The St. Louis Cardinals may soon need to make another roster adjustment as their bench continues to become more crowded. With no game scheduled on Friday, it offers a good opportunity to examine how the roster is shaping up and which players could be affected moving forward. One player whose future role appears uncertain is 24-year-old infielder Thomas Saggese, who could be headed back to Triple-A Memphis if the organization cannot provide him with consistent playing time.
The Cardinals recently announced that Nathan Church was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a left shoulder strain. To fill the open roster spot, the club promoted 28-year-old prospect Bryan Torres to the major league roster. Torres’ arrival adds even more versatility to an already crowded bench situation, which may force the team to make a difficult decision regarding Saggese.
At the moment, the Cardinals’ lineup appears mostly set. Victor Scott II has taken over center field duties on a regular basis, while Jordan Walker continues to handle right field. Across the infield, Alec Burleson is at first base, JJ Wetherholt is playing second, Masyn Winn remains at shortstop, and Nolan Gorman is holding down third base. The only position without a clear long-term answer right now appears to be left field.
That uncertainty creates some opportunity, but it also creates competition. Torres brings flexibility because he can play second base, third base, left field, and center field. The Cardinals also have several utility-style players already on the active roster, including José Fermín, Yohel Pozo, Saggese, and César Prieto. Many of these players fill similar roles, which means not everyone will receive regular at-bats.
Because of the lack of available playing time, Saggese may once again become the odd man out. Earlier this season, the Cardinals already sent him down to Triple-A Memphis so he could receive more consistent opportunities at the plate. However, that demotion did not last long. After Ramón Urías landed on the injured list just one day later, St. Louis quickly recalled Saggese back to the major leagues.
Unfortunately for the young infielder, he has struggled offensively since returning. Through 27 games this season, Saggese owns a disappointing .159 batting average with a .216 on-base percentage and a .188 slugging percentage, resulting in a .405 OPS. Known primarily for his offensive upside, he has not yet found his rhythm at the plate this year.
If the Cardinals are not prepared to give Saggese regular starts in left field while Church is sidelined, another stint in Triple-A may be the best option for his development. At only 24 years old, there is still plenty of time for him to grow and regain confidence offensively. Sending him back to Memphis would allow him to play every day, work through his struggles, and hopefully rediscover the hitting ability that made him an intriguing young talent in the organization.
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