Five Springfield Cardinals heading to Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League has announced the preliminary rosters for the 2013 season, with five Springfield Cardinals being named to the Salt River Rafters roster - OF Stephen Piscotty, OF James Ramsey, LHP Anthony Ferrara, LHP Dean Kiekhefer and LHP Lee Stoppelman. The Rafters will be managed by Springfield Manager Mike Shildt.

Regarded as the "finishing school" for baseball's top prospects, the prestigious Arizona Fall League will begin play on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Piscotty (above), 22, joined the Cardinals from High-A Palm Beach on June 21 and has registered a .286 average with six home runs and 21 RBIs through 43 games with Springfield. The Pleasonton, California native is hitting .333 (29-for-87) with three homers and 15 RBIs in 23 games in August. He was drafted by St. Louis in the supplemental 1st round of the 2012 draft out of Stanford University.

Ramsey, 23, is batting .254 with 15 home runs and 44 RBIs in 91 games since joining Springfield on May 5 from High-A Palm Beach. The native of Alpharetta, Georgia logged an eight-game hitting streak from June 10 - 21, and currently ranks 3rd on the team in homers, RBIs, hits (87) and runs (59). Ramsey was selected by the Cardinals in the 1st round of the 2012 draft out of Florida State University.

Ferrara, 23, is in his first full Double-A season, posting a 7-5 record with a 5.67 ERA through 22 games and 19 starts this season. In 93.2 total innings of work, the Riverview, Florida native has struck out 80 batters while scattering 90 hits. He one-hit the Arkansas Travelers with nine strikeouts through seven dominant innings on August 3. Ferrara was drafted by the Cardinals in the 7th round of the 2008 draft out of Riverview High School.

Kiekhefer, 24, rejoined the Cardinals from High-A Palm Beach on Monday, and has gone 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA through eight games with Springfield this season. After starting the campaign with the Cardinals, Kiekhefer was transferred to Palm Beach on May 5, subsequently going 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA and seven saves through 25 relief outings in the Florida State League. The Crestwood, Kentucky native was drafted by the Cardinals in the 36th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Louisville.

Stoppelman, 23, has gone 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA and six saves through 36 relief outings since joining Springfield from High-A Palm Beach on May 25. Through 39.2 innings of work, the Pleasant Hill, Missouri native has struck out 49 batters while allowing just six runs on 20 hits. He has been particularly dominant at home, going 3-0 with a miniscule 0.40 ERA through 19 outings at Hammons Field this season. Stoppelman was selected by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Central Missouri.

The five Springfield Cardinals will be joined on the Rafters roster by RHP Sam Gaviglio and INF Jacob Wilson, both currently with the Palm Beach Cardinals, as well as other prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays systems.

Click here for more information on the Arizona Fall League rosters.

The Cardinals continue the road trip in Arkansas on Wednesday at 7:10pm. Catch all the action live on Jock 98.7FM and SpringfieldCardinals.com, and tune in 15 minutes early for the Coyote's Sports Cafe Pregame Show.

Springfield returns home for the final home series of the 2013 Regular Season, starting on Saturday, August 31. That night will feature the Mercy Knit Scarf Giveaway (2,500), along with AM Pyrotechnics End of Season Fireworks. The Cardinals will also be wearing Teal Pinstripe Specialty Jerseys that will be auctioned off to benefit GYNCA. First Pitch is 6:09pm, gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then take on the Tulsa Drillers again on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 6:09pm for the Purina Bark in the Park, when all fans can bring their dogs to the game. The night will feature a pregame pet parade, with all fans that bring pets invited to march around the field. To participate in the parade, please arrive at the ballpark by 5:30pm.

The Sunday, Sept. 1 game will also feature the Purina Pet Food Bowl Mat Giveaway for 2,500 fans. Sunday's game will be a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday with free ice cream for kids before the game, and then all kids can run the bases after the game. Gates open at 5:09pm.

The Cardinals then wrap up the 2013 Regular Season on Monday, Sept. 2 with a 12:09pm First Pitch. The Labor Day ballgame is Fan Appreciation Day, with all fans in attendance receiving a free ticket voucher for a 2014 game.

For information about becoming a Season Ticket Holder, organizing a Group Outing, booking a Cake Pop Company Birthday Party or ordering Individual Game Tickets right now, call the Front Office at (417) 863-2143 or visit SpringfieldCardinals.com.

Click here for the Cardinals full 2013 Promotional Schedule and to get your tickets right now.

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