St. Louis Cardinals: Arizona Fall League Recap Week Five

Good afternoon St. Louis Cardinals’ nation. I hope you all are staying dry on this wet and dreary day. Today we are going to get some more updates on those baby birds playing down in Arizona. If you missed out on the game televised on Saturday on MLB Network featuring the Salt River Rafters and the Surprise Saguaros then you can go back and check out the “live tweeting” I did while watching the game on delay. It was an impressive game for the Cardinals’ minor leaguers and it was nice to get to see some of these players play for the first time.

Aledmys Diaz – Diaz had a really good week this week, probably his best week yet this fall, and he has had a pretty good fall. He went 7-17, with four doubles and two home runs this week. One of the home runs came during Saturday’s game on a zero spin knuckleball, which is pretty hard to hit. Again, it was a really good week for Diaz as he continues to impress and force his way into the backup middle infielder conversation for next season.

Patrick Wisdom – Wisdom had another “eh” week as he totaled five hits in his five games played. One of those hits was an impressive opposite field double that reminded me a lot of a David Freese opposite field double. Wisdom needs to start showing the power that we all know he is capable of, before he gets lost in the shuffle and becomes a wasted draft choice for the Cardinals.

More from St Louis Cardinals Prospects

Charlie Tilson – Tilson had a bit more luck getting into games this week, but didn’t have much to show for it going 2-15 with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in four games played. In his four times on base Tilson did not show off his wheels as he did not register a stolen base attempt. Hopefully with a little more regular playing time Tilson can get it going and continue t0 improve.

Mike Ohlman – Ohlman continues to struggle finding playing time behind one of the game’s best catching prospects in Gary Sanchez. Ohlman was only in two games this week and as a result of this he only got into two games this week, going two for eight with one double. The impressive thing for Ohlman for me, is that he is getting starts at first base. That is especially intriguing given the Cardinals’ hole at first base currently.

Luke Weaver – Weaver had a rough outing in his second start of the fall. He was only able to get through four innings during Friday’s outing and was roughed up for five runs on five hits and one walk, two of those hits being home runs. Weaver has now allowed three home runs since he started pitching for the Saguraos, this is a little concerning when you consider he only allowed three all season long in Palm Beach. Hopefully gets it together and has a better outing the next time out this week.

Dean Kiekhefer – Kiekhefer continued to improve this week, as he did not allow a run on just one hit between his two outings (3.0 IP) this week. Kiekhefer continues to be an interesting piece, as I have said before. Look for him to potentially make the bullpen out of spring training with a good camp.

Robby Rowland – Rowland had a pretty good week. He did allow a run for his second straight appearance on Monday, but he put that behind him and went out in the next two appearances and did not allow a run on one hit through two innings. Not a bad outing for the middle reliever.

Next: How the rest of the NL Central is doing

Despite losing out on top prospect Alex Reyes, this was a pretty good week for the Cardinals’ prospects in Arizona. I am continually impressed with the way Diaz is swinging the bat and I hope that he keeps it up, and gives the Cardinals a difficult decision to make regarding signing a middle infielder this winter.

Schedule