Cardinals: 4 prospects to know going deeper into Spring Training

The St. Louis Cardinals have a talented farm system that will be on full display during Spring Training, with several players pushing to make the major league roster.

The St. Louis Cardinals farm system has grown by huge strides under the leadership of John Mozeliak, team president of baseball operations, and Gary LaRoque, the team's director of player development.

This season is a prime example of the work the two have put in to make the farm system great. The Cardinals have many exciting young players that have opportunities to impact the club this season. With several members of the Cardinals roster going to the World Baseball Classic in mid-March, these young players will get a huge opportunity to show off their skills and try to make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster.

Let's discuss some of the top prospects Cardinals fans will meet this Spring.

Tink Hence

A Watson Chapel High School graduate in Pine Bluff, Ark., Tink Hence has a tremendous arm at just 20. He was the Cardinals' second-round draft pick in 2020.

In 2021, Hence played for the FCL Cardinals and moved up to the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2022. He played for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, earning him a non-roster invite to Cardinals Spring Training.

Hence has been impressive this spring.

With a tremendous arsenal of pitches, Hence will be given plenty of opportunity to shine this spring. While he did well in the Arizona Fall League, seeing the youngster advance to the Major League level may be a big stretch this season.

Hence is playing to give the fans and the organization a glimpse at what could be possible from the young flame-thrower. He's also playing to give the organization an idea of where he will be fit to play in the organizations this Summer. It's most likely fans will see Hence in either Peoria or Springfield. Either squad will give the young man plenty of opportunity to develop in the organization, earn some innings and continue to impress.

Gordon Graceffo

Graceffo was drafted from Villanova in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Villanova. He is a prospect that's turning some heads this spring. Last season he played for the Peoria Chiefs and was promoted to the Springfield Cardinals.

According to MLBPipeline.com, Graceffo has a unique windup with a kinetic motion that can make him more challenging for hitters to pick up. He uses a mix of a fastball, a slider, and a sinking changeup. He also has an offspeed curveball.

MLBPipeline said, "Graceffo’s special command gives him a promising floor as a No. 5 starter, and he can be more if he uses the breadth of his arsenal to generate more whiffs."

With so many questions on the starting rotation, that's promising information regarding Graceffo. He will be an essential player to watch this Spring and will likely get some playing time when Adam Wainwright and Miles Mikolas play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The starting rotation has suffered plenty of injuries over the past few seasons. Having a promising young starting pitcher make his way to the starting rotation from within the farm system would be a relief. Graceffo will be a fun player to watch.

Masyn Winn

Winn was the second-round draft pick of the Cardinals in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Kingswood High School in Kingswood, Tx. He has a bat with opposite field power and a cannon for an arm that topped 100 mph during a play from shortstop to first base in the Futures Game during All-Star Game weekend in 2022.

Winn significantly improved at the plate and basepath during the 2022 season, seeing time in Peoria and Springfield. MLBPipeline.com said Winn became a more patient hitter during 2022 and started elevating the ball more. This led to a jump in home runs and extra-base hits.

MLB Pipeline.com said, "He may not be more than an average hitter in the end who just pushes past double-digit dingers in the bigs, but given the impact, he can have on the basepaths, and in the field, that would still be enough to make Winn an impact Major League shortstop."

While the Cardinals have a shortstop in Tommy Edman and backup from Paul DeJong, Winn will be given plenty of opportunity to impress this spring while Edman plays for Team Korea in the WBC. Winn will likely continue to develop at either Springfield or Memphis, with the possibility of making his debut with St. Louis late in the season.