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St. Louis Cardinals: Time for a Memphis Check-in

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Cardinals
May 10, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (41) misses catching a against Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Memphis Outfield

Six outfielders make the Memphis roster.  Of these, five are active with Jeremy Hazelbaker sitting on the disabled list, and three on the 40-man roster.

Starting with Hazelbaker, currently on the disabled list as of July 4, the outfield could have promise.  Hazelbaker was moved to Memphis as his productivity had slumped with the St. Louis Cardinals of late.  In Memphis, he owns a slash line through eight games of .360/.484/.440.  Defensively in the outfield, Hazel owns a 1.000 fielding percentage in AAA.

A second player on the 40-man roster, Charlie Tilson is known as having quick feet.  Tilson owns a slash line this season of .274/.345/.399 and has defensive fielding percentages of .941 in LF, .980 in CF, and .971 when appearing in multiple outfield positions.  Tilson, like Williams before him, needs a stronger OBP to be effective.

The third player on the 40-man, Jose Martinez was the 2015 PCL batting champion.  In 2016, his numbers are not as strong- yet- wherein he holds a slash line of .279/.333/.428 in 74 games across Memphis and Omaha.  Martinez has appeared at 1B (.986 percentage in 35 games), LF (1.000 percentage in 22 games), RF (.913 percentage in 17 games), and OF (.964 percentage in 38 games).

David Washington, a player with high promise, has produced offensively this season at .244/.362/.520.  This power bat has recorded 19 home runs this season to-date.  Defensively he has appeared at 1B (.983 percentage in 40 games in AA and AAA), RF (.943 percentage in 34 games in AA and AAA), and OF (.943 in 35 games in AA and AAA).

Nick Martini, a player with great versatility, has batted .249/.345/.335 in AA and AAA this season.  Defensively, he has appeared in LF in 23 games (.971 percentage), CF in 6 games (1.000 percentage), RF in 32 games (1.000 percentage), and OF in 56 games (.991 percentage).

The player with the strongest buzz, Harrison Bader, has just recently been promoted to Memphis.  News around this player continues to grow and he simply needs time to prove himself.  This season (AA and AAA) his slash line is .286/.348/.495.  In Memphis, in only three games, his slash line is .286/.286/.571.

Defensively, Bader plays center field (70 games in AA and AAA) for a percentage of .994 and has appeared in multiple outfield spots in 75 games for a percentage of .994.

While there are many players who could impact the St. Louis Cardinals, too many of these need additional time in the minors to prove themselves further.  Don’t look to these players climbing the ladder in the near future (unfortunately).

Next: Memphis Pitchers

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