Cardinals' farm system cause for excitement

There's a certain buzz around the Cardinals these days and for the first time in a long time, it's generating from down on the farm.

In years past, Cardinals fans had a team prepped for a postseason run. The big-league scene might not be quite that hopeful (though in the NL Central, you never know), but the good news is there's plenty of young help starting to arrive in St. Louis.

That help begins, of course, with Colby Rasmus, one of the top prospects in baseball. The Cardinals haven't had reason to be this excited about a hitting prospect since Albert Pujols came to town. Even if the organization decides Rasmus needs a little fine-tuning in the Minors, he's going to make a huge impact -- and soon.

Behind Rasmus are a slew of young arms getting closer to the big leagues. Even more exciting is that they're healthy and a bunch of them can throw pretty darn hard. They're the kind of arms that make people stop what they're doing to watch bullpen sessions during Spring Training and the kind of arms, the Cardinals hope, that will steer them back to the top of the NL Central.

Bryan Anderson, C
There's a lot to like about Anderson's skill set. His career .305 average shows he can hit (albeit with no real power to date). He doesn't strike out much and will draw a walk or two along the way, helping him to a .367 on-base percentage over his 263-game pro career. He played impressively in Double-A last year at age 20.

Though his defensive skills have emerged more slowly, Anderson has made considerable strides and the Cardinals are convinced he'll be a long-term catcher. He's worked with Mike Matheny in camp this spring, and while he has an unconventional arm angle, he gets the ball to second base in plenty of time. At this point, he really just needs more experience behind the plate to be ready to catch a big-league staff. There's a good chance that Mark Johnson will be the No. 1 catcher in Memphis, meaning Anderson would remain at Double-A Springfield so he can play every day.
Audio: Anderson caps a two-homer game

Mitchell Boggs, RHP
Boggs, who started the Cardinals' spring opener against St. Louis University, profiles as a strong and durable starter. With an above-average fastball and good, hard slider, some see him as a future short reliever, but the Cardinals are encouraged by his ability to maintain velocity -- as high as the mid-90s at times -- deep into games.

ON THE VERGE
Here are a few players on the brink of breaking into the Major Leagues:

• Brian Barton, OF -- If this Rule 5 pick can show his knee is fully healed, he has a chance to secure an outfield spot.

• Colby Rasmus, OF -- It's a question of when, not if, this uber prospect (MiLB.com ranks him seventh among all Minor Leaguers) takes over in center field. Even if he's not the Opening Day starter, it won't be long.

• Chris Perez, RHP -- A year of apprenticeship with Jason Isringhausen should serve him well -- the closing job should be his in 2009.

The one thing Boggs truly needs to succeed at the higher levels as a starter is an off-speed pitch. He began working on it in the Arizona Fall League this past autumn, but in the heat of the competition, he didn't throw it enough to progress much. He's been throwing it more this spring and will continue to master it, most likely as a member of the Triple-A Memphis rotation.
Audio: Boggs blows 'em away

Allen Craig, 3B
An eighth-round pick out of Cal in 2006, Craig reached Double-A by the end of his first full season of pro ball. Craig can hit with some pop, finishing the 2007 campaign with 24 homers and a .541 slugging percentage. He didn't walk much, but he also didn't strike out a lot for a guy with that kind of power, finishing with a respectable .367 on-base percentage.

• Monday, Feb. 25: Chicago Cubs
• Tuesday, Feb. 26: Milwaukee Brewers
• Wednesday, Feb. 27: Cincinnati Reds
• Thursday, Feb. 28: Astros and Pirates
• Friday, Feb. 29: St. Louis Cardinals
• Saturday, March 1: Baltimore Orioles
• Sunday, March 2: Tampa Bay Rays
• Monday, March 3: Boston Red Sox
• Tuesday, March 4: Toronto Blue Jays
• Wednesday, March 5: New York Yankees
• Thursday, March 6: Los Angeles Angels
• Friday, March 7: Seattle Mariners
• Saturday, March 8: Oakland Athletics
• Sunday, March 9: Texas Rangers
• Monday, March 10: New York Mets
• Tuesday, March 11: Atlanta Braves
• Wednesday, March 12: Philadelphia Phillies
• Thursday, March 13: Nationals and Marlins
• Friday, March 14: Cleveland Indians
• Saturday, March 15: Kansas City Royals
• Sunday, March 16: Minnesota Twins
• Monday, March 17: Detroit Tigers
• Tuesday, March 18: Chicago White Sox
• Wednesday, March 19: Colorado Rockies
• Thursday, March 20: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Friday, March 21: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Saturday, March 22: San Francisco Giants
• Sunday, March 23: San Diego Padres

A shortstop in college, Craig has made the transition to third base as a pro and has improved there considerably in the last year. If necessary, he might be able to play second or even the outfield, but the Cards would love to leave a bat like that at third. They've got a similar player in David Freese, acquired from San Diego in the Jim Edmonds trade, but it's hoped that Freese will be able to make the leap to Triple-A and Craig will be part of a very good infield in Springfield.
Audio: Craig hits an All-Star homer
Audio: Craig cranks another
Video: Interview with Allen Craig

Jaime Garcia, LHP
Garcia has the pitches to be a starter, but he might get a look as a reliever this spring. The southpaw has looked good early in camp. He was shut down with elbow soreness last year, though an MRI showed nothing and no surgery was required. He has some calcification that keeps him from extending too far, but he's been throwing easily and without pain thus far.

When he's 100 percent, Garcia has a number of pitches to choose from -- a four-seam rising fastball that can reach 94 mph, a two-seamer with sink that he throws in the 88-90 range, an outstanding curve he can throw for strikes and a changeup. The goal is to keep him healthy all year and let him rack up innings. He'll get to do that, most likely as a starter, in either Springfield or Memphis, depending on where the many young arms in the system land.
Audio: Garcia fans his sixth

Mark Hamilton, 1B
The best way to describe Hamilton's personality might be "different" -- in a good way. He's very analytical and likes to break down every at-bat to whomever might be listening. His approach may make him a good hitting coach someday.

He still has plenty of playing to do, of course. Hamilton watched teammate Allen Craig take off in Palm Beach early last year and it lit a fire under him. The first baseman hit .306 in May and then slugged eight homers in 52 at-bats in June before being promoted to Springfield. He finished the year with 19 homers and 90 RBIs. He's improved defensively to the point where he should be average at the position. He'll be a part of the Springfield infield again in 2008 and the Cards are excited at the prospect of him becoming one of the first non-six-year free agents to play at Triple-A Memphis.
Audio: Hamilton hits a homer

Tyler Herron, RHP
A West Palm Beach native, no one may have been happier than Herron to receive an invitation to big-league camp. The right-hander was a 2005 first-round supplemental pick who's been brought along slowly. He spent his first two summers playing rookie or short-season ball before breaking out in his full-season debut last year. Herron struck out 130 and walked just 26 in 137 1/3 innings while finishing with a 3.74 ERA at Quad Cities.

In high school, Herron's fastball reached the low and occasionally even the mid-90s. As is often the case with prepsters, his velocity dropped with the adjustment to pro ball. He's now back up to touching 94 mph with his heater to complement a good changeup and decent breaking ball. He'll most likely start the year in Palm Beach, but there's a chance he could sneak up to Springfield with a big spring.
Audio: Herron strikes out the side

Pete Kozma, SS
So often a guy is drafted as a shortstop in high school and never sees the position as a pro. That's not the case with Kozma, who is, plain and simple, a pure shortstop. He's got the athleticism, the footwork, the ability to read the ball off the bat and the arm strength to play short all the way to the Majors. More than anything, he needs more innings after playing his high school home games on artificial turf.

Offensively, he swings the bat well, though he didn't get to show much in a very brief pro debut in 2007, picking up just 146 at-bats. He has the potential to do everything well -- hitting for average and stealing some bases -- though he may never be a huge power guy. Many outside observers will consider it a botched pick if Kozma doesn't start the year in Quad Cities, and he'll be given every opportunity to win a job there. The Cardinals, however, see nothing wrong with him remaining in extended Spring Training to get more reps and then being assigned later in the year.
Audio: Kozma hits a three-bagger

Joe Mather, OF
Sometimes it pays to be patient. Drafted back in 2001, Mather spent parts of four seasons in rookie or short-season ball, followed by parts of three seasons in Class A ball. On many occasions, his name was brought up in Spring Training conversations about guys who should be released, but the Cards chose to see what he could become.

Then it happened, a little bit in 2006 and then fully in 2007. Last year, Mather hit 31 homers and slugged .522 at Double- and Triple-A. The performance finally earned him a spot on the 40-man roster and a trip to big-league camp. He's got big-time power and can handle right field capably with a good arm. He can even run. In short, he's the complete package as an outfielder -- it just took a while to be delivered. He'll likely be a part of the Memphis outfield in 2008 while waiting for his first call to the bigs.
Audio: Mather hits go-ahead single
Video: Mather jacks one

Clayton Mortensen, RHP
The Cardinals don't often invite a draftee from the previous June to big-league camp, but Mortensen has earned it. The senior signee out of Gonzaga made it to full-season ball in his debut last summer. He's tall, lanky and extremely flexible and delivers at an angle that should be difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up.

Mortensen has a fastball, curve and changeup, and can throw all for strikes with movement. He's a major ground-ball producer, as evidenced by his 3.31 GO/AO ratio in his pro debut. The right-hander will probably start in Palm Beach, but don't be shocked to see him in Springfield.
Audio: Mortensen makes 'em miss

Adam Ottavino, RHP
Taken with the final pick of the first round in the 2006 Draft, this Northeastern product was challenged by being sent straight to the Florida State League for his full-season debut. He didn't miss a beat, striking out 128 and registering a 3.08 ERA in 143 1/3 innings.

Ottavino has a pair of fastballs ranging from the low- to the mid-90s. He also has a slider and curve, though the latter still needs work. He'll get the chance to iron out the kinks as part of the rotation in Springfield.
Audio: Ottavino gets his ninth K

Nick Additon, LHP
The last of a dying breed -- a draft-and-follow -- the Cardinals took the southpaw in the 47th round of the 2006 draft and watched his progress at Indian River Community College. When they realized his improvement might price him out of their range, they worked hard to sign him. He pitched 58 innings last summer, mostly at Johnson City, striking out 66 and walking just 12. He's got a plus curve and has shown increased velocity with the fastball. He was throwing 83-85 mph in high school; now he's up to 87-88 mph. Now 20 years old, the southpaw will most likely start 2008 in Quad Cities.

Tyler Greene, SS
It's hard to call a former first-round pick "under the radar," but Greene's struggles and injuries have dropped him off most screens. He missed all of the second half of last year with a knee injury. The Cardinals think there's still something there. He was starting to figure things out in second half of 2006 (.927 OPS in 57 games with Quad Cities), but didn't really get the chance to build off it in 2007. If he can cut down his strikeout rate and get his batting average up to the .270-ish range, the organization still believes he can become a shortstop with power at the next level.
Audio: Greene launches go-ahead homer

Jarrett Hoffpauir, 2B
At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Hoffpauir is used to people telling him he won't achieve much in the game. A sixth-round pick in 2004, he really took off in 2007 when he hit a combined .323 at Springfield and Memphis. With 55 walks and just 39 strikeouts, he finished with a nifty .407 OBP and his .473 slugging percentage from a second baseman isn't something to sneeze at. He's a gritty player who'll do anything to help his team win. He's now just an injury away from St. Louis being that team.

Jason Motte, RHP
Two years ago, Motte was a strong-armed catcher who really couldn't hit as a pro. The Cardinals converted him to a pitcher and he showed some life with his fastball, throwing it 88-90 mph. Now he's cranking it up as high as 99 mph, has earned a spot on the 40-man roster and is opening eyes in big-league camp. He's got a good slider to go with the heater and the right mentality to handle a short relief role. He could land a spot in Triple-A Memphis, just a phone call away from helping out the big club.
Audio: Motte notches save

The Cards may have struck pay dirt with RHP Jess Todd in the second round. Pitching for Batavia in 2007, Todd had a 2.78 ERA with 69 Ks and a .223 batting average against in 58 1/3 innings. ... 3B Daniel Descalso (3rd round) was very steady in Batavia, hitting .268 with 12 stolen bases in the New York-Penn League. ... RHP Deryk Hooker (7th round) had a 2.32 ERA with 47 Ks in 31 innings. ... OF Beau Riportella (10th round) finished fifth in the Appalachian League with a .315 average. He also stole 10 bases in 12 attempts. ... 1B Steve Hill (12th round) hit .320 in 72 games, almost all in full-season Quad Cities. He homered 12 times and finished with a .513 slugging percentage. ... RHP Josh Dew (14th round) stepped in as Batavia's closer in the New York-Penn League. The Troy University product saved 15 games, struck out 32 while walking six and allowed 14 hits for a .159 batting average against. ... RHP Chuck Fick (14th round) had a 1.85 ERA across two levels and 39 innings. ... 3B Arnoldi Cruz (26th round) played at four levels and hit a combined .299 over 66 games.

Organizational Player of the Year: Allen Craig
He's a little under the radar, but something tells me Craig is poised for another big season. His first full one was big enough, with a .311 average and .908 OPS. He'll start the year in the Texas League -- look for more power and a higher average from the Cardinals' future third baseman.

Organizational Pitcher of the Year: Clayton Mortensen
So many young arms, only one to choose. Let's go with the gangly one from Gonzaga. Mortensen will begin what should be a quick climb up the ladder in 2008, jumping a level or two along the way. Don't be shocked if he's ready for St. Louis in September.

Team to Watch: Springfield
With Mark Hamilton at first, Jose Martinez at second, Tyler Greene at short, Allen Craig at third and Bryan Anderson behind the plate, there's no deeper infield in the Minor Leagues.

Comeback Player of the Year: Tyler Greene
Maybe this is just a ploy to help an Under the Radar pick do well, but Greene has always had plenty of natural talent. Now injury-free, he'll be able to put those tools to good use. It's time for this shortstop to perform at a higher level.

"We've been fortunate to bring in a lot of young pitchers. We've tried to bring in guys who meet several criteria: stuff that excites the scouts, some kind of performance track record, if possible, a type of delivery that will hold up. You never know, but we want guys who appear durable. We've been lucky to be [relatively] healthy. We try to manage it, with things like a tandem system in Quad Cities. So far, so good. We're hoping to have another healthy season this year."

-- Jeff Luhnow, Vice President, Amateur Scouting & Player Procurement, on the exciting young arms filling up the Cardinals system.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.