JUPITER, Fla. — With their camp winding down as well, the Cardinals’ minor-league affiliates shaved their rosters by five Tuesday morning. The cuts include a former first-round pick and a one-time Player of the Year from the organization. They also begin to show how the Cardinals plan to squeeze all those outfielders into the two top affiliates.
The players released were:
- RHP Dewon Brazelton
- RHP Arando Carrasco
- RHP Logan Collier
- CF Reid Gorecki
- 2B Juan Lucena
More on each:
RHP Dewon Brazelton … 3rd overall pick in 2001; came to spring training and couldn’t pitch for several weeks because of his conditioning. The Cardinals had hoped he’d participate in the “classic mechanics” camp. He missed it, most of the major-league workouts and wasn’t seen until minor-league camp opened.
RHP Armando Carrasco … who went 6-2, 2.19 for Quad Cities. Taken in the 36th round of the 2005 draft and spent two seasons with the organization.
RHP Logan Collier … the 6-foot-7 righty pitched for Batavia last season. He went 2-2, 7.58 last season. Drafted in the 37th round, the 1,126th selection in 2006.
CF Reid Gorecki … he’s a cautionary tale for the Cardinals. After the 2004 season, the Cardinals traded Daric Barton — who made his debut as Oakland’s starting first baseman this morning — before they had announced their minor league player of the year. The Cardinals opted not to honor a player they had just traded away and went with a choice they defended by saying it was a blend of defensive and offensive performances. Gorecki had hit .277 in 2004 for High-A Palm Beach, scoring 74 runs and stealing 23 bases. The next spring, the hype it. Gorecki was cast as the face of the new Double-A franchise, in Springfield, Mo. His batting average plummeted to .182 and he had to return to High-A. Injuries robbed him of an entire season and he’s had just 74 at-bats at a level higher than Springfield. Now pinched for playing time with Jon Jay and Luke Gorsett set for Double-A and no room in the Memphis outfield, Gorecki is out to flash his glove for another organization. One that didn’t over-sell him.
2B Juan Lucena … The Cardinals signed him as a free agent out of Venezuela back in 2002. He made a steady rise through the organization, batting .300 at two levels and reaching Springfield last year. He hit .257/.304/.333 in 303 at-bats there. Back in 2004 he was an Appy League all-star, and in 2005 he was considered the best defensive infielder in the Cardinals’ system.
-30-