Cardinals In The Arizona Fall League

The St. Louis Cardinals are sending seven players and one manager to participate in the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League this offseason, which is owned and operated by Major League Baseball.

All of those players have been placed on the Salt River Rafters club, which is also comprised of prospects from the Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Colorado Rockies. The Rafters will play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, spring training home of the Diamondbacks and Rockies.

Also representing the Cardinals in the AFL will be Double-A Springfield manager Mike Shildt, who will be in the same coaching capacity with the Rafters.

The season began on October 8 and play will culminate with the championship game on Saturday, November 16. The six AFL teams will each play a six-week, 32 game schedule with six games per week (Monday-Saturday).

Below is a quick recap of players representing the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

Ferrara pitched the entire 2013 season with Double-A Springfield, going 7-6 with a 5.84 ERA (64er/98.2ip) and 86 strikeouts in 23 games (20 starts).

The left-hander finished third in the Texas League in walks and shared the team lead in wins, tied for second in starts, ranked third in strikeouts, and fourth in innings. He one-hit the Arkansas Travelers with nine strikeouts through seven dominant innings on August 3.

The 24-year-old Ferrara was the Cardinals' 7th round selection in the June, 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Riverview (Fla.) High School.

Stats & Bio | @FerraraJr33

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Gaviglio split a limited 2013 season between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Cardinals and Advanced-A Palm Beach Cardinals. The right-hander went a combined 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA (12er/47.2ip) and 39 strikeouts in nine games (eight starts) between the clubs. Seven of his eight starts were with Palm Beach.

The right-hander was the Cardinals' 5th round selection in the June, 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Oregon State University. The former Beaver was named to Baseball America's All-American Second Team, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Third Team, and to the All-Pac-10 First Team his junior year.

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Kiekhefer split the 2013 campaign between Advanced-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield, going 4-5 with a 3.43 ERA (23er/60.1ip) and 38 strikeouts in 36 relief outings.

The left-hander pitched the majority with Palm Beach, going 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA (16er/44.0ip) and 28 strikeouts before rejoining Springfield on August 26. Over two stints with Springfield, Kiekhefer was 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA (7er/16.1ip) and 10 strikeouts in 11 appearances.

The Crestwood, Ky. native was drafted by the Cardinals in the 36th round of the June, 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville.

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Piscotty split the last season between Advanced-A Palm Beach and Double-A Springfield, batting .295 (126-for-427) with 15 home runs, 23 doubles, and 59 RBIs in 112 games. He was named to the 2013 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star squad before promoted to Springfield on June 21.

Piscotty was rated as St. Louis' #10 prospect by Baseball America before the 2013 season, while also being recognized by the same publication as having the organization's "Best Outfield Arm." He converted from third base to outfielder upon being signed.

Piscotty was the Cardinals' supplemental 1st round selection (36th overall) in the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University, compensation for the loss of free agent Albert Pujols to the Angels. Piscotty was a two-time first team All-PAC 12 selection and third team All-American honoree as a utility infielder and pitcher.

He won the 2011 Cape Cod batting title with a .349 batting average

Stats & Bio | MLB.com: Top Prospects Preview | Player Of The Week

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Ramsey split the 2013 season between three levels in the Cardinals organization and ended his campaign in Memphis. The 23-year-old combined to hit .265 (109-for-411) with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs in 112 games. Fourteen of his 15 home runs were hit over his final 69 games with Double-A Springfield after June 3.

Recognized as the Cardinals' #12 prospect by Baseball America to begin the 2013 season, Ramsey punished FSL pitchers to a .361 average (22-for-61) with one homer, two triples, five doubles, and 22 runs scored in 18 games before promoted to Springfield on May 5.

The Alpharetta, Ga. native was the Cardinals' 1st round selection (23rd overall) in the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Florida State University. He led the Seminoles to a pair of College World Series appearances in 2010 and 2012.

Stats & Bio | @jamesramsey23 | Baseball America: Power Surge Gets Ramsey On Track To St. Louis.

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Stoppelman split the 2013 season between three levels of the Cardinals organization and ended his season with the Redbirds. The left-handed reliever finished 6-3 with a 1.50 ERA (11er/66.0ip) and 78 strikeouts in 55 games between Advanced-A Palm Beach, Double-A Springfield, and Memphis.

The Pleasant Hill, Miss. native began 2013 at Palm Beach, going 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA (4er/24.0ip) and 26 strikeouts in 15 games before joining Springfield on May 25. With the Cardinals, Stoppelman went 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA (6er/40.0ip), six saves, and 50 strikeouts in 37 games while limiting Texas League batters to a .150 average against (20-for-133).

The 23-year-old was promoted to Memphis on August 29 and collected a win in his Triple-A debut that same night at New Orleans (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, K).

He was originally selected by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft draft out of the University of Central Missouri. His senior year in 2012, the left-hander went 10-0 with a 1.47 ERA (13er/79.2ip), 89 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 14 games (11 starts).

Stats & Bio | @LeeStoppelman

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Bartlett, Tenn. Native Jacob Wilson split the season between Single-A Peoria and Advanced-A Palm Beach, hitting .243 (113-for-465) with 18 home runs and 82 RBIs in 129 combined games. He finished third in the Cardinals organization with 82 RBIs and was recognized as a Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star squad.

Wilson was originally selected by the Cardinals in the 10th round of the June, 2012 First-Year Player Draft draft out of the University of Memphis. He was named 2012 Conference USA Player of the Year after batting .320 with a league-leading 17 homers and 64 RBIs, ranking 10th in the NCAA in homers. 

The third baseman helped Bartlett High School capture its first state championship in 2007, leading the state with 71 RBIs. He converted to second base upon being signed.

Stats & Bio | Memphis Flyer: A Cardinal In Tiger Stripes