Photo: PJ Maigi, Springfield Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired infielder Thomas Saggese and pitcher Tekoah Roby in exchange for Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline. Roby headlined the trade as a higher ranked prospect, but Saggese has garnered some attention with his outstanding performance since joining the Cardinals organization.
Many fans were frustrated when Saggese was acquired instead of another pitcher. However, some opinions may change when they see the offensive numbers he’s putting up and the defensive versatility he possesses.
Cardinals Prospect Saggese is Making Strong First Impression
Saggese has been impressive in his first twenty games. He has put up a .347/.431/.680 slash line with 16 runs scored, 6 homeruns, and 13 RBI’s. The offensive production isn’t a fluke either. In over 1,200 minor league plate appearances, he has put up a .302/.375/.511 slash line. The young, right-handed hitter recently captured the spotlight when he hit for the cycle. Saggese became just the second Springfield Cardinal in the last 12 years to accomplish the feat, leading Springfield to an 11-2 blowout win against Wichita.
Will Saggese be the Cardinals’ Next Swiss Army Knife?
The young infielder is seemingly cut from the same cloth as fan favorites Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan. He has shown versatility on defense, taking the field at second and third base for Double-A Springfield. The Cardinals prospect Saggese also played some shortstop while still with the Rangers organization.
Additionally, the young right-handed hitter has done nothing but rake since he was drafted. He hit .308 in High-A last season and then hit for a .361 average in Double-A. Saggese continued to impress in the Texas League this season before being traded to the Cardinals. Also, since arriving in Springfield, he has been even better than advertised. He has put up excellent numbers, reaching base in all games played and has shown more power than many anticipated.
Could Arrive Soon
The young infielder Saggese is a fun player to watch. If he continues to develop at his current pace, he has the potential to become a versatile option for the Cardinals. He should be major league ready soon, and there’s always room on a roster for a player that can play multiple positions and hit. The right-handed infielder may not have headlined the trade, but he has the potential to be a contributor at the big league level soon.
