3 Cardinals players who won't make Opening Day roster but will contribute a ton in 2023

Three more Cardinals who won't make the Opening Day roster but will have a major impact in 2023

The 2023 version of the St. Louis Cardinals figures to be one of the deepest teams the organization has ever seen. With a solid five-man rotation, All-Stars at every infield position, and a great back end of the bullpen, there are not many spots to be won in camp.

The remaining position battles in spring are limited to the right-handed designated hitter, a left-handed reliever or two for the bullpen, and now it seems there is an outfield spot available with the recent play of Jordan Walker.

With the strong play of some of the team's top prospects in spring training, it is forcing some of the young players from last season's roster to step up their game. Lucky for them, St. Louis has the most players participating in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, so there will be plenty of at-bats to go around.

There are simply not enough spots on the opening-day roster for every good player to make the team out of camp. That doesn't, however, mean that the Cardinals who just miss the cut, won't have an impact on the team this season.

There are three players in particular who could project to do some serious damage if they are unable to make the team out of spring training for the St. Louis Cardinals.

3. Tink Hence

Tink Hence has the dynamic swing-and-miss that the Cardinals have been missing for a long time. Luckily for St. Louis, Ryan Helsley has emerged as one of the best closers in the game. However, one arm is not enough to go deep in the postseason.

The Cardinals might have a second one in Hence. Drafted in the third round of what could be one of the best drafts in Cardinals history, Hence finished the season last year at Palm Beach and logged 52.1 innings.

The development plan for Hence is notable because he has yet to throw significant innings as a starter. He made 16 starts and averaged around three innings per outing. That is not exactly what you are looking for in a big-league starting pitcher.

Hence, however, has a dynamic arm. He throws in the mid to upper 90s and averages almost 14 strikeouts per nine innings. This is a good development blueprint for a prospect who could have an Andre Pallante-type role this season.

Hence, when he makes it to the major leagues, could be featured in some important games if he is called up in September when the rosters expand. He is a candidate to be an impactful pitcher for the Cardinals sooner rather than later.

2. Alec Burleson

Even though he does not have much more to prove at the AAA level, Alec Burleson may be forced to start the year in the minor leagues because of the preseason play of Walker.

Burleson is one of the Cardinals' top-hitting prospects and he was able to see his first big-league action last year. He appeared in 16 games for St. Louis and knocked one home run with three RBIs, and finished the year hitting .188.

His struggles at the MLB level could be attributed to a lack of legitimate playing time as he was stuck behind new fan-favorite Lars Nootbaar in the outfield, and the team already had Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan to fill a left-handed hitting bench or designated hitter role.

All of these reasons are why Burleson is in danger of making the opening-day roster. Lefties Donovan and Gorman are having a breakout spring training, and the three starting outfielders already appear to be set, even without Walker.

It will not be good for the 24-year-old's development if he is kept on the bench in St. Louis instead of getting regular playing time at AAA. But make no mistake, this is a player who can seriously hit the ball.

He has had two seasons in the minor leagues where he has hit more than 20 home runs. Also, in 2022, he finished the AAA season with a batting average of .331 in 470 at-bats. He also notched 20 home runs and 87 RBIs which earned him the call-up to St. Louis.

Burleson still has a big part to play on this team, and although it may take an injury or lack of contribution from Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, or Tyler O'Neill, the lefty slugger can contribute in a big way next season.