St. Louis Cardinals' Top Prospects for 2019: #16-30

After looking up information on MLB Pipeline, Baseball-Reference, and Fangraphs,  and here’s who I rated as the 16th to 30th best prospects for the Cardinals for 2019, with the honorable mention list listed below.  It was a tough and thorough process, and after consulting a friend on where to rank some of these players, I have compiled this list.

In terms of grading players, it’s a combination of analyzing their 2018 season performance, overall ability, and upside.  In evaluating the prospects’ potential, unlike earlier posts, this scale is used in evaluating prospects compared to other prospects, though this is still on a 0.5 to 5 star grading scale.  But just to save time, only the top 30 prospects will get profiled in depth, starting with players rated 16-30 in this post, and players rated 1-15 in the next one.

St. Louis Cardinals' Top Prospects for 2019: #16-30

Jake Woodford may have the ability to be a reliable contributor in the majors someday.

16. P Jake Woodford – C+

2018 (AAA): 5-5, 4.50 ERA, 64 IP, 6.3 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 0.7 HR/9

2018 (AA): 3-8, 5.22 ERA, 81 IP, 6.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 1.4 HR/9

Woodford is a tall, right-handed pitcher that has pitched in both AA and AAA, as he can throw the fastball up to 94 MPH, and he projects to be a location pitcher in the majors.  He also has good sink to his pitches, as he can induce groundballs. 

However, his lack of strikeouts per innings pitched combined with his other pitches rating as mediocre may mean he might top out as either a backend starter, or as a versatile multi-inning reliever in the majors, which still could help a team at that level.

2019 Expectations – Age 22 season: AAA starter

Future career path: Spot starter/Long man in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 2-star potential

Lane Thomas is a very productive outfielder that could potentially make the majors as early as 2019.

17. OF/IF Lane Thomas - C+

2018 (AAA): .275 AVG, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 4 SB, .321 OBP, .496 SLG, .818 OPS

2018 (AA): .260 AVG, 21 HR, 67 RBI, 13 SB, .337 OBP, .487 SLG, .824 OPS

He is a productive outfielder that can play a wide array of positions, and he is a player that can run and hit for power.  On the other hand, Thomas tends to strike out a lot, and his batting eye can be inconsistent at times.  But as he played well last year, his versatility could allow him to thrive in the majors.

                                                                                             

2019 Expectations – Age ~23 season: Very good AAA starter, maybe come up as a September call-up

Future career path: 4^th outfielder in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 2 star potential

18. P Ryan Helsley – C+

2018 (AAA): 2-1, 3.71 ERA, 26.2 IP, 5 GS, 11.5 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 0.7 HR/9

2018 (AA): 3-2, 4.39 ERA, 41 IP, 7 GS, 9.7 K/9, 4.4 BB/9, 1.1 HR/9

Helsley had a solid 2018 year, as he is a strikeout pitcher that can throw as high as the high 90s.  He has a pretty good curveball, but there are some concerns if he will develop his other pitches or locate at the big-league level.  He also had some trouble staying healthy this season.  But definitely, Helsley will be an exciting addition to the Cards whenever they decide to bring him up, as he could help their bullpen immediately.

2019 Expectations – Age 24 season: Good AAA Starter, September call-up as a bullpen arm in the majors

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 2-star potential

Giovanny Gallegos could potentially make the Opening Day Roster for the Cards in 2019.

19. P Giovanny Gallegos - C

2018 (MLB): 0-0, 3.97 ERA, 11.1 IP, 9.5 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 1.6 HR/9, 0.0 WAR

2018 (AAA): 2-1, 2.64 ERA, 44.1 IP, 11.6 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 0.2 HR/9

He is a flamethrower that strikes batters out, and he boasts having two good pitches, a solid fastball and a curveball.  He also tends to locate his pitches well.  Though he doesn’t have a diverse repertoire, he could have the stuff to help a major league bullpen next year, and in the future.

2019 Expectations – Age 27 season: Bullpen arm in the majors

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

20. P Conner Greene - C

2018 (AAA): 0-2, 3.66 ERA, 39.1 IP, 5.9 K/9, 7.1 BB/9, 0.5 HR/9

2018 (AA): 4-3, 4.44 ERA, 48.2 IP, 8.0 K/9, 5.9 BB/9, 0.2 HR/9

Greene has a really good fastball, and he can throw up to 100 MPH.  He is a power pitcher that has trouble locating his pitches, and he will need to develop his other pitches.  Though he struggled at AAA, he still was able to earn an invite to the Arizona Fall League.

2019 Expectations – Age 24 season: AAA reliever

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors, or fringe major leaguer

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

21. 2B Max Schrock - C

2018 (AAA): .249 AVG, 4 HR, 42 RBI, 10 SB, .296 OBP, .331 SLG, .627 OPS

Max Schrock was acquired in the Piscotty trade that also landed the Cardinals Yairo Munoz.  Schrock is a utility infielder that can play multiple positions, and scouts like his hitting ability, as well as his ability to run and field.  He also does not strike out often, and Schrock will tend to put balls in play.

However, he did not hit the ball very well in AAA last year, and his role was largely duplicated by Yairo Munoz and Greg Garcia.  Schrock will need to hit as well as he did in AA to realize his full potential, and he doesn’t have a strong arm, but most likely he will end up being a utility infielder in the majors.

2019 Expectations – Age 24 season: Platoon between MLB backup and AAA

Future career path: Utility infielder/backup in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5-star potential

People seem to be divided on how much upside Edmundo Sosa may have, but he could be a good role player in the MLB.

22. MI Edmundo Sosa - C

2018 (MLB): .000 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .333 OBP, .000 SLG, .333 OPS

2018 (AAA): .262 AVG, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 5 SB, .321 OBP, .408 SLG, .729 OPS
2018 (AA): .276 AVG, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 1 SB, .308 OBP, .429 SLG, .737 OPS

Edmundo Sosa is an infielder that runs and fields well, and he also has some pop in his bat.  He has generally hit well in almost every level, but he doesn’t draw many walks or steal many bases.  He was briefly called up to the majors late in September.  However, the PCL is known to be quite hitter friendly, and his free-swinging approach might not fly as well in the big leagues, so he may have to be more of a patient hitter moving forward.  In addition, as he will be blocked by Paul DeJong, his power numbers aren’t great enough where he could translate into a corner infield position.

2019 Expectations – Age 23 season:  Good AAA starter, then arrive in the Majors as a September call-up

Future career path: Fringe starter/utility infielder in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5-star potential

23. P Seth Elledge - C

2018 (AA): 3-1, 4.32 ERA, 16.2 IP, 10.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 1.6 HR/9

2018 (A+): 5-1, 1.17 ERA, 38.1 IP, 12.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 0.2 HR/9

Has three pretty good pitches, boasts having a fastball, slider, and a changeup, but is a reliever that does not have the ability to start the majors.  Pitched fairly well in AA last year, could be a bullpen arm in the future.

2019 Expectations – Age 23 season:  Good AA starter, get called up to AAA midway through season

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5-star potential

24. P Connor Jones - C

2018 (AAA): 1-0, 6.46 ERA, 15.1 IP, 9.4 K/9, 8.2 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9

2018 (AA): 5-5, 3.80 ERA, 94.2 IP, 6.3 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, 0.4 HR/9

He is a pitcher that has two pretty good pitches, a plus-fastball, and a decent slider, and he can induce groundballs.  However, he doesn’t have elite velocity, and he has trouble locating his pitches consistently.  In a favorable scenario, he might have the ability to end up in the majors.

2019 Expectations – Age 24 season: AAA starter, maybe end up being a September call-up

Future career path: Spot starter/Long man in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

25. P Johan Oviedo - C

2018 (A): 10-10, 4.22 ERA, 121.2 IP, 8.7 K/9, 5.8 BB/9, 0.4 HR/9

He is a tall, 6-6 righty that has a good fastball and a decent curveball, and he has the ability to throw fastballs in the high 90s.  However, he will need to develop his other pitches, and improve his control.  But if he can refine his overall game, he could end up reaching the majors as a bullpen arm.

2019 Expectations – Age 21 season: A-ball starter, maybe arrive in A+ ball late in the year

Future career path: Bullpen arm in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

26. P Alvaro Seijas - C

2018 (A): 5-8, 4.52 ERA, 129.1 IP, 5.8 K/9, 4.2 BB/9, 1.0 HR/9

He has two decent pitches, a plus-fastball, and he also has a curveball.  He can throw in the mid-90s, but he will need to develop his other pitches and locate more, and his strikeout rate was way down from last year.  If he ends up in the majors, most likely he might end up in the bullpen.

2019 Expectations – Age 20 season: A-ball starter

Future career path: Multi-inning bullpen arm in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

27. P Junior Fernandez - C

2018 (AA): 0-0, 5.14 ERA, 21 IP, 7.3 K/9, 6.9 BB/9, 0.4 HR/9

2018 (A+): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.2 IP, 6.5 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 0.0 HR/9

Junior Fernandez is a young pitcher that has a really good fastball, and he also is said to have a pretty good changeup.  However, he’ll need to continue to develop his other pitches, and he will have to work on his control and command.  He’s had some injury issues, but if he reaches his full potential, he could be able to help a major league bullpen someday.

2019 Expectations – Age 22 season:  AA bullpen pticher

Future career path: Bullpen pitcher

2019 Player Rating: 1.5-star potential

28. IF Tommy Edman - C

2018 (AAA): .318 AVG, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 SB, .382 OBP, .394 SLG, .776 OPS

2018 (AA): .299 AVG, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 27 SB, .350 OBP, .403 SLG, .753 OPS

He is an infielder that hits the ball well, can get on base, and he runs well.  Plus, he can play multiple positions.  It’s a little baffling that MLB Pipeline currently does not rank Lane Thomas or Tommy Edman in their top 30 of Cardinals’ prospects in the organization, considering their production, but Edman may have the skills to end up being a useful player in the majors someday.

2019 Expectations – Age ~24 season: Good AAA starter, maybe come up as a September call-up

Future career path: Backup/utility infielder in the majors

2019 Player Rating:  1.5 star potential

29. OF Jhon Torres - C

2018 (Rk): .321 AVG, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 4 SB, .409 OBP, .525 SLG, .933 OPS

Acquired in the trade along with Conner Capel that sent Oscar Mercado away to the Cleveland Indians, Torres is a toolsy outfielder that hits the ball well, and he also can hit for power and run.  He had a very good season in rookie ball, but he still may have a long way to go in order to reach his goal of getting to the majors.

2019 Expectations – Age 19 season:  A-ball starter

Future career path: 3^rd or 4^th outfielder in the MLB?

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

30. IF Ramon Urias - C

2018 (AAA): .261 AVG, 5 HR, 17 RBI, .291 OBP, .430 SLG, .720 OPS
2018 (AA): .333 AVG, 8 HR, 27 RBI, .406 OBP, .589 SLG, .996 OPS

Urias is an infielder that generally hits the ball well, and he also can run and field, as he can play multiple positions.  He also has some pop in his bat, as he hit 13 homers in both AA and AAA combined this past year.  Urias has been productive virtually everywhere he’s gone, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ended up having a long career in the majors.

2019 Expectations – Age ~25 season:  Good AAA starter, possible September call-up

Future career path: Utility infielder in the majors

2019 Player Rating: 1.5 star potential

Honorable Mention: OF Adolis Garcia, OF Wadye Ynfante, 3B Evan Mendoza , C Ivan Herrera, P Chris Ellis, P Andrew Morales, IF Andy Young, 1B/LF Leandro Cedeno, P Evan Kruczynski, P Casey Meisner, P Derian Gonzalez, P David Oca, P Ian Oxnevad, P Fabian Blanco

In case if you were wondering about other players on why they didn't make the cut (i.e. Delvin Perez or Nick Plummer), it's either because I feel that they weren't productive enough in their seasons to project into being useful major leaguers in the future, or I feel that their upside may be too limited based on how I rated them, or there may not be enough information to properly evaluate them.  Anyways, this list is just my opinion, and you are free to create your own list if you want.  

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this post.