St. Louis Cardinals
E-mail
PrintBaseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2008.
Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
 (How to subscribe) |
|
| Cardinals Chat
Derrick Goold |
Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team |
| TOP TEN PROSPECTS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BEST TOOLS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PROJECTED 2011 LINEUP |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CARDINALS LINKS |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A disappointing season that revealed a divided Cardinals front office spurred a radical change that has placed a public emphasis on player development. After years of plucking key players from other organizations, the new leadership has been charged with producing them through the farm system.
Shortly after their first losing season since 1999, the Cardinals fired general manager Walt Jocketty. The highly regarded and trade-savvy Jocketty watched over one of the greatest eras of St. Louis baseball, building a World Series champion in 2006 to highlight a run that included two National League pennants and seven playoff berths in 13 years.
But behind the winning at the big league level, there was a threadbare minor league system. Ownership had instructed vice president of amateur scouting and player development Jeff Lunhow to restock the supply of young talent. He reports directly to chairman Bill DeWitt Jr., and a fissure developed between Jocketty's people and Lunhow's. By firing Jocketty, the Cardinals made it clear the direction they want to go in.
Other player-development changes followed Jocketty's dismissal. Field coordinator Jim Riggleman departed to become the Mariners' bench coach. Minor league pitching coordinator and former big league pitching coach Mark Riggins, who had spent 29 years in the organization, became the minor league pitching coordinator for the Cubs.
After assistant GMs Chris Antonetti (Indians) and Rick Hahn (White Sox) withdrew their names from consideration, St. Louis named John Mozeliak to replace Jocketty in November. Mozeliak had been Jocketty's assistant for five seasons and in the organization for 12, developing on the same track as a prospect. He began in amateur scouting and worked his way up to scouting director before making contributions at the major league level. He quickly integrated Luhnow's staff and their analytic and development work with the rest of the baseball operations department.
The pipeline Mozeliak and Lunhow started to build in 2005 is on the verge of producing players who should diminish the Cardinals' reliance on free agents and trades. The first five players on this prospect list, all products of the 2005 and 2006 drafts, should be contributing by 2009. Center fielder Colby Rasmus and closer-in-waiting Chris Perez are just about ready to take over for Jim Edmonds and Jason Isringhausen, while catcher Bryan Anderson will push Yadier Molina. Jaime Garcia and Adam Ottavino almost are set to reinforce a shaky rotation.
The 2007 draft holds promise as well. The Cardinals spent their first choice (18th overall) on Pete Kozma, the best all-around shortstop in the draft. Their next three picks were righthanders—Clayton Mortensen, David Kopp and Jess Todd—who could advance quickly through the system.
During spring training, St. Louis' minor league staff lobbied for a more aggressive approach to promotions. Triple-A Memphis remained a depot for spare parts, but the other three full-season clubs posted winning records. Double-A Springfield was one of the youngest teams in the Texas League, yet won first- and second-half division titles behind Rasmus, Perez and Anderson.
| Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects
(How to subscribe) |
| Pre-Order the 2008 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team |
indicates Premium Content | Copyright © 1999-2008 Baseball America Inc. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. All rights reserved. | Site Map | Frequently Asked Questions/Site Troubleshooting | Privacy Notice | Return/Refund Policy.
Baseball America, 4319 South Alston Avenue, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713.