The season has started! Hooray! Alas, we have too little data to meaningfully dissect. So, today you get to read some final Spring Training tidbits. Things that came up that didn’t make in neatly in another article. It will seem kind of random, especially coming after the Regular Season has started. So, there is that.
First, I will do a quick rundown on the Cardinal’s players who experienced the WBC. Then a few random stats regarding Spring Training. Last, will do a quick demographic look at the 2026 Opening Day roster.
Cardinal Players in the World Baseball Classic
Here is quick rundown of various Cardinal players who elected to participate in the WBC. Suffice to say, this year was not nearly as disruptive as the experience of 2023.
In no particular order:
Leonardo Bernal – Leo played all 4 games with Panama before they were eliminated. He appears to have been the main catcher ahead of M. Amaya. He recorded 17 PA, compiling a .235 BA. He was made aware before leaving for the WBC that he would be returning to the MiLB side of Cardinal camp and find himself assigned to Memphis. This is the next logical step in his progression.
Luis Gastelum – Luis played for team Mexico. He appeared in 2 of their 4 games, pitching 1 inning while giving up a hit. His limited use puts him a bit behind in camp. Like Bernal, he was made aware before he left for WBC of his pending assignment to MiLB camp. When Oli was asked about which pitcher had caught his attention this spring, Gastelum and his change-up was the first mention.
Matt Koperniak – Matt played for team Great Britain. He acquitted himself well. He got in all 4 games, going 3 for 9, with 4 BB and 3 K’s, plus 2 RBI. He was an NRI to MLB camp this year and will retain that status upon his return, at least for a few days. I don’t know his disposition at the end of camp. I have him on the bubble for the Memphis squad. Baez, Ugueto, Ledbetter and Madris would seem to be the 4 priority OFers and I’m not sure both Antico and Koperniak will make the squad. It will be a few more days before we know.
Riley O’Brien – Riley was going to play for Korea, but an injured calf prevented him from joining the team at the outset. Calf injuries can hang on with older guys, and yes, he is older. He is actually one of the oldest players on the Cardinals team at 31 years old. Only Ramon Urias and Ryne Stanek are older. Surprised? He ended up not participating in the WBC, remaining behind in Cardinal’s camp. He is just now getting back into the swing of things in Jupiter.
Ivan Herrera – Ivan did not participate due to insurance issues, which I suspect were related to his recovery from off-season elbow surgery. The insurance snafu, which snagged many, may turn out to be a blessing in disguise as neither his arm nor his legs are yet in full-go condition. WBC play would likely not have helped his ramp up, which will carry into the first part of the regular season.
To complete the report, we have Team Italy players Thomas Saggese and Gordon Graceffo, who legitimately could view themselves as the second incarnation of the Memphis Mafia.
Thomas Saggese – Sags served a utility role for Team Italy, playing behind such luminaries as Sam Antonacci (SS), Jon Berti (2B), Andrew Fisher (3B). He got 11 PAs over two weeks, which set him behind offensively. Likewise, he got no time in the outfield, which did not advance his hopes to expand his repertoire and solidify a multi-position utility role. In the 11 PAs, he struck out 5 times and did not walk. He got one hit.
Gordon Graceffo – Gordon pitched twice out of Italy’s bullpen. No reliever made more than 4 appearances. That said, two appearances in almost two weeks puts him behind in terms of building up for the regular season. In two IP, Graceffo had four K’s and 3 BBs, with 1 ER.
For both Saggese and Graceffo, I saw both these guys as bubble guys with a shot to break camp with the MLB squad for Opening Day. The odds became longer just because they are behind and it would be difficult to catch up in the MLB environment. Plus, both have options. I expected both them to start in Memphis and come up pretty quickly. It turns out Sags made the Opening Day roster, ahead of Nelson Velazquez. Although I don’t it was Sags 40-man spot that blocked NV.
Closing Spring Training Notes
The Spring Training story is written and in the books. I’ll put my own exclamation point on it with a few data points and conclusions (spoiler alert: Spring Training results have about the same predictive value as how often you open/close your refrigerator predicts next week’s weather).
Record – 17-9 (with 2 ties)(not counting exhibitions)
The last time the Cardinals had such a fine run of games in Spring Training? They finished with a Grapefruit League best at 17-7….in 2023.
As a note, the Cardinals were 7-3 in games decided by rallies in the late innings predominated by minor leaguers. If anything, we can take a hint that the Cardinals minor leaguers are better than the other teams’ minor leaguers.
The Cardinals were 10-4 at home, where the games were predominantly established players vs. other team’s young guys (their travel squad).
At 119 runs scored, the Cardinals finished 10th in Grapefruit League play (out of 15 teams).
At 106 runs allowed, the Cardinals finished 4th in Grapefuit Leage play. Feeling pretty good about that pitching are we? Consider. The Cardinals played 18 games against Houston, Miami and Washington (their closest neighbors). All of those teams sported BA below .200 this spring. Cause, or effect? Good pitching? Poor offenses faced? Local weather factors?
In 2025 Spring Training, Victor Scott II tied for the team lead with 4 HR. The player he tied with? Luken Baker. Consider that when you try to project Nelson Velazquez.
The Opening Day Roster
The Cardinals open with a roster of players that average 27.3 years old. That will line out to be one of the youngest in baseball, if not the youngest. I believe they capture the crown because Mikolas skews the Nats number so much.
Of the 26 players on the roster, 12 were drafted by StL and one came via the IFA route. That is on the low side for their historical standards, but not markedly so.
Interestingly, 3 of the 26 were “purchased”. That doesn’t mean anything, it just stood out. Not traded for. Not claimed on waivers. Bought. I think this is the result of a strategy to essentially jump the line on the waiver claim order for players who have been DFA’ed.
6 of the 8 bullpen arms are without minor league options. That is a new twist. The old days of “roster flexibility” are gone.
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