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St. Louis Cardinals: Spring Training Check-in, March 3

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Feb 17, 2017; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) goes through stretching drills before spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2017; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) goes through stretching drills before spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2017; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Dexter Fowler (25) at bat against the New York Mets during a spring training game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The St. Louis Cardinals have a slate of starting outfielders who should instill fear in opposing teams, but even the backups and prospects have come to shine this spring.

The 2017 St. Louis Cardinals outfield will be made up of Randal Grichuk in left, Dexter Fowler in center, and Stephen Piscotty in right. These are three great bats on the plate and great fielders to be sure. Are they the best in the majors? No but that might not matter.

Starting with these three, Grichuk has appeared in three games so far and six at-bats. In these he has posted a slash line of .500/.571/1.33. Wouldn’t that be incredible should he carry this into the season?! To entice you even more, he has smashed two double and one home run in these at-bats. I’ll take some more of that, please!

Fowler has appeared in four games and four at-bats. In these he has posted a slash line of .250/.600/.250. While not flashing the pine as Grichuk has, Fowler has shown incredible patience at the plate resulting in five walks. Oh, and there was this little thing known as a stolen base tossed in there too.

Piscotty, the incumbent name that will be slotted in the four spot replacing departed Matt Holliday, has appeared in four games and eight at-bats. In these he has posted a slash line of .125/.300/.125. While this isn’t great, Piscotty is approaching the plate differently than in years past so there will be a learning curve.

Other outfielders who have appeared in Spring Training games thus far include:

  • Nick Martini (1.00/1.00/2.00 in one at-bat) who will likely start in Memphis in 2017;
  • phenom Magneuris Sierra (.500/.545/.600 in ten at-bats) who should start in Memphis in 2017;
  • Chad Huffman (.300/.364/.300 in ten at-bats) who will likely start in Memphis in 2017;
  • Anthony Garcia (.286/.286/.714 in ten at-bats) who will likely start in Memphis in 2017;
  • Jose Martinez (.273/.429/.818 in eleven at-bats) who should start in St. Louis in 2017;
  • Tommy Pham (.273/.333/.273 in eleven at-bats) who will likely start in St. Louis in 2017;
  • Harrison Bader (.200/.200/.600 in ten at-bats) who will likely start in Memphis in 2017; and
  • snooze-fest Todd Cunningham (maybe I’m burned by him after praising him for so long; .111/.273/.111 in nine at-bats) who should be released from the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of Spring Training.

Of these, the regulars excite me even with Piscotty under-performing currently. Of the backups, I really want to see Martinez make the team but some of the prospects are providing some nice pressure. These prospects to watch include Sierra and Huffman.

All of this said, I believe the 2017 Cardinals should have a much improved outfield as compared to the 2016 squad.

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