St. Louis Cardinals’ 2016 Top Prospects: #22 Daniel Poncedeleon

The St. Louis Cardinals have another really good under the radar pitcher who is ready to shoot through the system.

I will admit, I initially did not have Daniel Poncedeleon on my list of St. Louis Cardinals‘ Top Prospects. However, when reviewing some potential replacements for a player who initially made my list, but simply doesn’t have anything to write home home about, I found Poncedeleon and I am glad that I did.

A 9th round draft pick out of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2014, Poncedeleon has the chance to shoot up this list and through the system in 2016. So, let’s take a look at what makes Poncedelon good.

#22 Daniel Poncedeleon

Season Stats: 

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Analysis: The one thing that impresses me most about Poncedeleon is how quickly he’s already moving through the system. The Cardinals wasted no time with Poncedelon last season, getting him in with the State College New York Penn League team instead of sticking him with the Gulf Coast League team.

Poncedeleon then proved his worth by finishing the season with a 2.44 ERA over 10 starts and two appearances out of the bullpen and posting an impressive 10.9 K/9. This season, Poncedeleon was even better, as he finished with a cumulative ERA of 2.12 at Peoria and Palm Beach. That is including his 1.49 ERA at Palm Beach in six starts and one bullpen appearance.

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With Poncedelon, there are health concerns, as he failed his physical after being drafted by the Cubs in 2013, and needed to have surgery on his shoulder and switch schools as a result. This is probably the only thing holding Poncedelon from being higher rated by myself and scouts, and it’s a pretty big thing at that.

However, he seems to be healthy now and ready to work. He mentioned to Scout.com’s Brain Walton, that he got to work in the offseason to improve his velocity and it worked, as he was hitting mid 90s on his fastball this year, a year removed from being in the low 90s according to Walton.

Derek Shore mentions Poncedeleon has a good handle on four pitches; a four seam fastball, sinker, slider, and a curveball. When asked about the pitch he needs to work on, Daniel mentioned to Shore that he wants to refine his curve, a pitch he had success with in State College.

Former Cardinals’ scouting director Dan Kantrovitz had good things to say to Rick Hummel about Poncedelon back in June of 2014, “He’s got an outstanding slider and an above average changeup and he’s got a chance to move quick if he stays healthy.” Katrovitz also had good things to say about Poncdeleon’s hard sinking fastball.

So, there is a lot of good things to say about Poncdeleon who our own Daniel Solzman sat down and interviewed in 2014. Poncdeleon will be an intriguing pitcher to watch over the next couple of years to see how he ends up.

Next: Cardinals' 2016 Top Prospects: #23 Sandy Alcantara

Roster Prediction: A+ Palm Beach

If he is successful again, this won’t be his only stop of 2016.  A really good season could see him wind up in AAA Memphis by the end of the season. No matter what, Poncedeleon’s second full professional season will be one to keep an eye on and one to expect good things from and a jump in the list by midseason.