6 Cardinals' prospects who could make their MLB debut in 2024

Each new baseball season yields opportunities for baseball players to achieve their goal of making it to the majors. Injuries, trades, underperformance, and overperformance on the part of the prospect all force the team's hand, thus forming an aperture for a player to break through. For these athletes, they've spent their entire lives, sacrificed plenty, and worked hard to get to the majors. A major league debut is nothing to scoff at.

The St. Louis Cardinals had 8 players make their major league debuts in 2023, a decrease from the previous year's total of 13 rookies. Next year, that number will likely fall within that range. In 2022, the Cardinals saw plenty of success, and players such as Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, Andre Pallante, and Zack Thompson were all key players to the 2022 team.

Last year, Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Luken Baker, and Drew Rom earned their call-ups. Jose Fermin likely made his debut in 2023 out of necessity rather than a deserving promotion. Others, such as Guillermo Zuniga and Kyle Leahy, received looks with the MLB squad due to their salivating stuff.

The St. Louis Cardinals' farm system is quite top-heavy, particularly with pitchers. Gordon Graceffo, Michael McGreevy, Sem Robberse, and Adam Kloffenstein could all be knocking at the door next year. The Cardinals also have their fair share of high-level position players. If all goes well for the team next year, perhaps we may see some of these young studs make their major league debut. Some of these players are top prospects ranked in national lists; others are players who have worked hard and earned a spot thanks in part to their long-tenured service in the minors.

Similar to 2023, I expect next year's prospect total to surpass only 8 players. Additionally, those who make their debuts in St. Louis in 2024 will likely be making their debuts due to their own conduct rather than simply "filling a hole". Pitchers stand to have the best chance, as they can make appearances out of the bullpen at any point only to then be shuttled back down to Memphis or Springfield in a pinch. However, don't shy away from seeing certain position players making their debuts next year.

Sem Robberse

The Cardinals acquired right-handed pitcher Sem Robberse from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline for closer Jordan Hicks. At the time, Robberse was ranked #7 in the Blue Jays' farm system, and he was placed in the eighth spot in St. Louis prospect rankings according to MLB.com.

Robberse, 22, reached AAA Memphis last year after the trade, and he finished his time there with a 2-1 record, a 4.84 ERA, and a 1.783 WHIIP in 35.1 innings and 8 appearances (7 starts). Robberse's 26.2% K rate in Memphis was the best of his career, but his 14.3% walk rate was conversely the worst of his career. Sem Robberse made a very brief appearance at the 2023 MLB Futures Game in Seattle. He gave up two runs in only 0.1 innings.

While Sem Robberse doesn't have any one pitch that is dominant, his command is noteworthy. Excluding last year, Robberse didn't have a walk rate greater than 12% in his career, and that rate was in High-A in 2021 across only 31 innings. It is likely he regains his command and control that has been his calling card for the entirety of his career. Should Robberse maintain the strikeout rate that he had in Memphis while decreasing his walks, a bullpen appearance for him next year could happen.

Robberse's youth and inexperience at the AAA level go against him, but the Cardinals haven't been shy when it comes to promoting players with little or no experience at AAA. In recent history, St. Louis has promoted players like Jordan Hicks, Andre Pallante, and Jordan Walker. With better walk rates, a continued high strikeout rate, and increased velocity, Robberse could be a reliable arm as a depth reliever in St. Louis.

Victor Scott II

In my mind, Victor Scott II is probably the most likely player to make his debut next year. If Masyn Winn struggles out of the gate, if Tommy Edman's recovery doesn't go as planned, or if Dylan Carlson is traded at any point next year, Scott is the next man up.

Up until last year, Victor Scott II was a speedy defender with decent contact skills and a mediocre arm. He was a prototypical center fielder. At West Virginia, Scott II failed to hit above .232 in his first two seasons with the Mountaineers. His offense really took off his junior year, and St. Louis liked him enough to select him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. In only 1.5 seasons, Scott has already risen to AA Springfield, and he will likely start 2023 in Memphis.

He doesn't walk much, but his strikeout rates are also better than league average. Scott's contact skills shone last year in Springfield where he slashed .323/.373/.450. The most noteworthy aspect of his game was his 94 combined stolen bases between High-A Peoria and AA Springfield. Scott's defense was also admirable, and his speed helps him get to balls that other center fielders couldn't dream of reaching.

A serious injury to Edman, Winn, Nootbaar, or Carlson would probably require the Cardinals to call up Victor Scott II in 2024. If he continues to ascend the way he did last year, he will force the front office's hand. Scott II is an exciting young player, and his defense in center will bring back memories of peak Jim Edmonds and Harrison Bader during the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Thomas Saggese

A lot of (virtual) ink has been spilled about Thomas Saggese. He won the Texas League MVP Award, he had a 168 wRC+ with Springfield, and he mashed 26 home runs to go with a .904 OPS in 2023. Saggese is a talented offensive player with an ability to play third base, second base, and even shortstop at times.

The Cardinals lack depth at the shortstop position. Behind Masyn Winn, the next true prospect who plays shortstop regularly is Arquimedes Gamboa, a 26-year-old journeyman. Yes, Tommy Edman and even Brendan Donovan can play shortstop, but Edman should be the team's everyday center fielder and Brendan Donovan will be splitting time at second base with Nolan Gorman along with spending time as the team's super-utility player.

Should Thomas Saggese continue to mash in AAA next year, the Cardinals will have to call him up at some point. He has strong walk numbers for his career, and he strikes out at a league-average rate. Saggese's hit tool is his best quality, but he showed flashes of power last year in Springfield. Saggese also boasts decent speed and arm strength. A high-floor player who showed spurts of power last year is enticing, and Saggese fits that mold.

He is best suited at second base, perhaps the deepest position for the Cardinals since Donovan, Gorman, Edman, and Matt Carpenter can all handily play that position. This depth makes it challenging for Saggese to start the season in St. Louis, but he could very well see Busch Stadium by year's end.

Adam Kloffenstein

Adam Kloffenstein is a former third-round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays who was signed out of high school. Kloff's slider is his calling card, but he is decent at commanding his pitches, and he also has a deep pitch repertoire on the whole. He also throws a four-seam fastball, a curveball, a cutter, and a changeup. St. Louis placed him in AAA Memphis after being traded to the Cardinals this past deadline for Jordan Hicks. Altogether, he made 26 appearances last year as a starting pitcher.

Kloffenstein, 23, stands 6-foot-5. He doesn't allow many hits, as batters only hit .209 against him in Memphis last year, and his 1.28 WHIP is strong as well. His strikeout and walk numbers have fluctuated dramatically during his career, and his walk rate was 12.7% in Memphis last year after walking only 8.9% of batters at Toronto's AA affiliate. If he can manage his walks better next year while having a K rate of around 22%, Kloffenstein could find a spot in the majors.

The most eye-opening stat to me for the right-handed starting pitcher is his left-on-base percentage last year with Memphis. For all of the struggles he had with walks in 39 innings with the Redbirds, Kloffenstein was just as good at preventing those runners from scoring. He ended his tenure in Memphis last year with a 90.1% left-on-base percentage. While we may prefer our pitchers to not let runners on in the first place, an ability to preclude them from scoring is vital as well.

I could see Adam Kloffenstein seeing time in the bullpen at some point next year. He can pitch multiple innings, he has a deep pitch mix, and he excelled at limiting damage last year. His strikeout and walk numbers are concerning, but he has the potential to make his debut as a back-end starting pitcher or reliever.

Cesar Prieto

The final player on this list happens to be the oldest player as well. Cesar Prieto will turn 25 in early May, and he bats left-handed. Prieto stands only 5-foot-9, but he is a versatile defender. While he won't wow you with any spectacular defensive plays, he will be able to make the sure play. FanGraphs has his hit tool as his most valuable attribute.

Prieto started his career playing professional baseball in Cuba as a member of the Cuban National Series. He claimed the league's batting title in 2021, evidence of his ability to hit well. The Baltimore Orioles signed him in May 2021 as an international signee, and he immediately displayed his plus hit tool with a .340/.381/.619 slash line for their high-A team. Prieto was a part of the package that included Drew Rom and Zach Showalter when the Cardinals shipped Jack Flaherty to Baltimore at the 2023 trade deadline.

Cesar Prieto spent time at AA and AAA last year for both the Cardinals and the Orioles, and his statistics dropped slightly with each promotion or transition. He ended 2023 with a .323/.367/.446 slash line, but that is slightly misleading, as he didn't hit nearly as well in Memphis. He has never been one to generate walks, but he has excelled at hitting for his career. In fact, his walk rate and strikeout rate were nearly identical in both AA and AAA for Baltimore. The script was flipped when he came over to Memphis, but the blueprint for success is there for the utility infielder.

Most of Prieto's innings last year came at second base, but he did log 261 innings at shortstop and 294.1 innings at third base. His ability to play multiple positions on the infield is beneficial. While Tommy Edman, Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan, and Thomas Saggese are able to play those same positions, Prieto's history of hitting for average sets him apart. Injuries would cause him to be called up, and I think most fans would prefer Prieto get a chance to debut next year rather than seeing Jose Fermin run it back in St. Louis.