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2014 St. Louis Cardinals Preview – Second Base

Posted: February 4, 2014 at 7:28 pm   /   by   /   comments (0)

He doesn’t have a lot of pop, but he will hit a few into the gap. He’s got a controlled swing and managed 39 extra base hits in Memphis, including ten home runs. On the basepaths, he won’t be Billy Hamilton (333 stolen bases the last three seasons in the minors, 13 in just 13 games [while being caught just once] with Cincinnati), but he did manage to steal 20 bases last season at Memphis while being caught just once, and he did get three stolen bases with the Cardinals, which sadly was good enough to tie him for fourth on the team.

In the field, Wong may not win any accolades, but he’s played decently enough that scouts think he’ll be a league average second baseman.

He did make this lovely gem as a defensive replacement in Game 3 of the World Series as well (the play itself starts around the 30 second mark):

Say what you want about his results in 2013, but given that he’s just 23, his production in the minors should be an indication that he’s going to be given every opportunity to succeed at the major league level.

Mark Ellis

2013 season (with LA Dodgers) – .270/.323/.351, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 3.0 WAR

Ellis was one of the more pleasant surprise free agent signings this offseason. He’s consistently rated as an above-average defender, and although at the age of 36 he’s in the twilight of his career, he should be an excellent addition to the Cardinals.

He won’t have the pop he used to (he hit ten or more home runs five seasons in a row, the last time in 2009), but he’s capable with the bat and will likely get a good amount of starts against left-handed pitchers (Wong’s a lefty, so it’s not unreasonable to expect a platoon for the upcoming season). If he can stay healthy, at worst he’ll be a viable platoon/pinch-hitter/defensive replacement. If Wong falters early on in the season, though, you could see Ellis starting 100 games or more.

In the field, Ellis consistently gets high marks in zone rating and UZR. He may not have the range he used to, but he’s about as sure-handed as anyone at second base. He’s played a handful of games at first, third, and short, so he could slide around in a pinch, but don’t expect him to become a Jose Oquendo-esque supersub.

Prospects

Really, Kolten Wong has been one of the top second base prospects the farm clubs have produced. Beyond him, the most intriguing talent comes in the low minors. Jacob Wilson has shown some pop (18 home runs in 2013), and he’s done decently defensively, but he’s 23 and has yet to play a game above the high-A level. Breyvic Valera hit .309 last year at A-level Peoria but played more games in the outfield than at second, indicating perhaps an organizational shift in where his future may lay.