Only six games into the St. Louis Cardinals’ season, the Redbirds are already making roster adjustments. They’ve called up Thomas Saggese from Triple-A Memphis and placed Him on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring strain.
Gorman seemed to sustain the injury while running the bases during the April 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Angels.
In 2024, Thomas Saggese batted .253 with 20 home runs for Triple-A Memphis and earned a brief call-up to the Cardinals late in the season. During his stint in the majors, he struggled, hitting just .204 with a .556 OPS. Following the minor league season, the Cardinals sent him to the Arizona Fall League to get additional at-bats and transition to second base, as he primarily played shortstop in Memphis.
https://twitter.com/JohnDenton555/status/1908162077983732054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1908162077983732054%7Ctwgr%5Ef8e806aa15491a038aa3c1b05b1cd10abdf44a47%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredbirdrants.com%2Fcardinals-call-up-thomas-saggese-place-nolan-gorman-on-injured-list
That experience at second could prove valuable now with Nolan Gorman sidelined. Gorman, who had four hits and a home run in just eight at-bats, strained his hamstring while running the bases on April 1. While Brendan Donovan is expected to remain the everyday second baseman, Saggese is unlikely to see much playing time in the short term.
The hope is that Gorman’s injury won’t linger, especially as 2025 is a critical year for him after a disastrous 2024 campaign in which he hit only .203 and struck out at an alarming 37.6% clip. Even after a demotion to Memphis in August, his struggles continued with a .205 average. Once a top prospect, Gorman needs a strong showing this year to avoid losing his role—possibly to Saggese.
Although Saggese hasn’t been as highly regarded as Gorman, he could earn more opportunities if Gorman’s performance falters again. Saggese may also be called back later in the season if the Cardinals look to replace Michael Siani, who has been limited to a late-inning defensive role and could be vulnerable if the team opts to use the 26th roster spot on a more productive bat.
Another potential use for Saggese could be as a backup for Masyn Winn, who’s struggled at the plate with just one hit in 22 at-bats. While Donovan can fill in at shortstop if needed, his true value lies in his versatility across the diamond.
Given the Cardinals’ crowded roster, Saggese faces an uphill battle for regular playing time. However, if injuries mount or other players underperform, his bat might prove useful enough for the Cardinals to keep him around.
Be the first to comment