Since 2005, Springfield Cardinals baseball has been the proving ground for the top prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League system. With nearly 600 alumni including Matt Adams, Randy Arrozarena, Dylan Carlson, Matt Carpenter, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and countless others, the Springfield Cardinals boast an array of impact future big leaguers who have won World Series titles, Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves and All-Star selections. After 20 years of Cardinals baseball, the future St. Louis stars of tomorrow continue to call Hammons Field home in the heart of the Queen City of the Ozarks.
Our History
Fast Franchise Facts
Season by Season
2024
The 20th Year of Springfield Cardinals baseball proved to be one of the most successful in franchise history. Dubbed the 'Cardiac Cards", Springfield saw their team win a franchise record 79 games, a First-Half Texas League Championship, the franchise's first no-hitter and second-ever walk-off grand slam, as well as a slurry of top-30 prospects and improbable comebacks. Led by Texas League Manager of the Year José Leger, the Cardinals flourished behind Texas League MVP Jimmy Crooks, St. Louis MiLB Pitcher of the Year Tink Hence and MiLB Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews. (Watch videos from 2024 on YouTube)
Tink Hence: Pitcher of the Year
RHP Tink Hence was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. Hence, the number one pitching prospect during the season, made 20 starts for Springfield, six of which he struck out eight or more batters.
Thomas Saggese: MVP
After a trade with the Texas Rangers, St. Louis assigned Saggese to Springfield. He played 33 games, hitting .331 en route to the franchise's fifth-ever Texas League MVP award.
2023
The 2023 Springfield Cardinals caught fire in the second half, surging with an 11-4 record in September to capture the second-half North Division title on the final day of the regular season. Thanks to a blockbuster trade involving LHP Jordan Montgomery at the Major League level, Springfield got mid-season acquisitions of RHP Tekoah Roby and INF Thomas Saggese to bolster a .500 club led by the league's home run leader Chandler Redmond and constant stolen base threat Victor Scott II. The eventual Texas League MVP, Saggese hit .331 in 33 games to propel Springfield to the second-half title and their first playoff berth since 2016.
2022
The 2022 Springfield Cardinals were led by a top-tier crop of young stars in the Queen City. Texas League MVP Moisés Gómez led all of Minor League Baseball, dazzling the Springfield faithful with 23 homers, hitting .321 in just 60 games. Texas League Top MLB Prospect Jordan Walker played a team-high 119 games, leading the club with 141 hits while Chandler Redmond stunned ballparks throughout the league with enormous power, including hitting for just the second-known Home Run Cycle in professional baseball history on August 10.
Moisés Gómez: MVP
Moisés Gómez caught fire for Springfield in 2022, launching 23 homers in just 60 games for the Cards. The feared outfielder launched six home runs in his first six games while slugging 1.048 in April. He was named the fourth Texas League MVP in franchise history.
The Springfield Cardinals return
The 2021 Springfield Cardinals returned to play on May 4 after 610 days away from baseball after the lost 2020 season (COVID-19).
2021
The 2021 Springfield Cardinals club marked a return to baseball after the lost 2020 season. Under new manager José Leger, the season began a month later than usual on May 4. The Cards struggled to find their footing for much of the season in the new six-game series format which was implemented to cut down on travel time for Minor Leaguers. However, Springfield saw the flourishing of Brendan Donovan, Alex Burleson, Andre Pallante and Nolan Gorman as a glimpse of the St. Louis future.
2020
Minor League Baseball canceled the 2020 season on June 30 as the globe grappled with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Still, Hammons Field saw regular fan-less baseball as Hammons Field served as St. Louis' Alternate Training Site during the season. While Minor League Baseball was missing from Springfield in 2020, the ballpark still hosted future and then-current Cardinals like Matthew Liberatore, Iván Herrera, Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker.
Season Canceled
The sun rises at Hammons Field on April 16, 2020, what would have been the Cardinals home opener.
Angel Rondón leads in ERA
Springfield starter Angel Rondón led the Texas League in ERA in 2019. His 3.21 mark bested all qualified pitchers and was a top-10 single-season mark for a Cardinal pitcher at that point.
2019
After a sour 0-7 start to the season with all losses on the road, the 2019 Springfield Cardinals responded back immediately with a glimpse of the remainder of the season, walking off three times in four games during their first homestand in April. Springfield would walk-off nine times during the season while receiving key contributions from future big leaguers like Dylan Carlson, Lars Nootbaar and Randy Arozarena.
2018
Behind a strong core of future big leaguers like Randy Arozarena and Tommy Edman, the 2018 Springfield Cardinals won 34 times in front of the Hammons Field faithful. With Major League rehab showings from Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina, the Ozarks were treated to memorable moments all summer with triple plays, walk-off homers including a grand slam and even a visit from legendary actor John Goodman.
Tommy Edman shines
Tommy Edman hit .299 in 109 games in 2018. He also enjoyed a 17-game hit streak from July 12 to August 5, the longest for any Cardinal this season.
Jack Flaherty amazes
During the 2017 season, Jack Flaherty dominated the Texas League. In ten starts, the righty went 7-2 with a 1.42 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. For those who saw him, many say he was the best starter the Springfield Cardinals had ever had. He was called up to Triple-A Memphis on June 1, making his big league debut on September 1.
2017
Summer headlines of the 2017 Springfield Cardinals were dominated by the Queen City's pitching staff. Led by Jack Flaherty, Austin Gomber, Zac Gallen, Dakota Hudson, Sandy Alcantara, Ryan Helsley and Rowan Wick, the Springfield faithful were treated all season long to some of the best arms Minor League Baseball had to offer. With future big leaguers abound, the Springbirds won 20 games in July, welcomed their five millionth fan and matched a franchise win record of 77.
2016
A noteworthy year for the franchise, 2016 marked the second-ever Texas League All-Star Game hosted at Springfield's Hammons Field. With future impact players like Harrison Bader, Alex Bregman and Matt Chapman, the City of Springfield caught a look at Major League Baseball's future. During the Cardinals season, Bader, Luke Voit and Carson Kelly led the way to a return to postseason play for the first time since the 2012 Championship season.
Carson Kelly: St. Louis Player of the Year
Carson Kelly hit .287 in 64 games for Springfield in 2016. He also played for Triple-A Memphis and St. Louis during the season en route to becoming the seventh Springfield Cardinal to win St. Louis MiLB Player of the Year.
Stay tuned as more team history is added to this page.