St. Louis Cardinals: Five Winners from 2017 Spring Training

Finishing with the Grapefruit League’s second-best record of 2017 Spring Training, the St. Louis Cardinals have come closer to finding an identity since players first reported seven weeks ago.

A 20-8-4 record, highlighted by only one loss in their last ten Spring Training contests, gave the St. Louis Cardinals their best preseason in terms of winning percentage in nearly two decades. It’s also the most preseason wins the Cardinals have collected in the Mike Matheny era.

While Spring Training may not necessarily serve a prelude to a team’s destiny come regular season, leaving a mark in Florida was arguably more important for the team coming into 2017 compared to years past.

For a team that fell just short of its sixth straight postseason birth and witnessed the rival Chicago Cubs take home a World Series championship in 2016, St. Louis’ spring surge is a testament to recreating the consistency that the franchise has held for much of the 21st century.

As the team prepares for Opening Night against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, here is a reflection of the Cardinals’ five biggest winners from 2017 Spring Training. But before that list is presented, here are some honorable mentions for players with strong preseason campaigns, but who did not quite crack the list:

Aledmys Diaz– In 2016, Diaz used a strong Spring Training to expedite a Major League promotion due to team injuries and worked his way to an All-Star roster recognition. Early results from Spring Training (.313 batting average, 7 runs, 4 RBIs) prove he can avoid a sophomore slump.

Matt Bowman– Another rookie from last season, Bowman proved he could still contribute in a late innings role. He made 10 appearances in Spring Training, picking up either a save or a win in half of his outings.

Yadier Molina– The 34 year-old backstop only played in 10 Spring Training games, mostly due to Puerto Rico’s runner-up finish in the World Baseball Classic. Pairing a strong offense and defense in the WBC with last week’s work with the rotation, Molina is expected to be coming close a contract extension before Opening Day.

Carlos Martinez– Arguably the team’s most coveted pitcher, Martinez also participated in the World Baseball Classic, where he started twice for the Dominican Republic. He collected three wins and six strikeouts in limited Spring Training action, and also earned his first ever Opening Day nod.

St. Louis Cardinals winner number one: Dexter Fowler.

Although he has yet to play a regular season game with the St. Louis Cardinals, Dexter Fowler may have had the most impressive camp among position players expected to start. The newcomer finished with a .349/.453/.605 offensive line to solidify a spot at the top of the batting order and logged eighty-four innings at center field.

More impressively, Fowler has taken initiative to represent the Cardinals positively aside from the game. Not only has he brought a more relaxed culture to St. Louis’ clubhouse, but he also quickly engaged with fans through social media and frequent pre-game autograph signings.

Fresh off of winning a World Series with the Cubs, several of Fowler’s offensive qualities that made him a valuable commodity in the Windy City have translated to a positive first impression. So far, his five-year, $82.5 million contract is looking like a strong investment.

Who this affects most?

Fowler’s quick emergence as a leader affects younger position players looking to embrace such roles, particularly Cardinals like Stephen Piscotty who struggled in Spring Training.

Despite hitting .151 with just a pair of RBIs in Grapefruit League action, Piscotty has a strong hold as St. Louis’ starting right fielder. But his struggles combined with Fowler’s emergence may have some reconsidering who has the edge as the team’s best outfielder heading into the season.

Regular season goal

From a statistical standpoint, the goal will be for Fowler to come near the totals he compiled with the Cubs last season (.276 batting average, 13 home runs, 84 runs). The Cardinals potent offense makes it possible, but the Cubs carried a different offensive dynamic en rout to becoming defending World Series Champions. Look for Fowler to be a contributor nonetheless.

St. Louis Cardinals winner number two: Harrison Bader.

A third-round draft pick from 2015, Harrison Bader placed second on the St. Louis Cardinals with eighteen hits this spring. But it’s more than his bat that made the Florida alum stand out over the past month’s worth of games. Bader showed great discipline on the base paths with eight runs scored, while gaining experience in right and center field this spring.

Bader is likely to begin the season in Memphis, but more due to the Cardinals strong outfield depth rather than his performance. If outfield regulars like Fowler, Randal Grichuk or Stephen Piscotty are expected to miss significant playing time, Bader could be among one of the team’s first call-ups.

For now, gaining more at-bats and starting time in the minors is crucial for his overall development as a ballplayer. Bader is expected to start the year in Memphis, but if he continues to deliver, there’s little reason his stay there should be very long.

Who this affects most?

Since the Cardinals’ starting outfield for the foreseeable future is already set in stone, Bader’s hot spring particularly affects others who may earn professional playing time as an outfielder long-term.

Jose Martinez, who was the only teammate with more Spring Training hits, will likely be held to higher expectations to produce off the bench. Meanwhile, an outfielder like Tommy Pham may have a shrinking window for how much longer he can contribute with the club.

Regular season goal

At the big-league level it’s difficult to temper statistical expectations for Bader until he receives the opportunity to debut. However, if he spends most of the season in Memphis, a 20-20 season and .300 batting average are not out of question.

St. Louis Cardinals winner number three: Michael Wacha.

After losing his St. Louis Cardinals rotation spot near the end of last season, Michael Wacha faced some speculation at the beginning of camp to start 2017 season as a long reliever. But trading Jaime Garcia in the offseason and losing highly-touted prospect Alex Reyes to Tommy John surgery in February opened an opportunity that the 25-year-old has seized ever since.

Wacha collected four victories and was undefeated over seven spring starts, but his mechanical adjustments were even more important to regaining trust in the rotation. His fastball once reached 97 mph this spring, a byproduct to finishing with a team-leading twenty-two strikeouts as opposed to six walks.

Given uncertainty over Lance Lynn’s health and Adam Wainwright’s expected output for the season, a healthy campaign from Wacha becomes even more crucial to the Cardinals’ destiny in 2017. If he can come close to the pitcher he was during his 2015 All-Star campaign two years ago, Wacha could pitch his way into extension talk in the near future.

Who this affects most?

Rotation depth suddenly became a question mark in Spring Training and Wacha was able to answer to an extent, but the Cardinals did experiment with some other aspiring starters who may have to wait their turn for a spot outing.

Luke Weaver is one of these candidates, but he gave up seven runs over five Grapefruit League innings. Trevor Rosenthal, who was increasing workload in an opportunity to become a starter, will start the year on the disabled list, thus eliminating him as competition.

Regular season goal

Having been limited by injuries in two of the past three seasons, being able to make thirty starts and log over 180 innings would be important for Wacha. If these benchmarks are reached, the Texas A&M product could be close for the team lead in wins and strikeouts.

St. Louis Cardinals winner number five: Jose Martinez.

Another surprise story in Spring Training, Jose Martinez finished spring showcasing similar offensive production to Adams with a .380 batting average, four home runs and fifteen RBIs. He proved versatile within the field as well, earning starts at both corner outfield positions and first base.

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Within a matter of six months, Martinez worked his way up from a September call-up to the team’s probable fifth outfielder. This transition speaks volumes to the career Martinez has embraced up to this point. The 28-year-old bounced around minor league systems for four different organizations before making his Major League debut last year.

Martinez, who has sixty-one career minor league home runs, will offer some pop that the team lost through the offseason departures of Matt Holliday and Brandon Moss. He will likely be used as a defensive specialist and pinch-hit roles similar to what Tommy Pham, who was recently assigned to Memphis, held last year.

Who this affects most?

Immediately, Martinez’s surge has the largest impact on Pham, who served as the team’s fourth outfielder last season and was expected to make the roster cut before a disappointing camp. This could also delay opportunities for other prospects like Anthony Garcia.

Regular season goal

Martinez has an opportunity to become one of the team’s top pinch-hitters in 2017, so leading the team with at least double-digit pinch-hits would be a reasonable goal as a start for the slugger. Depending on his exposure, another statistical benchmark could be ten home runs and forty RBIs.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals: Cubs vs. Cardinals Series Preview

It remains to be seen how much of an impact these five players make on the 2017 season, but all used the Spring Training to show just how important of a role each could play for the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals begin the 2017 season on Sunday.