The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing to bring up infield prospect Thomas Saggese for his first game in the major leagues, as reported by Robert Murray of FanSided. Saggese is currently not listed on the 40-man roster, so the Cardinals will need to formally add him by selecting his contract from Triple-A Memphis. Fortunately, the team already has two open spots on the 40-man roster, so only a corresponding move on the active 28-man roster will be necessary.
At 22 years old, Saggese was acquired from the Texas Rangers during the 2023 trade deadline, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery and reliever Chris Stratton. According to Baseball America, he is currently ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Cardinals’ system. Saggese has been performing well this season, hitting .253/.313/.438 with 20 home runs, 23 doubles, three triples, nine steals, a 23.1% strikeout rate, and a 5.9% walk rate in 528 plate appearances.
Although he has played all three infield positions to the left of first base, Saggese’s main position in the minors has been second base. While he has seen more time at shortstop this season, Masyn Winn’s standout performances have secured that position, and Nolan Arenado remains a fixture at third base. Saggese’s best chance at a regular role with the Cardinals appears to be at second base, where scouting reports suggest he excels. While he faces competition from Nolan Gorman in the future, Gorman has struggled this season and has yet to solidify his place as the team’s second baseman.
Gorman’s difficulties led to his demotion to Triple-A last month, and the Cardinals have been utilizing Brendan Donovan at second base since then. However, Donovan has been dealing with a foot injury and may end up on the injured list. Even if Donovan avoids an IL stint, bringing Saggese to the majors provides the Cardinals with a short-term alternative and the opportunity to evaluate a potential key player for their infield in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates.
