JUPITER, Fla. — Three prospects at various stages of reinvention — one from injury, the other from a position switch, and the third from being a surprise draft pick — excelled in the Cardinals’ minor-league games Friday.
They were:
Jon Jay, an outfielder, missed much of last season battling injury. Once billed as a certain batting champ in the minors, Jay has been surpassed by Colby Rasmus in center field and surrounded by depth at his position. The University of Miami product has a level-headed, level-bat approach at the plate, even though his bat-waggle trigger for his swing scared away a few scouts. Big year to prove he deserves attention as a top-10 prospect.
Tommy Pham was considered one of the finest prep player in his homestate, Nevada. But after being drafted, Pham had an unfortunate and unreasonable label attached to him. One of the Cardinals’ executives compared him to Derek Jeter. No going back from that. Pham didn’t last long at shortstop, yet he’s taken his athleticism and arm to the outfield with enough success that someday that description won’t follow him.
And, then there is last year’s first-round pick, Peter Kozma. The shortstop’s progress will always been compared to that of Rick Porcello, the top prep pitcher who was available at the Cardinals’ pick only to be passed over because of the cost of a deal to sign the righthander. Kozma was widely regarded as the best middle infield available and a conservative pick.
And what they did Friday:
- Jay went 3-for-5 with an RBI at Class AA’s game.
- Pham tripled and homered for High-A Palm Beach.
- Kozma went 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI for Quad Cities #1.
Friday’s Vuch Report is belated — my fault, completely — but here it is:
** Memphis 7, Las Vegas 2 **
– Pride of LSU Nick Stavinoha went 3-for-5 with a home run to pace an offense aided by Reid Gorecki and Cody Haerther. Both of the latter outfielders had two hits, a double apiece and combined for four RBIs.
– Righthander and first-round pick Adam Ottavino, whose stock has risen (if it could) this spring, pitched three innings and allowed one run on one hit without a walk and struck out two.
– Jonathan Mikrut earned the win, working two innings and not allowing a baserunner while striking out one. … Luke Gregerson, the former outfielder, pitched two innings and struck out three. … Mark Worrell, who had a rough outing for Double-A the other day when he was just looking to get an inning in anywhere, struck out the side.
– On Thursday, Rico Washington had a key play at third base and scored the winning run for the major-league team against the New York Mets. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Friday’s minor-league.
** Jacksonville 12, Springfield 7 **
– For the second consecutive outing the Cardinals latest pitching addition, Kris Honel (a first-round pick by the White Sox several year ago) had difficulty. He allowed five earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. … Tyler Herron and Kenny Maiques were the only pitchers not to get torched in the game. Herron went three innings and allowed one run while walking two. Maiques, the franchise-record setting closer for Quad Cities last year, pitched one inning scoreles and wlalked one.
– Dan Nelson was 2-for-4 with double and a walk. … A.J. Van Slyke also was 2-f0r-4 with a double and two RBIs.
** Empire 10, Palm Beach 7 **
– Blake King, the righthander out of Oklahoma, pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowed one hit and one unearned runs. He struck out four and walked two. … Justin Fiske threw a perfect inning. David Bilardello took the loss after allowing nine hits and seven runs (six earned).
– Steve Hill (not to be confused with Steven A. Hill, the pitcher) cracked a two-run double; Brandon Johnson had a couple doubles.
** Quad Cities #1 9, Great Lakes 1 **
– Thomas Eager was the winner, going three scoreless innings and walking one against one strikeout. … Nick Additon pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, struck out two and walked one.
– Offensively, Carlos Pupo went 2-for-3 with a couple walks and a double. … Jose Garcia also was 2-for-3 with a double.
** Quad Cities #2 10, Oakton CC 8 **
– Prep pitcher Brett Zawacki, a draft pick last summer, started the game and pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs. … Michael Blazek went 1.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, and Steven A. Hill had 0.2 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 ER. … Marco Gonzalez got the win after a scoreless inning.
– Will Groff was 2-for-3, 2 runs, double, and an RBI, and Charlie Pelt 2-for-4, run scored, 3 RBIs.
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