The Cardinals were a playoff team a season ago, but they’re off to a slow start in a coronavirus-delayed year and their offense has been lacking during their 2-3 opening. Top prospect Dylan Carlson may be able to help the Cards overcome their woes at the plate, but they’re not eager to promote the 21-year-old yet, according to manager Mike Shildt (via Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
While St. Louis is “comfortable and confident what Dylan can do,” the club’s belief is that “there’s not a need for Dylan at the moment,” per Shildt. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak added the Cardinals aren’t ready to tab Carlson because he may not be in line for “a true opportunity” at his point.
The Cardinals have largely gone with a Tyler O’Neill–Harrison Bader–Dexter Fowler alignment in the outfield in the handful of games they’ve been able to play. Lane Thomas is also in the mix, though he has only totaled four plate appearances this year. O’Neill and Fowler have posted above-average production across larger sample sizes, but Bader has struggled. So has designated hitter Matt Carpenter, who’s in line for an infield role with shortstop Paul DeJong on the shelf because of a positive coronavirus test. There could be room for Carlson in the Cardinals’ lineup sometime soon, then, especially considering that promoting him wouldn’t burn a year of service time. However, it appears his first major league call-up will have to wait for at least a little while longer.
Whenever it arrives, Carlson’s MLB debut should draw plenty of attention. A former first-round pick (No. 33 in 2016), the switch-hitting Carlson has continued to boost his stock since the Cardinals added him to their system. Carlson raked between Double-A and Triple-A last year, when he slashed .292/.372/.542 with 62 extra-base hits (28 doubles, 26 home runs, eight triples) and 20 steals over 562 plate appearances, and brings experience at every outfield position.
We’ll never have nice things in 2020.
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Prediction: Bader continues to struggle. Thomas replaces him. Thomas has a cold-spell and gets replaced by Bader. Management will say Bader spent the time refining his approach and swing. That he brings enough value defensively to justify his hitting. Fowler will continue to struggle. Management will talk about him taking “professional” ABs.
Sounds about right… Does the FO really think Carlson wouldnt be an improvement over Fowler though?
But Fowler makes more money. And isn’t money the reason you choose who to put in the lineup?
They are still praying the Fowler investment will pay off even a little…I don’t see why now. You know what Fowler is now. He also has a long career track record too. Give Bader, Thomas and O’Neill most of the starts/at bats and see if you have something and move on. There’s been so much depth recently (Pham, Mercado, Aroza) they’ve moved on from too. Let the Fowler investment be what it is, move on.
How is Fowler struggling?
Lol! 100% accurate!
I’d take an alex cobb for fowler swap. Orioles get alittle less payroll and cards get a starting pitcher who could help. But that darn NTC. I honestly would welcome a Fowler swap anywhere. I’ve always liked Bader but we cant have Fowler and Kevin kiermaier 2.0 in the same outfield hitting 225. I think oneill, lane, Carlson with William’s in the mix too is our best outfield, which is scary to think how unproven they are. Would like to see maybe a trade of ponce and maybe someone else for one of the Braves young outfielders. Gotta do something. Running fowler and Bader out there is not getting it done. Plus carp struggling early is just too much.
We couldn’t land Pache or Wolters from ATL without giving up a big player/package.
Avoiding the super two? I seem to recall a comment from Cardinals ownership about not making money. If they viewed this year as a lost cause, probably more aware of maxing out the financial benefit down the road than in the past.
Pretty sure this is the Cardinals viewing 2020 as a joke year, and they wont waste service time on a player for it.
Fear not Cardinal fans, somehow you will find a way to eliminate the Braves yet again in the postseason.
Probably give ATL Covid, right before the post season.
I’m so angry about this. Bader can’t hit consistently. Fowler has lost his ability to be productive with the bat. And Dylan Carlson, the top hitting prospect, is losing a year of game time development. It makes no sense. Every other team seems to get it, but we don’t. Every year I get more convinced that Mo needs to go. We’ve had the same problems for years.
I can see why the Cards haven’t brought up Carlson – they’ve barely played any games! Good chance they give the current OF another couple weeks to get it together. I’m not saying that is the right call. Given the circumstances and the gameplan heading into the start, the current Cards will get their at bats to figure it out.
Why is the latest news on Dylan Carlson article, he’s still not getting called up? Is this just some Cardinals fan trolling?
It’s crazy how committed some of these teams are to NOT giving their fans what they want.
Welll….most fans are stupid, so….
This is such backwards logic: “we know Dylan can help us, but we want a longer look at these scrubs that can’t”
“Yeah I know this is one helluva a fire and that gigantic fire hose right over there looks enticing but I think I’ve got this fire under control with this mister.”
Call the kid up!
You know who else tore it up in the minors?
Bader.
Carlson has yet to prove he can hit major league hitting.
And Lane Thomas has like 41 major league at bats.
Pump your brakes.
How can you say that he can’t hit major league pitching if he hasn’t even been called up yet? That makes no sense to even say.
Historical reference.
MLB is not easy. Its hard to adjust to the majors so it shouldn’t be assumed he will hit. In fact, you should expect him to struggle.
This is not the year to rush a prospect. If he was a top prospect and spot was open, you consider it.
But carslon would be one of the 5 youngest hitters in baseball, probably the youngest switch hitter, and isn’t even a top 10 prospect.
Lane thomas should be getting the look in Center.
He is a top prospect and they just had multiple spots open up. That’s the source of annoyance. He’s (likely) a better hitter than all four of the Cardinals current top outfield options. And right now, he’s stuck playing practice games on some back field against his own teammates instead of getting real development time against high quality competition. If this was a normal season and he was playing at AAA, I would have no complaints about waiting to see how he performs at AAA. But that’s not the case.
They didn’t have “multiple spots” open up. Nobody in the OF got covid. They had multiple infield spots open up.
a (possible) better hitter, not likely. Especially considering one of the current options out hit him in spring training.
BUTTTTT….
We will see what happens with the latest positivie case.
No reason to call him up to waste a year of service time.