the minors, and he has done nothing to prove that theory wrong. He has a smooth, fluid swing and the plate discipline needed to hit for a high average and get on base.
Weaknesses: As nice as his swing looks, Cox has limited power potential because he does not have a lot of loft to it. His defense at third base suffers due to a lack of range. He has the arm for the position, but does not move well side to side.
Report: Cox’s bat is going to be his calling card. If he hits 15-20 home runs on average while hitting close to .300 and getting on base at a .350-.360 clip, you can find a spot for him in the lineup. His defense will never be great, but it should be good enough to get by at the hot corner.
ETA: 2013
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