While the Cardinals appear to be more excited than ever about top outfield prospect Dylan Carlson, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the club isn’t giving consideration to promoting him to the majors in the month of September.
As ever, it should be noted that plans can always change. The 20-year-old’s present capabilities are already known well to the Cards, so he’s not likely to change the situation by his play. But it’s possible an injury or other development at the MLB level could create a surprise need.
As Goold notes, Carlson does not need to be added to the 40-man roster in advance of the December Rule 5 draft, so putting him there now would constrain the club. It seems only a run of misfortune involving existing players, or a major change of heart, would create the circumstances for a Carlson promotion. But we have seen that sort of thing occur, as when the Nationals surprisingly promoted Victor Robles back in 2017.
Regardless of how things shake out late in 2019, Goold says that the Cardinals will allow Carlson a full shot to compete in camp next year for a significant role at the major-league level. Service-time considerations and other factors will obviously weigh into the decision; the 20-year-old likely has a high standard to clear to head north out of camp.
While it would still rate as a surprise to see Carlson on the Opening Day roster, particularly if he doesn’t end up seeing any big-league time this year, it seems the St. Louis org isn’t shying away from putting expectations and dangling opportunity in front of the highly regarded prospect. Carlson has already laid waste to upper-minors pitching this year, turning in a .281/.364/.518 batting line at Double-A (which isn’t a hitter-friendly stop on the circuit) and slashing .385/.439/.654 since arriving at Triple-A (good for a 164 wRC+ even in the offensively prolific Pacific Coast League).
As president of baseball operations John Mozeliak puts it, Carlson “does it all” and is a “very complete player.” While prospect evaluators haven’t really hyped Carlson as one of the top pre-MLB players in baseball, Mozeliak says Carlson’s showing this year at Double-A suggests he’s “truly an elite player.”
The focus now is obviously on the Cards’ efforts to win a division title. But it’s hard not to look ahead. The club has already undergone immense change in the outfield in recent years and figures to have more on the way. Marcell Ozuna will be a free agent. Dexter Fowler will be a significant part of the mix (barring a trade). Otherwise, there are a large number of possibilities — Jose Martinez, Harrison Bader, Lane Thomas, Tyler O’Neill, Rangel Ravelo, Randy Arozarena, Adolis Garcia, and others — but little in the way of clear answers.
It’s likely some players will end up in other organizations, whether that occurs over the offseason or in Spring Training. Keeping Carlson off of the 40-man will help preserve options. But his presence in the organization could ultimately allow the Cards to be more aggressive in parting with other young outfielders, perhaps opening the door to improvements in other areas of the roster.
Makes sense. Carlson has been in the Triple-A for less than 2 weeks, even though he is doing fairly well, They have players in their Triple-A system who have been playing well for longer that need to be called up.
Also, why have the Reds not called up OF Narciso Crook?
Thanks for acting as the interim Assistant to the GM for the Reds. Your input is highly valued in their decisions.
hate life much?
Please go away!
Shut up
Agreed. If you’re going to skip AA, fine, do it, but don’t call him up, force him to acclimate, then call him up again. For a guy that has found something this year, no need to upset the newfound success, let him work into AAA. Besides, it’s not like you need the help. Hitting maybe, but as far as outfielders go, you’re pretty much good.
I think you missed an A
in your post…..
What I wouldn’t give to see the Phillies actually develop prospects like this.
You mean guys like Alec Bohm who is in AA in his first year in full season ball?
Even a blind dog can
find the food bowl
once in a while…..
Exactly and I like Bohm, but he’s currently the Phillies only real hitter in the system. Teams like the Yankees have been able to survive this year despite a ton of injuries because they’re able to call up guys to contribute. The Phillies have had a lot of injuries and have no one to call up. Look no further than their pitching staff haha
You mean that one hitter currently in the system? C’mon man, are you really gonna act like the Phillies are good at developing their own players? They’ve got 1 homegrown All-Star OF in like the past century and that was courtesy of 3 good months of Dom Brown. Historically, the Phillies are awful at developing their own guys. Their 2008 title came from that and now they’ve gone right back to not being able to.
few teams have as good a scouting crew as STL. that being said, they develop a lot of good players, but not many that are superstars. (but then again, few do)
Stl doesn’t have superstars all the time because of the past 15 yrs and drafting in bottom part of the draft…not that we haven’t missed a few(buehler comes to mind). But agreed usually solid not spectacular, and usually only take shots with stacking on pitching.
Don’t forget we also lost picks from astrogate.
It’s very tough to develop superstars when you very rarely get a pick higher than 20. Superstars are few and far between and they often go in the first five picks. The last Cardinals top five pick was more than 20 years ago, JD Drew in 1998.
As a disclaimer, I am absolutely not complaining about the overall competitiveness of the Cardinals over the last two decades. It’s a trade off you make to compete, and it’s been nice not having to suffer through too many down stretches.
Stan Lee was a greedy
scum bag…..
Oscar Taveras.
Aren’t they a “small market” team and get free picks at end of first round each year? Like royals do and are going to sell for over a billion dollars .
I fundamentally disagree that he was “a greedy scumbag” and he brought the world more joy than just about anybody. Haven’t you ever heard it’s not good to talk poorly of the dead?
And in response to Spud, he was an international signing which I’m sure you realize, so not really the same as the drafts.
As for him being a superstar, he likely would have become one, but there’s no way to know now unfortunately. He would have been a fun guy to watch, that’s for sure.
Mikel, they are a small market team based on the size of the available market in St. Louis. The competitive balance picks used to be by lottery, so the Cardinals did not get an extra pick as often as they did. Now, they switch off every year between end of first round and end of second round with the other thirteen teams. They traded this pick for Goldschmidt, so did not get one this year
Where’s plot thickens with his expert analysis? He sure does know a lot about baseball, said no one ever.
The Cardinals keep churning them out. The future looks brighter than ever. Just look at what this organization has produced. Keep em coming. Pitchers and hitters. No wonder they have finished above .500 for over 11 years now. Not once tanking and always competing. Baseball like it ought to be!
Is it 4 straight seasons without making the playoffs?
lol the lamest comeback ever…Oh no the cardinals missed the playoffs the last three years lmao….How many teams can say they haven’t had a losing season in 11 years…as a matter of fact how many teams have accomplished what the cardinals have in the last decade….hint; not very many
3
I’d stretch the argument to 15 years. Since 2004 the Cardinals have been one of the best franchises in baseball. Losing Carpenter for the 2004 postseason hurt. Not saying it would have made a difference in that series. Losing an ace is a big blow, always.
So, to rephrase, how many teams have accomplished what St Louis has done the last 15 years? Boston. That’s about it.
RIGHT!!!!!
giants
Is that “L” Stamped on your forehead permanent?
Is my mushroom stamp still on your mom’s forehead?
You still have Ron Jeremy rammed down your throat? You jackwagon loser.
He is a sweat heart