Kolten Wong Is Going To Be Just Fine

Kolten Wong had a very slow start to Grapefruit League action in Spring Training but the St. Louis Cardinals second baseman will be just fine. After going 0 for 11 at the plate this spring, the Cardinals second base prospect is finally seeing the ball real well.
Mar 11, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) throws out a New York Mets base runner at Roger Dean Stadium. The Mets defeated the Cardinals 9-8. Image Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Some people were worried last year after Wong was called up from Memphis in mid-August. After hitting .301/.365/.446 in two years in the minor leagues, Wong struggled in adjusting to MLB pitching and hit .153/.194/.169 in 59 major league at-bats. But now that Wong is seeing the ball, he’s improving on his hitting this spring. His .250 batting average is misleading given his slow start to the spring but Wong has reached base on five hits and two walks. Moreover, he has launched a long ball over the fence as well.

Both of his hits on Tuesday were for extra bases–a double and a home run.

Oh. Wong also did a backflip on Tuesday, too. It’s not the Ozzie Smith backflip that Cardinals fans were so used to seeing for many years at old Busch Stadium. That type of flip, Wong says, is too hard for him.

However, to see Kolten Wong relaxed is a good thing. It means he has placed less pressure on himself to do well. In fact, I think he will be the starting second baseman for a long time to come. He’s eligible for arbitration in 2017 and won’t be a free agent until 2010. He’ll be a Cardinal for many years along with Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, Allen Craig, Matt Holliday, and Adam Wainwright. With this core of the Cardinals lineup, I expect many great things for them.