OPINION |
When the Springfield Cardinals return home next week, there will be plenty of storylines to watch as they embark on the second half of the Texas League home schedule.
Those stories will come into sharper focus when the lights go on. During the team’s two-week road trip, new LED stadium lights were installed, the first major renovation to Hammons Field since the City of Springfield purchased the ballpark earlier this year.
The lights make their public-viewing debut on Tuesday, though the bulk of the 4th of July game will be played under natural daylight. First pitch for the holiday special is set for 5:35 p.m., with a fireworks display scheduled following a post-game concert.
What should Cardinals’ fans look for under those bright lights the rest of the season? There are several players having outstanding seasons, possibly nearing promotions to Triple-A Memphis. Let’s begin with these guys, as you’ll want to catch them while you can.
Redmond still leading Texas League in home runs
First baseman Chandler Redmond has been the premier slugger in the Texas League. Redmond has a league-leading 21 home runs after Springfield (34-35 in the first half) lost at Arkansas on Wednesday night in Little Rock to open the second half of the season.
Redmond came into the 2023 season in the best shape of his life, determined to take his game to a higher level. He’s only one away from his home run total for all of last season.
He’s playing the best of his professional career, while setting a good example for his younger teammates on and off the field. If Redmond remains at Springfield the entire season, it will be great for the local fans but he deserves consideration for a promotion. He also could be involved in a trade to boost the big-league club as the July 31 deadline approaches.
Earlier this season, Redmond told the Hauxeda that he can’t think after the what-ifs.
“You’ve got to focus on the here and now,” Redmond said. “There are so many things that are out of my control that if I let that bother me, then it’s going to be a downward spiral from there.”
Dunn, Pages making big offensive jumps, while a quartet of pitchers shines
Also keep an eye on second baseman Nick Dunn, another who’s been playing in Springfield for three seasons. Dunn, 26, is hitting an organization-best .393 in June to raise his season average to .321, third-best in the Texas League at the midpoint. Dunn hit .271 and .259 the previous two seasons for Springfield.
Catcher Pedro Pages is another Springfield player making a big jump offensively this season. Pages, 24, is known for his excellent defensive skills behind the plate, but hit nine home runs to go with 41 RBIs and a .288 batting average in the first half. The Cardinals are well stocked at catcher, with prospect Ivan Herrera at Triple-A, so Pages could be an attractive player to other organizations if the Cardinals opt not to promote him.
On the pitcher’s mound, Andre Granillo is a reliever on the rise. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-hander has a power arm, with five of his six saves coming in June. The 23-year-old is in a great position as the Cardinals need bullpen arms and he could be in Memphis — if not St. Louis — before the season's end.
A trio of starting pitchers — Edgar Escobar, Kenny Hernandez and Wilfredo Pereira — have combined to go 19-8 and sparked a turnaround that saw the Cardinals lead the Texas League in team earned run average for much of June. Escobar has been especially impressive since he joined the starting rotation earlier this month, going 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in four starts.
Speedy Scott called up from Peoria, could Hence be far behind?
While any of the above-mentioned players could be promoted and leave Springfield behind in an eye’s blink, there is a newcomer — and other possible newcomers — to look for. We’ll start with an outfielder who stirs memories of the Whitey Herzog-era runnin’ Redbirds of the 1980s.
Victor Scott II might not be Vince Coleman, but the 22-year-old, who was promoted to Springfield earlier this week, is one of minor-league baseball’s fastest players. Scott has a minor league-leading 51 stolen bases, including one in his Double-A debut on Wednesday, and hit .282 in 66 games played for the Chiefs.
Scott has earned a trip to the prestigious Futures Game next weekend in Seattle, for baseball’s top prospects. Joining him will be pitcher Tink Hence, the Cardinals' top pitching prospect and No. 2 overall prospect according to MLB.com. Hence has a 2-1 record and 2.25 ERA in 40 innings at Peoria.
The Cardinals are being super conservative with Hence, who doesn’t turn 21 until Aug. 6, but a promotion to Springfield after the Futures Game would not be a shock. Hence is from the same draft class as Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson and No. 1 prospect Masyn Winn. Walker and Winn starred in Springfield in 2022 and Burleson played at Hammons Field in 2021. Walker and Burleson are now in St. Louis; Winn is excelling playing shortstop at Memphis.
Taking a look down the pipeline
A pitching prospect at Peoria to watch is left-hander Cooper Hjerpe, a first-round draft choice in 2023. Hjerpe threw six no-hit innings earlier this season, but has recently been on the injured list. He’s the Cardinals’ No. 4 prospect as rated by MLB.com behind Winn, Hence and Memphis pitcher Gordon Graceffo.
Peoria’s roster also has seven other top-30 Cardinals’ prospects, so whether it’s the second half of this season or the start of 2024 there is a solid pipeline of talent on its way to Hammons Field — under those new LED lights.
