Young Guys Making Their Mark

March 06, 2009 | Dustin | Comments 2

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Tyler Greene (Photo by Dustin Mattison)

Spring Training continues at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.  Many of the St. Louis Cardinals top prospects are making an impression on manager Tony LaRussa and his staff.

What a difference a couple days make.  Seems the sky was falling as far as Cardinal fans and Colby Rasmus were concerned.  But after a pep talk from his manager, Rasmus is on a role going 3-for his last -4 and has in on base percentage up to a respectable .364.

One of the players I have had a close eye on is Tyler Greene.  Picked two spots after Rasmus in the 2005 MLB First Year Player Draft, Greene could be best described as an enigma for most Cardinal prospect watchers.  He seemed to break out at Double-A Springfield in 2008.  He struggled at Memphis but put together another impressive showing out at the Arizona Fall League.  So far this spring, the Georgia Tech alum is hitting .333/.333/.389 in 18 at bats, the fourth highest total on the team.

At the Birdhouse, we ranked him as the 18th prospect in the system.  Personally, I ranked him as the 13th best prospect in the Cardinals organization.  This past July, this is what I had to say about the former Yellow Jacket:

“I would like to see him make a more conscious effort to keep his hands back and drive the ball more to the opposite field.  Yes, he would most likely lose some of his home run total but should more than make up for it in the batting average department.  With his bat and foot speed, Greene could become a doubles machine.”

With a strong performance so in the early spring, he has made my outlook for Greene come to fruition:

“If, and that is a big if, he is able to find some consistency in hitting the breaking ball and reaches base at a respectable rate while still providing above average power for a middle infielder, he once again will rate among the top prospects in the system and would have to be considered for a big league look sometime during 2009.”

Jon Jay is making the coaching staff take notice.  Jay has posted a line of .353/.421/.529 in his 17 at bats.  The crowded outfield picture keeps getting a little hazier.

“With a strong spring, he could find himself in the mix for a utility role as a corner infielder/outfielder. If not, he will see how he matches up against Triple-A pitching.”

That is what I wrote about Allen Craig in early January.  Though his making the team is an extreme long shot,  with a line of .538/.571/.846 in 13 at bats, he has made the front office take notice.

Luis Perdomo is not in Cardinals camp but he is making an impression in the San Francisco Giants exhibition games.  The right-hander pitcher the Cardinals received for Anthony Reyes has five strikeouts in four innings for his new Giants team.  Selected by the Giants in last December’s Rule 5 draft, he has one save and a 2.25 ERA for his new team.

Minor League spring training starts next week so keep us book marked for some of the latest analysis.

On a personal note, I want to wish Erik Manning of Future Redbirds the best of luck.  He sent me an email this morning telling me of his desire to hang up his cleats.  I wish him the best and want him to know he is always welcomed here at whiteyball.

For those of you, who have been fans of Future Redbirds, welcome.  You will find lots of the minor league coverage you desire right here.  Not only do we talk minors, but we are at the games.  My first trip is already scheduled. I am planning on blogging live from Opening Day at Double-A Springfield unless something out of the ordinary happens.  (What you might happen?  Last season on my way to Springfield’s Opening Day, I got word that my brother wrecked my truck.)

Keep checking back for the latest not only from all levels of Cardinal baseball but baseball in general.

Dustin Mattison

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Filed Under: Baseball • Cardinal Prospects