The last time Chandler Redmond stepped onto Hammons Field prior to Tuesday, he was a relatively obscure minor-leaguer with some flashes of power just trying to make an impression.
Now the Springfield Cardinals' first baseman is destined for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Well, at least his bat is.
It was one week ago that Chandler made baseball history by hitting for the “home run cycle” in a Cardinals victory at Amarillo. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter belted a two-run home run in the fifth inning, a grand slam in the sixth, a solo homer in the seventh and a three-run blast in the eighth on Aug. 10.
Redmond joins exclusive club
Redmond joined former St. Louis farmhand Tyrone Horne to become the only known players to hit for the home run cycle in professional baseball history. Horne did so in 1998, for the Cardinals’ Double-A Little Rock team.
“He called me and welcomed me to the club,” Redmond said of Horne, who now lives in Idaho. “It’s probably the most exclusive club in all of baseball. That was cool. I got to learn a little about him. He hit 37 home runs, won the (Texas League) home-run derby and was league MVP.
“If I could follow that, it would be great.”
Redmond might not earn MVP honors in the Texas League, but his bat soon will be on its way to Cooperstown. He said a contract is being drawn up for him to keep ownership of the bat while it’s on loan to baseball’s top shrine.
“That’s crazier to me than what happened in the game,” Redmond said Tuesday prior to the homestead opener against Arkansas.
Shaking off a slump to make history
Redmond’s teammates and his manager, Jose Leger, said they were excited to witness history. Nobody saw it coming, including Redmond. He was 0 for his last 14 prior to the five-hit, four-home run game.
“I’ve never seen something like that,” Leger said. “I was glad to be a part of history and it was accomplished by a great guy like Chandler, who works really hard.
“It was one of those days he was seeing the ball like a beach ball. It is a rare accomplishment. All the situations have to align themselves for you, with the right amount of men on base, and then you have to also get it done.”
Redmond said the week since has been “wild” with numerous interviews, including some national outlets such as MLB Network.
“I’ve had so many people flood me with love and support. I’m so blessed to have such a great support group behind me,” he said.
Redmond’s first call after the game was to his dad, back home in Middletown, Maryland.
“That was pretty special,” he said.
Making the most of his playing time
With 18 home runs and a team-leading 64 RBIs after hitting six home runs with 14 RBIs in the series at Amarillo, Redmond is making the most of consistent playing time following the trade of first baseman Malcom Nunez to the Pirates.
“It helps knowing you’re going to be in there a little bit more,” Redmond said. “You get a little more consistency with your timing. That’s the biggest thing. You take a couple of days off and you can lose your timing. Then you get in a rut and once you’re in a rut, you’re definitely not going to play.”
Redmond said he felt really good after his first at-bat on the historic night, lining a single to right.
“It’s hard to be on time with that first fastball in the game,” he said. “You kind of lose your timing between BP (batting practice) and the settle-down period before the game. Being on time for that first fastball and really hitting a hard line drive to right, I knew it was going to be a good day.
“But I had no idea it was gonna be like that.”
Redmond admitted he was thinking about a fourth home run walking to the plate on his final at-bat. He got more excited when two runners were on base, as he was aware of the unique cycle opportunity.
Teammate Jordan Walker said everyone in the dugout was cheering Redmond on, openly rooting for the home run.
“The whole dugout called it, before he hit it,” Walker said.
Added Remond, “As I’m walking up, it was first and third, and I’m like, ‘Oh boy, don’t try to force the issue. But if you get your pitch, you better not miss it, you better be on time.’ Luckily I was.
“As soon as I hit it, I just lost it. I started pointing into the dugout, they’re just hopping over the fence and going crazy. I can’t put into words how it felt. It was so euphoric. Just crazy.”
From Gardner-Webb to Springfield
The 32nd-round draft choice in 2018 out of Gardner-Webb University hit 12 home runs in 54 games in 2019 in Low-A before the 2020 minor-league season was canceled. He returned to hit a combined 18 home runs in 2021 for High-A Peoria and Springfield.
This season he had played some second base and outfield, in addition to designated hitter, before more time opened. Leger said Redmond was drafted as a third baseman.
Ironically, he and teammate Matt Koperniak, an undrafted free agent, shared the spotlight last week. Koperniak hit for the regular cycle (single, double, triple and home run) the night before Redmond’s home run cycle.
“Now we know how Jordan and Masyn feel every day,” Redmond said of teammates Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn, the organization’s top two prospects. “It’s crazy, but it’s been so much fun.”
That his bat will be displayed in the Hall of Fame, alongside the one Horne used on his fateful night 24 years ago, seems surreal to Redmond. If he never makes it to the big leagues, he will always have one of baseball’s unique nights to share with only one other.
“But I’m gonna keep on playing as long as they let me,” he said with a smile.
Triple-A on Redmond's radar
Leger said if Redmond can find consistency, he has a chance to advance to Triple-A or eventually the big leagues.
“I don’t think it is that far away for him,” Leger said. “It’s consistency and being able to have good strike zone discipline. He is working hard to get better at his walk percentage and cut down on his strikeouts.
“When he hits it, the ball goes far. It’s a matter of controlling the strike zone.”
Cardinals at home
The Springfield Cardinals opened a six-game homestand at Hammons Field on Tuesday night against the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Cardinals won 2-1 as Matt Koperniak hit a home run and big-leaguer Jack Flaherty, on a medical rehab assignment, pitched three scoreless innings. A look at the remaining games on the homestand:
- Wednesday, 6:35 p.m. (Purina Woof Wednesday)
- Thursday, 7:05 p.m. (Budweiser St. Louis Cardinals Cornhole Bags)
- Friday, 7:05 p.m. (St. Louis Cardinals 1982 Mystery Player World Series Replica Ring Giveaway)
- Saturday, 6:35 p.m. (Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright Mystery Jersey Giveaway)
- Sunday, 1:35 p.m. (Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday)
