The Cardinals announced late last night that infielder Nolan Gorman has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Fellow infielder Juan Yepez was recalled from Memphis in his place.
It’s the first trip back to the minors for Gorman, who entered the season ranked among the sport’s top 50 prospects heading into the 2022 season. Gorman captivated Cards fans with a Herculean run through Triple-A prior to his initial promotion, raking at a .308/.367/.677 clip and belting 15 home runs in just 147 plate appearances. Upon his initial promotion, he delivered on the considerable hype surrounding his bat, slugging three homers in his first 11 games and carrying an OPS north of 1.100 in that time. Gorman cooled but was solid through the All-Star break.
It’s been a struggle for the 22-year-old as the season has worn on, however. He’s hit just .207/.273/.388 in the second half — including a grisly .150/.227/.250 with a 39.4% strikeout rate over the past month. Gorman has long been considered a bat-first prospect, and it’s worth noting that he moved from third base to second base once the Cardinals acquired Nolan Arenado, so Gorman’s current position is still relatively new to him. That said, both Defensive Runs Saved (-5) and Outs Above Average (-11) are quite down on his glovework through the first 549 innings of his career there.
Some early struggles in the career of a 22-year-old isn’t any great surprise, and Gorman still figures to be a key part of the Cardinals’ future moving forward. For now, he’ll be in Triple-A for at least 10 days, as he can only return sooner than that if he’s replacing an injured player. From a service time vantage point, Gorman won’t finish the current season with a full year (nor would he have even if he’d remained on the roster through season’s end). He’ll still be controllable for at least the 2028 season, though with 122 days of service under his belt, he could wind up reaching arbitration a year early as a Super Two player, if he accrues full years of service time in 2023-24. The more pressing short-term question is simply one of whether he’ll return this season and whether he’ll be a part of the team’s postseason roster.
With Gorman optioned out, second base seems likely to belong to Brendan Donovan for the time being. A rookie himself, the 25-year-old Donovan never generated the same prospect fanfare as Gorman but has nonetheless turned in a strong .282/.391/.373 batting line through 418 plate appearances to begin his big league career. Donovan has nowhere near the same level of power (or much power at all), but he’s walked at a hearty 12.4% clip while showing good bat-to-ball skills and proving to be a tough strikeout (15.6%).
In the long-term outlook, Donovan profiles best as a Swiss army knife who can play nearly any position at a capable level. He’s already logged time at all four infield spots and in both outfield corners this year, drawing particularly strong marks in small samples at the hot corner. Like Gorman, he’s controllable another six seasons, as he’ll finish the 2022 campaign about a week shy of a full year of service time. That’ll make him a slam-dunk Super Two player, barring future optional assignments, placing him on pace for arbitration following the 2024 season.
I believe the Cards need to decide between Carlson and Gorman this winter and use one of them to secure young cost controlled starting pitching for 2023.
Agreed, but the depth is great at the moment. Not to mention, they should keep Gorman if Arenado leaves.
Arenado ain’t going anywhere
He’s definitely opting out
They should try to get Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen.
Seriously though, imagine if they never made the Ozuna trade and kept Arozarena.
Goldschmidt
Donovan
Edman
Arenado
O’Neil
Carlson (Bader still?)
Arozarena
Molina
Alcantara
Gallen
Waino
Mikolas
One of Montgomery/Quintana and/or Hudson
holy s***, that’s a deadly team. With lots of depth and prospects coming.
Adolis Garcia could have also been in that outfield. The Cards gave him up for nothing.
Sold Adolis Garcia for 30 pieces of silver to the Texas Rangers
Good decision by the Cardinals sending Gorman to the minors he has not been hitting well in the majors for awhile now. Hopefully, he can find success in the minors and be back with the Cards to help the team. Another rookie that is struggling is Burleson and I think they precipitated bringing him up to the majors. Although, he was having an incredible year in Triple A. He might be next returning to the minors if he doesn’t start to hit. By the way, I’m glad to see Yepez returning to the majors.
And DeJong has? I prefer Gormans LHB (even if it has struggled) to DeJong’s glove.
Do the cards really need another bat only OF who shouldn’t go anywhere near a glove…they already have Dickerson and he looks like trash in LF. Yepez has looked awful and disinterested in the OF and that’s just another RHB off the bench.
I think there’s a developmental aspect to this move as well. They had to get Gorman in a lower pressure situation before his confidence was permanently affected. It appeared over the weekend that the frustration of an extended slump was starting to take it’s toll. His approach at the plate, which had stayed pretty disciplined and consistent, was falling apart. He was hacking away at everything trying to hit that 5 run homer to make up for past failures. A sure sign he needed a change of scenery.
Ironically of all the comments getting upvotes I think this is the best one I have seen (so far) and as with Cards fans it’s not surprising the realistic one gets zero votes. I hate seeing Gorman sent down. With injuries etc plus an expanded roster this is the guy they thought should go? I guess I can live with it to hopefully get his confidence and approach back but dude was a big part why we are where we are also (yes I’m aware other contributed and also not including the two obvious guys who really carried us) Better be on the post season roster all I gotta say. It’s funny how when young guys hit a slump they get sent down. Pay a guy 10m and plays like crap all season (just an example no name in my.mind honestly) and still it’s he just needs some time. On a secondary note cause always gotta be looking to the future. We do need Ohtani in the offseason peace
They already have a bunch of cost-controlled starting pitching between Flaherty, Hudson, Woodford, Liberatore, and Thompson, plus Pallante if absolutely needed to be a starter. (They also potentially have Alex Reyes if he can actually get and stay healthy). They will need to either resign Wainwright again or sign someone else to replace him if he retires, but their starting pitching for next year looks pretty good.
The year after that will be much more troublesome with Mikolas, Montgomery, Flaherty, and Reyes all hitting free agency and Wainwright likely retiring by that point.
Steven Matz is getting 11 million a year for at least the next 3 so he’s probably somewhere in the equation.
Montgomery is still around next year too.
Yes, Montgomery, as well, but as you pointed out Matz isn’t cost controlled.
Your really ok with that being your starting five. Your ace JF can’t stay healthy Hudson although I have defended him bc of the TJ surgery has to show up like in the past next year. Mikolas has shown back up and at this point is our number one next year. Good there assuming no more health issues. So far two ifs and a prayer. And thats out top three. Personally I see Montgomery being a two for us so ok we’re four in. We desperately need Waino for another year and pray no injuries cause Liberatore to have to start next season. He’s not ready yet. And that’s if everything breaks right. Team has been killed by lack of stud starters and at minimum good starting depth. May best us again this year. Hope I’m wrong. Can’t keep making this mistake. And yep gonna say it till it happens or he signs elsewhere need to get Ohtani. Don’t care how. Would help in two areas we need the extra help. Would put us over the top for sure. My opinion of course
Sorry I did forget about Matz. He could change this scenerio completely but considering I don’t expect Waino back he just slots in there and that’s also a downgrade
That’s why I said to either resign Wainwright or sign someone else.
Overall, yes, I’m fine with a rotation next year of Mikolas, Montgomery, Matz, Hudson, and Wainwright / Free Agent, along with Flaherty if he’s healthy. Liberatore probably will be ready as a depth starter at the very least next year, along with Thompson and Woodford providing further depth.
Trade Gorman or Carlson…. Mozeliak will never do that…. never
Another lefty hitter who might be helped by the shift limitations next year.
That’s like 99.9% of lefty hitters
At a 35 percent strike out rate, I’d say the shift isn’t his biggest issue. Still a promising player, but these kids and their K rates these days are maddening. I feel like launch angle focus is hurting young ball players. I’m guessing hardcore sabermetric fans are losing their mind about losing the shift. On one hand, I’m looking forward to seeing a little more offense, and some nice defensive plays, on the other, I don’t like the idea of telling teams how they can position their defense. If you don’t want to hit in to the shift, made adjustments.
Also looking for some great defenders returning to prominence, Roy. I miss the second baseman tracking down an over-the-shoulder catch in short RF, for example.
Teams will still find a way to shift on batters. The way I see it, they’ll make the left fielder play left-center, the center fielder play right-center and the right fielder play very shallow. Move the shortstop over as close to 2B as you can get without breaking the new rules and you essentially have what was being done before. There’s no rules on shifting your outfielders, just infielders.
Interesting points, 1225. Sounds just as tedious as the present form.
@LordD99
That tells me that lefty batters aren’t really good hitters then if they can’t do anything other than pull the ball.
No more Ichiro’s and Tony Gwynn’s…
… not even any John Olerud or Bill Mueller types, TJ – hitters. So one dimensional.
Free Dave Magadan…
Magadan and Olerud—Two of my favorites
I was just thinking that Rod Carew would never be called up.
It’s gotta be rough for cardinal fans to see another can’t miss, untouchable prospect bust out. There’s been so many I can’t even remember them all.
Add that to Pope Yadi leaving them, Pujols not getting 700, Arenado opting out, and an upcoming first round exit, cardinal fans will certainly look for the nearest bridge to jump off of.
There are enough holes in the McKinley Bridge to where we can just fall in…
Slider, “Pope Yadi” gave me a good morning chuckle….BUT, is Pujols really not gonna hit 2 more HR’s with 2 full weeks of games to play? You can’t doubt the man at this point. It’s going to happen!
699 and a warning track out in final at bat.
The Cardinals play against the Pirates in their six final games. If he doesn’t reach 700 against us, whom he has a .662 career slugging percentage, a .625 slugging percentage against this year, and 7.7% of his career home runs against, then higher powers from above were the only reason he wasn’t able to reach 700.
This message is not going to age well.
Another hyped Cards’ prospect with much work to be done. There’s something off in St. Louis.
nah, dude has only 300 ab’s. Too early to start calling out st louis
I respectfully disagree, Cubs – I think the Cards would be well-served in adjusting their evaluations. They sent the kid down, that has to stand as an admission of something gone wrong. Far too much swing-and-miss in NG’s game. Cards, Red Sox, & Angels – frequent over-estimations on young talent.
They have a ton of young talent, they just trade it away.
Plenty of former top prospects get sent back down at some point in their first year or two and go on to have nice careers.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals have also had plenty of hits with guys like Matt Carpenter, Jon Jay, Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader, and some guys they’ve traded; the jury is still out on a few guys; some like Gorman are still rookies; and Flaherty and Reyes would be hits if they could just stay healthy.
@30 Parks
Few prospects show their true ability their first trip to the majors. Its an adjustment that for most, takes time. Its wonderful when one of them lives up to the hype immediately. More often, they start out like a Don Mattingly or Roger Clemens, where their first taste of MLB is disappointing. If the Tigers had not sent Scherzer back to the minors, they may have never gotten his attention long enough for him to develop into the pitcher he is today.
People will write off Oneil Cruz after 300 ABs so Gorman deserves the same treatment.
I just don’t see it. Gorman seems more to me like Patrick Wisdom 2.0, swing hard in case you hit it. Which I guess is about half of the MLB lately.
Oh, I thought they optioned Arenado.
Cardinals were trying hard for him to be the Soto centerpiece to sell high
Nice wordplay, “Grisly” Adams.
Weird time to send him down with only a couple weeks left.
The offense has been terrible this month. They need Yepez. And Gorman can’t play 2B in the playoffs for even an inning.
Only 22? I’ve seen veterans with far more years of service be given chance after chance after chance playing the same or worse than this guy. But when you have guys (bunch of overpaid corporate blood suckers) running your org who have never played a game of baseball in their life I guess these things happen, eh?
Gorman will still get plenty of chances in the future. Yepez is simply the better option right now..
Besides, the difference with those other guys is that they usually can’t be optioned to the minors anymore.
Alright MLBTRADERUMORS:. Cards and Friars tonight- who ya got taking the win?! Lets get a poll going.
Pujols
AAAA
Bum
Trout hit .220/.281/.390 his first partial season. Young players struggle, which has been especially true since the pandemic caused many of them to miss development time and get jumped a level. I have little doubt Gorman will be a solid, productive hitter.
That said, if Arenado doesn’t opt out, the Cardinals would be wise to explore a trade of Gorman, who really isn’t a second baseman and whose defense is likely to suffer even more with the shift going away.
If I were them, I’d make a serious push for Sean Murphy as a Yadi replacement (I don’t believe Ivan Herrerra is quite ready). Even if it cost Gorman and Liberatore and a lottery ticket, I’d make that deal.
Without Pujols or likely Dickerson coming back next year, Gorman could become the primary DH, at least against right-handed pitching.
I saw someone say they need to decide on Gorman or Carlson and trade for a pitcher…no they don’t! These are cost efficient, plus WAR level young players who have years of team control left. And let’s say you did shop these players, who are they going to reel in? Let’s take a look at the MLB landscape shall we?
The rotation: Mikolas, Montgomery, Matz are going to certainly holding 3 rotation slots going into next season (barring injury). Wainwright has pitched another successful season, he’s likely to return. Quintana has also pitches his way into an extension, if not him, Flaherty and a number of pitchers could battle for that last slot. What does that leave them to trade for, bullpen help? Okay, but that’s not worth giving up top young talent for.
There’s no team shopping an ace out there. Teams with decent pitching depth are going to wait for desperate teams to overpay in a trade. The Cardinals aren’t desperate for pitching so I don’t see them hitting the panic button for pitching the same way the Angels would.
What do the cardinals need to decide about??? Carlson is an Outfielder and Gorman is an Infielder, converted 3B to 2B. The cards would be stupid to move 1 of them as those 2 are the future
Exactly! Why do they have to give up anything? Gorman and Carlson are going through typical growing pains that young players do.
A lot of over reaction so far on this thread. Gorman definitely needed to be sent down and Yepez deserved a call up. Gorman has looked hopelessly lost at the plate for a few weeks. Lots and lots of k’s without any big knocks to even it out. His confidence looked shot. But I have faith that the coaches at Memphis will get him straightened out. Gorman is in a tough spot, he came up hot, the league adjusted, and his hitting coach is Jeff Albert. I predict Gorman lights up Spring Training before ultimately getting traded. I think he’ll be fine major league hitter if someone finds a spot for him defensively.
I agree he’ll light up spring training, I can’t agree they’ll trade him yet. If he lacks a position, they will DH him and play him part time in the field. He has too much upside to get rid of with less than a year of MLB experience. With the shift being limited next year, he stands to benefit greatly.
I believe he will settle in as a first baseman somewhere down the line, possibly as Goldy’s heir apparent.
Not many commenters pay attention to whats going on. Cardinals need another righthanded bat. Oneil is out and Carlson is nursing a sore thumb. Yepez makes sense. Gorman is sruggling so its a good time to get hom some reps at AAA.
Yepez has a future on the roster. It’s good to see him back.
I don’t enjoy Yepez bailing and wailing though, he needs to get back to the balanced approach he had in May.
What about the Cardinals’ future moving backward though? Or other directions beside the forward you so helpfully indicate?
Gorman goes nag to Memphis is the best thing. This may snap him out of the all or nothing scenario.
I think Flaherty and Reyes will be gone by trade deadline 2023, barring another injury for either one.