When it comes to the experience that Thomas Saggese鈥檚 stay in the majors can provide to the Cardinals rookie, it鈥檚 more than just the number of games he appears in that can help him get a feel for the big leagues.
Also, consider the scenarios that those opportunities may come in. Two of the previous three games the 22-year-old appeared in ahead of Friday provide examples.
During games on Tuesday and Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saggese was brought off the bench as a defensive substitution at second base. On both occasions, Saggese replaced Jordan Walker in the lineup as Brendan Donovan shifted from second base to left field and Lars Nootbaar moved from left field to right field.
Ahead of Saggese鈥檚 first career start at third base on Friday vs. the Cleveland Guardians, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol described Saggese鈥檚 opportunities off the bench as one that could pay dividends.
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鈥淚t's good for him to be around the staff and the players to finish this year 鈥 no different than when Masyn (Winn) did it,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淚t's always good for them to go into the offseason already having experienced it. 鈥 There is value in that. But it's also good for him to come in late in games because you think about it in two ways like just let Jordan finish the game in right and develop as an outfield, but you're also developing Saggese to come in in meaningful spots and go play defense and the game is on the line.
鈥淭here are both sides to that. I think it's good for him (Saggese) to be able to do that from time to time.鈥
With Nolan Arenado slotted as St. Louis' designated hitter in its series opener vs. the Guardians, Saggese received his first chance to play third base at the big-league level. Before reaching the majors on Sept. 10 and starting at shortstop that night, Saggese made 105 starts at third base in the minor leagues along with 106 starts at shortstop and 190 at second base.
鈥淭here are different little things for third and the middle infield, and even second and short,鈥 Saggese said before Friday鈥檚 game. 鈥淏ut at the end of the day, your job is to catch the ball and throw the ball. A grounder is a grounder. Just be athletic, trust my instincts, and go from there.鈥
Saggese has appeared in nine of the Cardinals鈥 last 10 games since his call-up from Class AAA Memphis. He's started in seven of the games he鈥檚 played in. He described the approach to days when he is not in the starting lineup as ones that he looks to take advantage of by learning from the people around him like the veteran players with whom he shares a clubhouse.
鈥淛ust soaking up all the information that I can because I want to be that one day,鈥 Saggese said. 鈥淚 want to be here for a long time. It's all valuable information that I think is necessary to get to stay here as long as I can.鈥
Of the conversations that have stuck with him, Saggese highlighted one he had with Cardinals assistant coach Willie McGee on the topic of preparation.
鈥淭he biggest thing that stuck out from him was, use everybody else and talk to everybody else, but add it to your thing,鈥 Saggese said the lessons he learned from the former MVP and Cardinals hall of famer. 鈥淵ou don't have to change it. 鈥 That was a huge, huge piece of information for me.
鈥淗e's like you got here for a reason and you have the skill to get here. And now it's just work, work, work. Just take little bits and pieces from everybody and make it your own. But don't get away from what got you here.鈥
Prospect Mathews reaches 200 Ks
With five strikeouts in six innings during a start for Class AAA Memphis on Thursday night, Cardinals prospect Quinn Mathews reached 202 strikeouts for the minor league season.
By reaching the 200-strikeout mark, the 23-year-old Mathews became the 10th pitcher in Cardinals minor league history to reach 200 or more strikeouts in a season and the first across the minors to reach 200 since Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Brandon Pfaadt struck out 218 batters in 2022. The 202 strikeouts tie Mathews for the seventh-most in a single season in Cardinals minor league history.
Mathews and Pfaadt are the only two minor league pitchers to collect 200 or more strikeouts in a season since the start of the 2012 season.
Mathews鈥 202 strikeouts lead minor league baseball into the final weekend of the regular season. The 23-year-old and former fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft made his minor league debut this season in Class Low-A. He鈥檚 amassed his 202 strikeouts in 143 1/3 innings across four levels. He鈥檒l end the minor league regular season with a 2.76 ERA and an 8-5 record.
Entering Friday, Mathews was third across the minors in strikeout rate (35.4%), third in strikeout-to-walk rate (26.8%) and 12th in batting average allowed (.178).
Game 3 in Springfield
Class AA Springfield hosted Arkansas on Friday at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri, for a winner-take-all Game 3 of the Texas League Division Series.
Springfield won Game 1 in Arkansas and lost Game 2 on Thursday 6-9 at Hammons Field. A win on Friday would send Springfield to its first Texas League Championship Series since 2012.
Game 3 between Springfield and Arkansas had yet to conclude at the time of this writing.