If you’ve been following along, I have been sharing the final season stats of the relevant Cardinal minor leaguers. Relevant being something that is admittedly determined by me, but I’ve also certainly shared players who I personally don’t think will make an impact too. I covered so many high minors pitchers that I was forced to push the High A pitchers and Low A pitchers and combine it with my planned rookie league post. Which is probably for the best because I think just the rookie leagues would be a short post. Let’s begin.
Peoria
Darlin Saladin, 22 – RHP (VEB’s #16 prospect)
Stats: 26 G (13 GS), 19.8 K%, 11.5 BB%, 48.2 GB%, .293 BABIP, 4.85 ERA/4.38 FIP/4.15 xFIP
An undeniably disappointing season since he made 12 pretty good starts at this same level last season. Weirder still, he threw over 5 innings per start at Peoria last year and was well under that this season. And yes being in the bullpen did affect his innings per appearance, but he mostly threw between 4 and 5 innings when he started. His high was 5 innings, which he only did three times.
Zack Showalter, 21 – RHP (VEB’s #17 prospect)
Stats (Low A): 7 G, 10 IP, 14 K%, 25.6 BB%, 47.4 GB%, .167 BABIP, 2.70 ERA/6.25 FIP/6.67 xFIP
High A: 13 G (GS), 18 IP, 26.7 K%, 24.4 BB%, 28.9 GB%, .225 BABIP, 4.50 ERA/4.69 FIP/5.99 xFIP
There’s no way he didn’t pitch hurt this season. I mean these are not the stats of a healthy pitcher. He struck out over 38% of batters in Low A last season. How do you go from that to these stats without being compromised in some way?
Jack Findlay, 22 – LHP
Stats (Low A): 28 G, 51.1 IP, 23.4 K%, 15.9 BB%, 42.8 GB%, .329 BABIP, 5.44 ERA/4.27 FIP/4.71 xFIP
High A: 5 G, 9.1 IP, 31.4 K%, 8.6 BB%, 50 GB%, .286 BABIP, 1.93 ERA/2.01 FIP/2.43 xFIP
The Cardinals have so many pitchers where I will be very interested in knowing both where they are posted and what their role will be. Findlay is a prime example. He struggled in Low A for most of the season, but his arm came into focus when he was promoted to High A, where he dominated. Presumably, he will transition to more of a starter workload, but will that be in High A? Will he still work out of the bullpen but throw more innings per appearance? Or will he be sent to AA? They literally do not have the space to send all these pitchers to AA and start, so we may see some creative usage to keep them as starting pitching prospects for as long as possible.
Nate Dohm, 22 – RHP (Amazin Avenue’s #14 prospect)
Stats (Low A): 7 GS, 28.1 IP, 27.9 K%, 8.2 BB%, 43.4 GB%, .351 BABIP, 3.18 ERA/2.66 FIP/3.14 xFIP
High A: 16 G, 46.2 IP, 27.9 K%, 10.9 BB%, 39 GB%, .289 BABIP, 3.28 ERA/4.27 FIP/3.52 xFIP
Dohm only threw 29.1 innings in 8 appearances while at Mississippi State in 2024. The Mets then drafted him in the 3rd round, he got traded as part of a package for Ryan Helsley, and then he didn’t do very well with the Cardinals, but only threw 12.1 IP in 5 “starts.” But he ended up with 75 innings, which is quite a jump from 29 innings. So I’d probably not pay too much attention to his Cardinals performance.
Frank Ellisalt, 23 – RHP
Stats (Low A): 18 G (7 GS), 50.2 IP, 28.4 K%, 10.4 BB%, 30.2 GB%, .222 BABIP, 3.02 ERA/3.69 FIP/3.64 xFIP
High A: 6 G (3 GS), 15.1 IP, 22.2 K%, 12.7 BB%, 35 GB%, .282 BABIP, 4.70 ERA/4.19 FIP/4.26 xFIP
I don’t know if he had an injury, but he legitimately did not pitch from August 16th until September 5th, and then the season was effectively over. Ellisalt too was in the Helsley trade, and was also drafted last year by the Mets, but he was in the 19th round. He sadly does not have the innings excuse, as he threw 51 innings out of Nova Southeastern in 2024.
Mason Molina, 21 – LHP
Stats (Low A): 11 GS, 46.2 IP, 32.3 K%, 8.3 BB%, 43.6 GB%, .298 BABIP, 3.86 ERA/3.87 FIP/2.94 xFIP
High A: 12 G, 49 IP, 28.1 K%, 13.3 BB%, 36.3 GB%, .270 BABIP, 2.39 ERA/3.38 FIP/4.03 xFIP
I get why Dohm was ranked by Amazin Avenue – 3rd round pick, pretty decent stats, good stuff. I also get why Eillsalt wasn’t – old for his level and 19th round pick. I am surprised to find that Molina was not ranked by Lone Star Ball at midseason – purely based on scouting the stat line. He’s pretty young, he was a 7th round pick, and those are great stats. Too many walks, especially when he got to High A, but swing and miss stuff and he’s just 21. He’s pretty much the only guy who performed the same when he got traded, maybe because he’s been traded before (he was drafted by the Brewers).
Braden Davis, 22 – LHP
Stats (Low A): 17 G (14 GS), 33.9 K%, 17.1 BB%, 53.7 GB, .273 BABIP, 3.18 ERA/3.66 FIP/3.45 xFIP
High A: 8 GS, 33.6 K%, 15.4 BB%, 28.2 GB%, .205 BABIP, 2.21 ERA/2.81 FIP/3.88 xFIP
I find it kind of fascinating that the main evidence of Davis advancing a level is his GB rate. It was almost cut in half. Otherwise, he maintained his K rate and lowered his BB rate. I’m curious if he’s put in Springfield to begin the year, which is only a question because of his walk rate and the amount of pitchers who might get sent to (or stay in) Springfield already.
Jason Savacool, 23 – RHP
Stats (Low A): 11 G, 21.5 K%, 7.5 BB%, 58.5 GB%, .235 BABIP, 1.61 ERA/3.28 FIP/3.49 xFIP
High A: 12 G (10 GS), 22.6 K%, 12.5 BB%, 48.1 GB%, .352 BABIP, 4.66 ERA/4.38 FIP/4.17 xFIP
I can squint and see a future long reliever in Savacool based upon his ability to generate groundballs, although I think he’ll have to do better than a 48% rate if he’s not going to strike out many hitters.
Jose Davila, 22 – RHP
Stats: 24 G (22 GS), 19.4 K%, 11 BB%, 45.3 GB%, .334 BABIP, 6.06 ERA/5.03 FIP/4.67 xFIP
Fangraphs ranked Davila the 20th prospect in the system and they shared those rankings mid-season, which means they were aware of these stats when they put him there. I don’t get it, but at least someone believes in him.
Gerardo Salas, 22 – RHP
Stats: 25 G (19 GS), 20.3 K%, 8.8 BB%, 41.2 GB%, .378 BABIP, 8.10 ERA/5.05 FIP/4.28 xFIP
It’s really weird to see reasonable stats – slightly below average K rate, average-ish walk rate, gets groundballs at a decent rate – and then see the 8.10 ERA. The BABIP is partially to blame, but he almost allowed half the men who got on base to score too. Whether this is completely deserved or somewhat unlucky, we should find out next season.
Palm Beach
Leonel Sequera, 19 – RHP
Stats: 24 GS, 108 IP, 20.9 K%, 8.7 BB%, 50.8 GB%, .330 BABIP, 4.33 ERA/3.45 FIP/3.94 xFIP
A perfectly respectable season that is only slightly more exciting than it should be, because he did it at 19-years-old. He will presumably pitch in Peoria next season.
Andrew Dutkanych IV, 21 – RHP
Stats: 6 GS, 14.1 IP, 35.6 K%, 16.9 BB%, 46.4 GB%, .269 BABIP, 2.51 ERA/4.52 FIP/3.22 xFIP
He also threw 3 innings in the complex leagues, but that was really more rehab appearances. He only ended up with 17.2 IP all year, so let’s throw him into the pile of pitchers where I’m curious what the plan will be. Definitely on the starter track, but at what level and how many innings?
Jacob Odle, 21 – RHP
Stats (CPX): 4 GS, 8.2 IP, 41.7 K%, 5.6 BB%, 37.5 GB%, .211 BABIP, 4.15 ERA/0.80 FIP/1.36 xFIP
Low A: 13 GS, 43 IP, 27.7 K%, 17.9 BB%, 41.7 GB%, .373 BABIP, 6.28 ERA/3.99 FIP/4.50 xFIP
A 14th round pick from 2023, who missed all of 2024 to injury, Odle has flew way under the radar, but for his first real pro action (aside from 2 innings in 2023), this is a pretty promising season.
Tyler Van Dyke, 21 – RHP
Stats: 5 GS, 14 IP, 21.8 K%, 5.5 BB%, 43.6 GB%, .256 BABIP, 2.57 ERA/3.40 FIP/3.30 xFIP
The Cardinals 10th round pick from the 2025 draft had a very good pro debut season, admittedly not really being asked to throw more than a few innings per appearance. But still!
Nolan Sparks, 22 – RHP
Stats: 18 G (12 GS), 72.1 IP 24.1 K%, 14.2 BB%, 43.4 GB%, .291 BABIP, 4.85 ERA/4.54 FIP/4.37 xFIP
Sparks had better stats for most of the season. He missed about two weeks in the middle of July, then made two starts before his season ended. In those starts, he walked 9 batters in 6.1 IP and allowed 7 runs. And then his season was over on August 2nd. So maybe due to getting injured.
Yadiel Batista, 21 – LHP
Stats (CPX): 12 G (5 GS), 22.5 K%, 4.8 BB%, 35.5 GB%, .285 BABIP, 3.06 ERA/3.59 FIP/3.45 xFIP
Low A: 7 G, 27.2 IP, 16.4 K%, 10.9 BB%, 46.7 GB%, .348 BABIP, 6.18 ERA/4.70 FIP/4.79 xFIP
An amaetur free agent signed out of Cuba in 2023, Batista repeated Low A and managed to improve his BB rate. In fact, that seems to be a feature of him. He walked 1.3% of hitters in the DSL in 2023. His Low A performance was a bit of anomaly with the walk rate.
Alan Reyes, 21 – RHP
Stats (CPX): 14 G, 25.2 IP, 23.6 K%, 8.2 BB%, 40 GB%, .211 BABIP, 0.70 ERA/3.06 FIP/3.76 xFIP
Low A: 13 G, 21.2 IP, 28 K%, 7.5 BB%, 51.7 GB%, .368 BABIP, 2.49 ERA/3.45 FIP/3.03 xFIP
Signed out of Mexico, Reyes had the better ERA in the complex leagues, but arguably pitched better after he got promoted.
Complex League
Yairo Padilla, 18 – SS (#15 VEB prospect)
Stats: 38 G, 148 PAs, .283/.396/.367, 12.2 BB%, 14.2 K%, .083 ISO, .340 BABIP, 119 wRC+
Good contact skills, would love it if he had more power. He’s definitely getting overshadowed by what Raniel Rodriguez did despite rating as the better prospect before the season.
Keiverson Ramirez, 19 – RHP
Stats (CPX): 10 G (5 GS), 18 K%, 8.6 BB%, 50 GB%, .337 BABIP, 3.86 ERA/5.08 FIP/4.41 xFIP
Low A: 3 G (GS), 11.1 IP, 8.3 K%, 12.5 BB%, 50 GB%, 263 BABIP, 2.45 ERA/4.46 FIP/4.84 xFIP
I mostly share his stats because he got promoted to Low A with somewhat underwhelming stats at 19. The Cardinals pushing him is a good sign.
Bernard Mack, 19 – LHP
Stats (CPX): 12 G (7 GS), 28.8 K%, 20.6 BB%, 37.3 GB%, .313 BABIP, 5.70 ERA/4.28 FIP/4.48 xFIP
Low A: 4 G (2 GS), 27.9 K%, 23 BB%, 39.3 GB%, .259 BABIP, 2.63 ERA/5.52 FIP/5.57 xFIP
See I’m more excited by a guy like Mack than Ramirez. Mack can miss bats. Also the strike zone.
Ronny Oliver, 21 – RHP
Stats: 11 G (6 GS), 30.2 IP, 30.3 K%, 11.4 BB%, 46.9 GB%, .271 BABIP, 4.11 ERA/3.44 FIP/3.57 xFIP
Given his age, this is what you expect of him. He actually repeated this level and these are way better stats than last year. It’s his fifth season in the Cardinals’ system, so you know not really a prospect.
Bracewell Taveras, 19 – 2B
Stats: 54 G, 205 PAs, .254/.318/.316, 7.2 BB%, 23.6 K%, .062 ISO, .336 BABIP, 80 wRC+
Well, the good news is that Taveras showed an ability to walk this season. He didn’t walk at all in the DSL and if you’ve seen the average BB rate in that league, it means that he was a very free swinger. The bad news is the not being a good hitter part.
Heriberto Caraballo, 20 – C
Stats (CPX): 14 G, 50 PAs, .256/.420/.333, 16 BB%, 18 K%, .077 ISO, .333 BABIP, 124 wRC+
Low A: 20 G, 71 PAs, .148/.254/.197, 11.3 BB%, 26.8 K%, .049 ISO, .190 BABIP, 41 wRC+
The Cardinals must believe in his defense, because those 50 PAs in the complex league is the only time he has hit in his three seasons in the Cardinals’ organization.
Dominican Summer League
Sebastian Dos Santos, 17 – SS
Stats: 38 G, 166 PAs, .313/.452/.570, 18.1 BB%, 17.5 K%, .258 ISO, .367 BABIP, 164 wRC+
I’ve shared DSL stats before, and let me tell you this year has by far the most amount of great performances by hitters. 8 hitters had at least 100 PAs with a 116 wRC+ or greater. That is not a typo. Dos Santos had the best hitting performance on the team, which is saying something.
Yeferson Portolatin, 17 – OF
Stats: 40 G, 174 PAs, .226/.483/.374, 29.3 BB%, 17.8 K%, .148 ISO, .289 BABIP, 150 wRC+
This is the most Padres name the Cardinals have ever had in their system. Portolatin has one of the more extreme walk rates I think I’ve seen. It came with a bit of pop and not striking out much. Really curious how much his plate discipline numbers transfer to the States.
Yaxson Lucena, 17 – OF
Stats: 42 G, 190 PAs, .299/.442/.469, 15.8 BB%, 10.5 K%, .170 ISO, .323 BABIP, 146 wRC+
Seriously, this team was ridiculous. How is this the third best hitting performance? Also another name I’d really love to see in the big leagues.
Kenly Hunter, 17 – OF
Stats: 37 G, 173 PAs, .314/.442/.400, 13.9 BB%, 11.6 K%, .086 ISO, .367 BABIP, 136 wRC+
It is worth pointing out that Hunter primarily played CF, which certainly makes him a little more interesting. Lucena was exclusively corner outfield and DH so I’m thinking his defense isn’t going to provide much.
Miguel Hernandez, 17 – SS
Stats: 36 G, 169 PAs, .281/.408/.444, 14.8 BB%, 20.7 K%, .163 ISO, .337 BABIP, 129 wRC+
Hernandez also stole 15 bases and got caught stealing 4 times as well. Would love to have another legit SS prospect in the system, a system that has been very light on SS prospects since Masyn Winn made the big leagues.
Juan Pablo Rujano, 17 – C
Stats: 35 G, 148 PAs, .279/.405/.418, 12.8 BB%, 23 K%, .139 ISO, .365 BABIP, 126 wRC+
Don’t you kind of love it that the stats are getting gradually worse, but the defensive importance keeps rising. And what do we have here? Another catching prospect!
Royelny Strop, 17 – OF
Stats: 24 G, 110 PAs, .226/.345/.355, 12.7 BB%, 30.9 K%, .129 ISO, .345 BABIP, 94 wRC+
I’m mostly sharing his stats because he’s Pedro Strop’s son and also that he went 12-23 with 5 doubles, a triple, and a homer plus an additional three walks in his final five games of the season. He may very well have been one of the best hitters if the season were a month longer.
Cristofer Lebron, 2B/CF – 18
Stats: 47 G, 194 PAs, .277/.402/.428, 14.9 BB%, 20.1 K%, .151 ISO, .342 BABIP, 126 wRC+
He’s here for a couple reasons despite being 18. I wanted to share the potential difference between a 17-year-old playing in the DSL and an 18-year-old. Lebron had a 60 wRC+ last year at 17. The second reason was his name because just saying Lebron is in the DSL is funny. Third though, he played CF and 2B and no other positions, which I find pretty fun.
Juan Pablo Cabrera, C – 18
Stats: 27 G, 104 PAs, .247/.385/.400, 14.4 BB%, 16.3 K%, .153 ISO, .288 BABIP, 116 wRC+
He’s here because he’s another catcher. Yes, another catcher. He actually had a 99 wRC+ last season, but significantly improved his power.
Michael Cordero, 1B/3B – 16
Stats: 32 G, 128 PAs, .212/.359/.356, 16.4 BB%, 32 K%, .144 ISO, .317 BABIP, 100 wRC+
The stats themselves are not notable, but the fact that he didn’t turn 17-years-old until August 24th is very notable. He held his own while being essentially a sophomore competing against a bunch of juniors and seniors and some college guys.
Lucas Takahashi, OF – 16
Stats: 12 G, 48 PAs, .103/.438/.103, 35.4 BB%, 20.8 K%, .000 ISO, .150 BABIP, 102 wRC+
Is this not the craziest above average hitting line you’ve ever seen? Of course I have to share this and of course he has to be 16.
Gabriel Chinchilla, 18 – RHP
Stats: 12 G (10 GS), 48.1 IP, 23.1 K%, 9.7 BB%, 39.4 GB%, .385 BABIP, 4.84 ERA/3.60 FIP/4.07 xFIP
I mean I have to represent for the Gabes. There’s a dominant Gabe who just pitched in relief for the Mariners last night, but I don’t think I’ve watched a Gabe on the Cardinals. Change that Chinchilla.
Daniel Gomez, 17 – RHP
Stats: 12 G (6 GS), 44 IP, 22.1 K%, 6.7 BB%, 41.5 GB%, .366 BABIP, 5.11 ERA/4.22 FIP/3.81 xFIP
Yeah the pitching is a lot less interesting than the hitting for the DSL team.
Juan Garcia, 17 – RHP
Stats: 12 G (10 GS), 47.2 IP, 19.8 K%, 2.1 BB%, 41.1 GB%, .322 BABIP, 3.40 ERA/2.75 FIP/3.51 xFIP
Garcia by far led the team in BB%. He had an incredible amount of control which is fairly rare in a league where the Cardinals alone had three pitchers with more than a 25% BB rate.
Reiner Lopez, 19 – RHP
Stats: 13 G, 26 IP, 19.5 K%, 9.7 BB%, 50.8 GB%, .313 BABIP, 4.85 ERA/3.61 FIP/4.14 xFIP
He would not be here were it not the fact that he generated some publicity when he got signed and in fact almost made the VEB top 20 without having thrown a single inning. How he’s pitched since then is why you don’t rank a 17-year-old who hasn’t thrown a single inning in your top 20. (Bad last year, okay this year as an old guy)
Guys I missed
Ramon Mendoza, 24 – 3B
Stats (AA): 105 G, 404 PAs, .275/.390/.452, 14.9 BB%, 19.8 K%, .177 ISO, .320 BABIP, 134 wRC+
Yeah I just missed this guy the first time around and he was mentioned in the comments by CardsRanger. I don’t know if I thought he was older than he was or felt like I was listing too many names, but yeah he deserves to be mentioned.
Cade Winquest, 25 – RHP
Stats (High A): 17 G (15 GS), 23.9 K%, 9.5 BB%, 55.6 GB%, .331 BABIP, 4.52 ERA/3.69 FIP/3.70 xFIP
AA: 8 GS, 42.1 IP, 23.9 K%, 6.8 BB%, 36.7 GB%, .333 BABIP, 3.19 ERA/3.38 FIP/3.59 xFIP
I’m sure I was tired of listing names (and also just tired) when I neglected to mention Winquest. And he’s easy to dismiss because he was 25. But I’m a little intrigued by his improvement at a harder level.
Brandt Thompson, 22 – RHP
Stats (Low A): 16 G, 79.2 IP, 19.8 K%, 5.2 BB%, 39.5 GB%, .246 BABIP, 3.84 ERA/5.03 FIP/3.67 xFIP
High A: 4 G, 15 IP, 39 K%, 6.8 BB%, 20 GB%, .310 BABIP, 4.20 ERA/2.41 FIP/2.72 xFIP
AA: 2 GS, 9 IP, 15.6 K%, 9.4 BB%, 37.5 GB%, .250 BABIP, 1.00 ERA/3.34 FIP/4.18 xFIP
This guy is a 17th rounder from the 2024 draft, who pitched in AA in his first professional season. He doesn’t even need to make the majors for this to be a home run from the scouting department.
I kind of forgot that part of the reason I didn’t do more in the last post was because there were so many High A pitchers, so this ended up being longer than I expected. But this concludes the minor league updates for the season.